by Sarah Bailey
“Oh, rest assured, I will.”
Alistair tugged on Grace’s arm again. She allowed herself to be pulled towards the exit, glancing back at Raoul who was watching the two of them with a smug smile.
He said nothing as they left ObliVion, but she could feel the tension and anger radiating from him. Having never seen him so riled up, she wasn’t quite sure what to do.
When they got out into the alleyway, he let go of her, running a hand over the back of his neck.
“Alistair…”
His head whipped around so fast, anger blazing in his eyes. She gulped, putting her hands up.
“Can you change me back, please?”
His expression didn’t soften but he waved a hand at her, blue smoke trailing from his fingers. It washed over her and she knew she’d returned to normal. In the next moment, the portal appeared and he stepped through it, leaving her to follow after him.
He was pacing the living room when she stepped out. She shifted on her feet, completely out of her depth.
“Fuck, fucking, fuck,” he muttered.
She did the only thing she could think of. She stood in his path. He looked startled as he stopped dead in front of her. She reached up, cupping his face with one hand whilst placing the other on his chest, on his heart.
“Grace,” he whispered.
He turned his face into her palm, placing a gentle kiss there.
“That was the worst sort of news, wasn’t it?”
She imagined nothing good could come out of Lacey looking for whatever the ley lines were.
“Yes.”
“Then we don’t have to talk about it.”
“I need to contact Bree.”
“Okay. I’ll be here when you’re done.”
She reached up, kissing him for a moment. His fingers tangled in her hair, stopping her from moving away. She let him hold her in place. She wanted to give him what he needed, just like he always did for her.
“Grace, I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he whispered against her hair.
§
The insistent ringing was hurting his brain. Alistair groaned, hiding his head under the covers. Why was someone ringing his doorbell?
He’d been up all night, making potions because he couldn’t sleep. He missed Grace and her presence in his bed. She’d been at home for two days working on a big project.
The doorbell went again. He hauled himself out of bed, bleary-eyed. Tugging on a t-shirt and shorts, he trudged downstairs, yawning.
Pulling open the door, he barely had time to step back when the twins bounded in.
“Ali,” Will said, slapping him on the back.
“Long time no see,” Rory said.
He shut the door, cursing the two of them under his breath. They’d already dumped their bags at the foot of the stairs and gone to raid his kitchen. Shaking his head, he followed them. He sat at the table, putting his head in his hands. He didn’t have the energy to deal with them.
“Aww, did we disturb poor Ali’s beauty sleep?” Rory said.
“What’s up, mate?” Will asked.
“Other than you two turning up unannounced?” Alistair replied.
“Haven’t you missed us?”
“No, not really.”
He looked up at the twins who were both grinning from ear to ear, their blue eyes twinkling. They might look like two angelic boys with their blonde hair and light blue eyes, but they were certifiable pains in everyone’s backsides.
“Stick the kettle on, Rory. Someone needs caffeine,” Will said, taking a seat at the table.
Alistair said nothing. He rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t need to ask why they were here. Bree had clearly sent them.
“How have you been?” Rory asked, flipping the kettle on.
He didn’t have a chance to say anything. The sound of a key turning in the lock and the front door opening filtered through from the hallway.
“Alistair?”
The twins looked at each other, eyebrows shooting up in unison. Alistair almost groaned.
“Are you still in bed? What are these bags doing here? Alistair? I know you were up all night but it’s almost 2pm.”
“Who is that?” Rory asked.
Alistair got up, ignoring the twins and going towards the door. He really didn’t need this on top of everything else.
“Alistair? Where are… Oh!”
Grace almost barrelled into him.
“There you are.”
She grinned, looking up at him with those forest green eyes of hers. Goddess, she is so beautiful. Seeing her again made his heart pound.
“Aww, did you just wake up? Your hair is a mess.”
He barely had a chance to open his mouth when she jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him. He stumbled backwards at the impact, reaching out to hold onto the doorframe to steady the two of them.
She pulled away, looking down at him.
“Did you miss me? Is that why you couldn’t sleep? I missed y… Oh! Oh gods!”
She put a hand over her mouth, staring at something over the top of his head. She’d spied the twins. She slid down his chest, looking up at him with confusion.
“Alistair… who are they?” she whispered.
He took her arm, pulling her into the hallway and shutting the door behind them.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming over,” he said, running a hand around the back of his neck.
“I texted you like five times,” she said.
He’d left his phone upstairs and hadn’t looked at it before answering the door.
“And you didn’t read them.”
“Grace, I’m sorry.”
She reached up, smoothing his hair back down.
“Doesn’t matter.”
He glanced at the kitchen door before bundling her up in his arms and kissing the top of her head. She nuzzled his chest with her face.
“Mmm, you feel like home.”
“And you feel like heaven,” he whispered.
He wanted her here all the time, but she wasn’t ready. He loved this girl in his arms with every inch of his being. He didn’t want to push her into admitting her own feelings. He didn’t want to press her to move in with him. It didn’t stop him wishing she’d let go of her fears and leap headfirst into this with him.
She pulled away, looking up at him with expectant eyes. He sighed, releasing her.
“You know how Bree lost her shit when I told her Lacey was looking for the ley lines…”
She nodded, frowning.
“She sent the twins to track Lacey and Ophelia down.”
“Twins… Oh… You had a picture of them on your desk at your parents.”
“Yes, Will and Rory. They turned up, unannounced, five minutes before you got here. And they don’t know anything about you.”
“I see.”
She looked away, her eyes betraying the sting of his words. His heart contracted. He wasn’t keeping her a secret. He’d just not seen the twins in a while.
“Grace, come, I’ll introduce you.”
He reached out, taking her hand. She bit her lip but followed him into the kitchen when he opened the door. Will and Rory had made four cups of tea and placed them on the kitchen table along with a packet of biscuits. They were seated, looking at the two of them expectantly.
“Will, Rory, this is Grace… my girlfriend,” Alistair said. “And she’s Ophelia’s daughter.”
Chapter Eighteen
The twins stared at Grace for the longest time without speaking. Alistair led her over to the table and they sat down. She gripped his hand in an iron hold. He looked down at her with some concern.
“You tamed Ali?” Rory said, breaking into a smile.
Alistair could kill that boy right now. He shot him a warning glance.
“They call you, Ali?” Grace asked, looking up at him.
“Don’t even think about it.”
She smiled at him, a
mischievous glint in her eye.
“There was no taming involved,” she said, turning to the twins. “It’s nice to meet you even though he hasn’t told me anything about you.”
“I expect he didn’t want us luring you away with our charms,” Will said.
Alistair scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“She’d hardly fall for the likes of you.”
“What do you mean? Girls love us,” Rory said, his face a picture of indignation.
“For all of two minutes until they realise you’re seeing about fifty other girls behind their backs.”
Grace sniggered behind her hand, leaning on his shoulder. Rory pouted.
“So, Ophelia’s daughter, that’s… unexpected,” Will said.
“She had her in secret. Bree hasn’t told the coven,” Alistair replied. “And Grace has only met her once as an adult.”
“She left my dad and me when I was a baby. Before you ask, yes, I have magic and no, you can’t lure me away from Alistair.”
Grace ran her fingers through the hair on the back of his neck. He almost purred in response. He loved it when she did that. It had him thinking of what he’d like to be doing to the girl beside him right now. Two days was far too long.
“Well, if that’s the case then you owe her no loyalties,” Will said, his expression turning serious.
“No. She might have given birth to me, but she’s not my mother,” Grace replied.
Will nodded, giving her a tight smile.
“Bree told us to bring her in, alive or otherwise. Whatever reason she has for locating the ley lines, it cannot be good.”
“No. The only reason she’d need to go there is to perform something dangerous.”
“Do you think the reason she wanted to see me has anything to do with it?” Grace asked.
“She only resurfaced when she learnt your curse was broken. I think you have everything to do with it,” Alistair said.
He could feel Grace trembling beside him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, holding her close. He took a sip of tea.
“Ophelia cursed you?” Rory asked.
“To hide her magic. Long story.”
Graced curled into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Rory and Will shared a significant look. Alistair narrowed his eyes.
“So… you two… is it serious?” Rory asked, eyes twinkling. “I mean, she has your house key. You wouldn’t even give that to us.”
Alistair’s mouth set in a hard line as he stared Rory down. Why did the two of them have to cause so much trouble?
“Why don’t you two make yourselves at home and I’ll do some lunch, eh?” he said.
Rory and Will grinned, nodding eagerly before they got up, taking their tea into the living room. Alistair sighed, clutching Grace tighter.
“Why didn’t you just say yes?” she asked.
“I’ll never hear the end of this regardless of what I say. They know it’s serious, they’re trying to wind me up.”
“How do they know?”
She turned her head up to look at him.
“Because you’re the only girl I’ve openly admitted to being my girlfriend.”
“Oh. Well… Alistair, I shouldn’t really be here.”
“No?”
“I left my project half finished, it’s due at the end of the week.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Oh, well, besides you missing me terribly because I’m so handsome you can’t look away?”
She sat up, wrenching out of his arms and scowling.
“Honestly, why do I even bother trying to have a serious conversation with you?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. She looked so cute when she got angry with him.
“I’m sorry.” He brushed her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. “What is it?”
“No, I knew this was a stupid idea.”
“What?”
“I wanted to talk to you about us moving forward and yet, you never take anything seriously.”
“Moving forward?”
He frowned. What is she trying to say?
“It doesn’t matter. I should go.”
“Grace… please don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t start an argument with me.”
She was silent. He didn’t want her to go. He wanted her here, permanently. Is that what she was getting at? Did she want him to ask her the question? He reached out, cupping her face. She didn’t turn away.
“Grace, I want you to live with me. You know that.”
“Then why do you have to be so idiotic all the time? Why can’t you just tell me the truth?”
He frowned, unsure where this was coming from. Unless…
“What have I done wrong?”
“I… nothing.”
She turned away, tears in her eyes.
“It’s not you, not really,” she whispered. “I… just… gods.”
“Shh, come here.”
He tugged her into his lap, holding her close. He stroked her hair. He knew what was wrong. Grace was struggling with her feelings and he didn’t want to add to that.
“It’s okay, Grace. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
“Why do you stay with me? All I’ve done is cause trouble and my mother is back and doing something nefarious. You wouldn’t have to go through all this if we’d never met.”
He stiffened at her words. He made her look at him, his fingers under her chin. She flinched at his expression.
“Why would you say that? Haven’t I made it clear how I feel?”
“No…?”
“Then you haven’t been listening. I want you. Only you. Do you understand? What else do I have to do to make you believe me?”
“I don’t know.”
“We can’t keep having this conversation.”
He ran a hand through his hair.
“I… gods. Alistair, I… I can’t say it.”
“Say what?”
“How I feel! Every time I see you it hurts. My heart hurts. I can’t… I can’t say it.”
Tears fell down her cheeks.
“Grace…”
She took his hand, placing it on her chest. Her heart was racing. He could feel it under his fingertips.
“That’s how I feel. Do you understand what I’m trying to say? My heart… my heart.”
He stared down at her.
“Grace… are you trying to tell me you love me?”
“Yes,” she sobbed.
He smiled at her, wiping her tears away.
“I know you love me.”
“You do?”
“You’ve told me enough times when you thought I was sleeping.”
“What? That’s… you… that’s so unfair! You shouldn’t have pretended to be asleep.”
She hit him on the chest, her sobbing abating completely.
“Gods, I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Right now, I do.”
“Please don’t hate me… it will spoil the moment.”
“What moment?”
“The one where I tell you how I feel.”
She stared at him with wide eyes.
“What?”
§
“Grace, I don’t believe in love at first sight, but when I met you… Goddess, you sent a jolt right to my heart.”
She couldn’t breathe. Grace felt like the whole world had stopped. He brushed her hair from her face.
“I want you to live here. Move in with me, Grace. Be with me. Love me like I love you.”
“You… you…”
“I love you.”
Her chest constricted. Blood pounded in her ears.
“You… gods…”
“Have I rendered you speechless?”
“No. Yes. I want… I…”
He smiled at her. Why did he have to be so damn handsome?
“Alistair, take me now.”
“In the kitchen? What about Will and Rory? They’re expecting lunch.”
She’d forgotten about them, but he’d just confessed he loved her. She couldn’t think of anything else but being with him.
“Yes, now.”
She reached up, pulling him down and kissing him. She tugged on his hair. He groaned.
“Grace…”
She pulled his t-shirt over his head, tossing it away. She unbuttoned her coat. His fingers ran down her sides, his eyes hazy with lust.
“Can’t you wait?” he asked.
“No. Stop talking and undress me.”
He pushed her cardigan off her shoulders, before tugging off her t-shirt. His hands cupped her breasts, thumbs running over her nipples.
“A little demanding today, are we?”
“Shut up.”
She stood, pulling him up before she tugged off his shorts. She unbuttoned her jeans, struggling out of them. She moved the mugs out of the way before she sat on the table.
He kissed her, hands running through her hair. She tugged off her underwear before pulling him flush against her. She ground her body on his.
“Grace,” he groaned. “Goddess, Grace, I love you.”
She said nothing as she freed him and then he was inside her. He pushed her down on the table with him.
“Alistair!”
He was giving it to her with wild abandon. Her whole body was on fire. Her legs wrapped around him, allowing him deeper access.
“I need you,” she whispered. “I can’t live without you. Gods, Alistair, I… I love you.”
He stopped, pulling away to look down at her.
“Tell me again.”
“I love you.”
He kissed her, resuming his rhythm. Their bodies became slick with sweat, hearts hammering in their chests. She was crying out his name, not caring that the twins could hear them. He released her for a moment, pulling her off the table and turning her around. He bent her over, her palms resting on the wood. Gripping her hips, he entered her again. She cried out at the punishing pace. It was all she could do, but to hold onto the table until her body shook. He collapsed on her back soon after, panting in her ear.
“Just when I thought we’d reached the pinnacle of lovemaking, you manage to surpass everything.”
“Is it because we were fighting?” she asked.
“Perhaps… Fighting, confessing, who cares why.”
He moved off her, giving her room to breathe again. Her phone rang in her jeans pocket. She shifted, rescuing them from the floor and pulling it out. She didn’t recognise the number. He wrapped an arm around her, kissing the top of her head.