Never Marry a Warlock

by Tiffany Turner

  “Are you going to get it?” asked the Aussie.

  “Not wanting to. It’s probably him.”

  “Is he the sort of fella that will keep calling?”

  “Yes.” I knew I was going to have to talk to the bastard eventually. Putting it off wasn’t going to help any. I hit the phone button on the steering wheel, and Rich’s voice came through the speakers.

  “Catherine? Babe? You there?”

  “Yes.” I was feeling sulky. I wasn’t going to let Rich talk me into going back. I had Aussie insurance now. My new boy toy would be a good distraction. I looked over at the Aussie. He did have a wicked-looking torso.

  Rich interrupted with another annoying plea. “Cat, really, come back. I’ll make it up to you.”

  “Nothing is going to keep your dick in your pants, Rich. You’re free to fuck who you want now. Our marriage is over. I’m not renewing our vows. Goodbye.” I hit the disconnect button. It made me feel stronger to just finally shut Rich up. Motioning to the Aussie, I pointed to my purse. “You could do me a big favor and shut off my iPhone?”

  “Will do.” He scrambled through my bag, pulled out my iPhone, and hit the off button. He admired the rhinestone casing with the Hello Kitty design. He didn’t say anything after that. Wise choice. I didn’t feel like explaining it. Not yet at least.

  “How about you turn the radio back on?” I added in a change-the-subject tone.

  He reached out and hit the radio button. Fleetwood Mac soothed my nerves as we continued. I thought this would be a good time to talk about anything else but what happened. “So what’s your name?”

  “Jeff.”

  “Jeff what?”

  “Jeff Phillips. Yours?”

  “Catherine Banks. I usually go by Cat or Cathy.”

  “Nice meeting you. Have any plans other than going anywhere?”

  “Not really. Got any suggestions?”

  “Sure. I’ve always wanted to go to Vegas.”

  “Vegas sounds like a good change. I think we can cross over the mountains to Hwy 5 and get there through Tahoe.” I turned up the music. Suddenly, Vegas sounded like exactly what I needed.

  Chapter 4

  Where Hwy 1 met Hwy 101, we headed south. A change in direction was good, and having a destination was helping my mood. A gorgeous, blond Aussie sitting next to me was helping it even more.

  He didn’t say much, and when we stopped for gas, he left for the restroom. I headed into the store and picked up some drinks and snacks. I didn’t know what Jeff would like, so I got a variety, knowing something would surely appeal. I never knew a man that didn’t eat something offered from a pretty woman.

  When he got back, I had the Jag loaded up and ready to go. “Vegas, here we come.”

  I had my sunglasses on and thought my Thelma and Louise imitation was looking pretty good right now. I checked my lipstick in the mirror as he put on his seatbelt.

  “Looks like we’re putting in for some distance. You planning on driving all night?”

  “No, figured I’d stop in Clearlake. This lady has got to have a bath.” He gave me a long, knowing look. “I don’t mind sharing a room.” He still had a smile on his face, but said nothing. “I promised a ride to Vegas. I meant it. I just don’t want to push all night. And I do need a bath.”

  “That’s kind of why I’m smiling. It’s the bath I’m imagining.”

  I gave him a look. His flirting was going to keep him alive much longer. “Really, I need a bath.” I pulled out onto the road.

  “It would help if you describe it more clearly. What were you thinking?”

  I thought I’d play along, but kept my eyes on the road for now. “Lots of bubbles.”

  “Go on.”

  “Lather, and my hair up. I’ll have candles lighting the whole room.”

  “What scent?”

  “Rose vanilla. But sometimes,” I paused. He was hanging on my every word. I was letting him. Sort of like letting the spider play with the fly. I wasn’t sure that he was something I needed yet. But it was good to have the insurance along with me. “It’s fun to have a bubble fight, especially if I have someone to play with.” I moved my hand down to open up my blouse a little more. I caught his eyes looking as I took a big breath making my chest heave.

  I decided that we could explore this direction later tonight. But I wanted to make some miles before the sun got all the way down. Rich would be more powerful then, and I wanted to shield down in a hotel before he started a search sweep for me. I changed the subject.

  “Know any good stations around here?”

  “Besides the classic rock stations?” He paused to think, catching onto the change of subject. There was a sense of disappointment. Good. At least there was some interest to work with later. “There is a good jazz and blues station. Sometimes plays folk music. So you have to catch it at the right time.”

  “Let me see if I can find it.” I pushed the button and swept through the channels. We got through a Christian rock station, pop, and then hit the jazz station. “There, that’s better.”

  The music helped the distance pass by as I turned from 101 to Hwy 20. It would be a beautiful drive until we hit Hwy 5. The turns would help ease my sense of dread of the confrontation with Rich. I was going to have to beat him, or kill him. Neither outcome was going to be pretty.

  A couple of times, Jeff’s eyes drifted to look me over. I let my mind focus on the road. Redwoods soared above, creating a shady canopy. I opened the windows to let in some of the fresh air. It’s the one thing I loved about California. There are so many things close by. You could be driving the coast and then drive up into the coastal mountains, all within thirty minutes. Some parts of Hwy 1 were unique experiences, with redwoods to ocean cliffs back to forests. The extremes of Northern California mixed well with my mood. If I didn’t watch it, I’d be driving down toward Calistoga for a mud bath and wine tasting. But Vegas was calling. A new state had new opportunities.

  I noticed it was also getting dark. We were near Upper Lake. Breaking the driving silence, I motioned to Jeff. “You think you could work the map in my iPhone and find a place to stay for the night.”

  “Sure.” He seemed to be off in his own thoughts. “It’s in your purse still right?”

  “Yeah. Go ahead and grab it out of the pocket on the inside. It’s the zippered one. By the way,” I turned to catch his eye. “It’s nice that you asked.”

  “I know a woman’s purse is her most prized possession. It’s always good to ask first before rummaging through it.” He winked as he grabbed my phone. God, he was gorgeous. I scanned his biceps through my peripheral vision. His jeans fit tight in the right places, while his T-shirt hugged his chest. I noted the curve of his chest. I was getting the inkling to explore him soon.

  He started looking around. “Where are we?”

  “I saw a sign that mentioned Upper Lake.”

  “Right.”

  He launched the map app, and I kept driving. “Okay, if we follow the road for five more miles, we’ll come to a turn off for the next town. Take that turn, and it looks like there is a hotel on the right. It’s called the Twin Burrows Inn.”

  “Got it.” We’d lost the jazz station in the woods, and I had tried some other stations along the way to no avail. After a while, I couldn’t drive with static, so I’d left it off for the last hour. All I heard was wind and road noise as we made a turn down a deserted main street. The place was dead quiet. Nothing much out here in the country; even the Denny’s looked closed.

  “Turn here.”

  I saw a sign for Twin Burrows Inn and made a right. I parked the Jag and got out. “You going to come in, or should I just check us in?”

  “After you.” Jeff opened the door and motioned to the hotel. “We can always come back for the baggage.”

  “I don’t have much, except for the mental kind.”

  He smiled as I got out. “That’s more than what I got, love. I mostly carry my sleeping bag and a change of clothes
in my duffel. A man doesn’t need much more.” He shut the door and started walking toward the lobby.

  “Toothbrush?”

  “Okay, maybe one of those.” The gravel crunched under his feet as we crossed to the walkway up to the main office. He opened the door for me, and I smiled. I noted his bemused look as I walked to the counter. Again, he was definitely adding points to living longer in my book. I kept looking at how his jeans hugged his ass, and his T-shirt didn’t make it hard to imagine the defined muscles underneath. My favorite part of any man was his chest. I was trying not to drool as I walked into the lobby.

  “One room please.”

  The man at the desk looked up. He looked over to both of us. His face blossomed with a plastic smile. He’d probably seen so many couples. We couldn’t faze him. “Double or single beds?”

  “Two beds please,” I answered without missing a beat.

  The man retrieved the needed paperwork, and I filled it out. “King or queen?”

  I looked at Jeff, and he answered, “Whatever you got.”

  “I’ll check for rooms available.” The man typed in our information and looked up again. “We’ve got a double with queen beds. Paying by credit card?”

  I dug through my purse and handed him my credit card.

  He continued the usual questions in a robotic manner. “Will you be staying more than one night?”

  “Just one.”

  “One or two keys.”

  I turned to Jeff. “You want your own key?”

  “You’re my ride. Where you go, I go.”

  I turned back to the man. “One key, then.”

  “Fine.” He went back to running my credit card, and then turned the paper for me to sign. “Fill in here and here.” He pointed to the hotel agreement, and I signed and initialed. It always seems like you are signing your life away whenever you get a room.

  “Okay, you’re checked in for one night. Check out time is eleven a.m., and the bar and restaurant will be open for about two more hours. Enjoy your stay.”

  I turned to Jeff. “I think it’s time I bought you a drink. It’s good to have someone along for the ride.”

  “I thought the man was supposed to buy the drinks.”

  “Don’t worry. You can pay me back in some other ways later.” I gave him a wink as we went into the bar.

  They didn’t have the good port like at the last bar. I had to settle for a white zinfandel. But the wine had the same effect. Poor Jeff had to settle for American beer instead of a lager. But at least it was some local brew that seemed to satisfy him.

  “So, if you don’t mind me asking,” I began. “Are you finding yourself in the States, or just traveling?”

  “A little of both,” he replied between sips. “I thought I’d get out and see things before I settled down to some respectful career. I graduated in February.”

  I took a sip as I studied his collarbone. I wanted to start tracing my finger down all over the front of his chest. I wanted to nuzzle next to his neck. One more glass of wine, and I was going to start putting my thoughts into action. “What did you get your degree in?”

  “Economics and computer design.”

  “Hmm.” I felt like purring. “Beautiful and brainy.”

  “I was going to say that about you.”

  Unfortunately, the waiter placed down our food orders, interrupting my thought about diving for his lips. He was looking more luscious by the minute. I needed some food to fill my empty stomach. But I was thinking something else needed to be filled to relieve my aching soul.

  “So what did you want to see in the States?” I said after swallowing a bite of my club sandwich. I followed it down with more wine as he answered.

  “Michigan. And of course, Vegas.”

  “Why Michigan?”

  “I’ve got a sister I want to visit.”

  Damn, he had family in the States. It might be obvious if I accidentally killed him or Rich. This could get ugly fast. I was growing rather attached to him, and didn’t want him to get in the way.

  “Well, at least we can get the one place off your bucket list. Michigan might be a bit of a stretch right now for me. I’ve got baggage I’d love to unload on you, but really, you’re here to enjoy yourself.”

  “I’m guessing the man on the phone is your baggage.”

  “Kinda like that.” I took another bite of my sandwich. “He’s a real prime example of who not to trust.”

  “And you’d trust a hitchhiker you found on the highway?” He smiled and took a bite of his hamburger. Juice dribbled down his chin, and I tried not to imagine licking it off. He got it with the back of his hand.

  “Yes. A hitchhiker is more trustworthy than an asshole that slept with my best friend.”

  Jeff shook his head at that. “That is really low, even for most men. I’m sorry to hear that Catherine. You deserve better.”

  It was nice to hear it from someone else. I could say it a thousand times, but someone else saying it made it stick better. “Tell me about it.”

  He laughed. “I’ve been there, darling.”

  I looked up. He had my rapt attention. “Was it your best friend?”

  “No, my brother. He slept with my girlfriend. Still haven’t quite forgiven him, since he married her after.”

  “Shit. That does suck.”

  He nodded as he took another bite of his burger. “I figure love makes you do weird things. It’s the attraction that gets you. Sometimes you can’t fight it.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” I took another sip of wine. This was becoming a harder situation. I didn’t want him to die, but could I let him live? There was only one way to find out. I downed the last of my wine. “Come on. I have an idea.”

  He jammed a fry in his mouth and sat up. “All right. Any clues to what that might be?”

  “I’ll have to show you.”

  Chapter 5

  Throwing money on the table, I grabbed his hand and pulled him from the booth. I led him to the elevator.

  “What did you have in mind?” He hit the button and leaned toward me.

  “You’ll have to wait and see.” I leaned into his neck and whispered into his ear. “Keeps you guessing.”

  “Do I get three guesses?” he whispered back.

  “Yes, but you only have until the elevator arrives,” I said, looking at the elevator count down the floors as it came down to pick us up.

  “Is it bigger than a bread basket?”

  “Yes.” I grinned, moving away to see if my bait was working, and looked back at the numbers. Four, three… Why was it taking so long? I hit the button to get it to move faster.

  “Is it smaller than a thimble?”

  “That depends on what you do with it.” I smiled at him, as he leaned closer to me again. I could feel his breath near the back of my neck as I still watched the elevator’s progress.

  “Is it something that needs a lot of rubbing?” He started to wrap his arms around my waist, grabbing me from behind.

  “You can think of yourself as Aladdin. I’m the lamp.”

  I heard the ping of the elevator arriving, and pulled him into the elevator. The door closed, and I leaned into him, practically falling on him as he grabbed me again. He pulled me closer, and we connected in the right places. I could feel the warmth of his back, the scent of his hair, and he started to explore my hips and down my thighs.

  I turned, and he met my lips, diving in for the need for each other, burning for the connection finally made. Our kiss was explosive. He knew the right amount of suction on my lower lip to bring shivers up my leg. I wrapped my arms around his neck. I stopped thinking about anything else but getting closer and feeling my breasts rub against his chest. The warmth between my legs grew as the elevator doors opened.

  I led the way with the key, looking at the room numbers to match the doors. “Two-thirteen, here it is.” I slid the key card in, waiting for the light to change from red to green. There was the satisfying click of entry, an
d I pushed the door open. I threw my purse to the floor as he grabbed my waist again, and pulled me into another kiss.

  I came up for air and pointed at the door. “Shouldn’t we probably close that?”

  “Maybe.” Jeff kicked it with his foot, and picked me up to carry me to one of the beds.

  Damn. His biceps had been teasing me all day. I relished the feel of grabbing onto his arms as he lowered me carefully to the bedspread. He followed me down as we formed one intertwined mass.

  I reached for his T-shirt and pulled it over his head. Finally. I started caressing down his deeply tanned skin, tracing the definition down to his waist. I closed my eyes to feel the sensation of his bare skin beneath my fingers. I felt the texture of his chest hair as it led me to lower territory.

  I could smell the odor of his spicy skin radiating a heat that intoxicated me. Washing over me like wine, I started to crawl over the top of him. I let my tongue flutter rapidly over his exposed chest taking in the sharp, tang of his skin. His spice over powered me as I swept my tongue around his nipples. He let out a groan as he cradled my head.

  I started feeling his lower abdomen below me, flickering my tongue fast down between his pectorals, and down to his waist. His sculptured stomach glided below my hands as I headed for the bulge between his legs. I explored his jeans, looking for the zipper that would free him. I pulled the zipper while reaching around the back to feel his tight buns. Then, I pulled the jeans down, looking at him. He was arching his back slightly, and looking like Adonis.

  I gave the jeans a final tug and crawled over him, grabbing around the waistband of his briefs. “Ready?”

  “As ever,” he answered.

  I tugged down, letting his member fall free. I threw the briefs behind me and grabbed his shaft. Licking the tip first, I spread my lips around his cock and moved down. Taking him in as far as I could, I began the rapid movement up and down that would bring him to a climax. I loved the feeling of control I had when I could bring a man to pleasure. I felt I had him where I wanted him.