by Michele Hauf
“Kaz, resisting your kisses is futile.”
“I could say the same. Your mouth is better than blueberries in chia pudding, that’s for sure.”
“Maybe I can teach you that witches are nothing to be afraid of.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
No, he wasn’t. But something about her made him stumble over his words and she suspected what it was. “Does the scar offend you?”
“What? No. Well—”
“It does bother you.” She pulled a strand of hair across her cheek, an involuntary action she’d developed after getting the scar a decade earlier. “I can’t heal myself.”
“Zoë, don’t hide it like that. It doesn’t bother me. You are—well, perfect would be boring. No one is perfect. What does bother me is that you obviously suffered to have received such an injury. I hate that someone did this to you, or something. Was it an accident?”
Zoë shrugged. “Kind of.”
Sighing heavily, he nodded. “I get that you don’t want to talk about it. I’m inexperienced with this conversation kind of stuff. I’m more of an action man.”
“More kisses, less talk? Your kisses are toe-curlers. And as a hunter, you must know about all the various breeds, so it’s not as if you’re a bumbling human who has no clue about witches.”
“True. You’re as close to human as any breed gets. Though I’m not sure how all the magic works. Let’s just say I’m much better at running away from things like this. Okay?”
Things like emotional stuff, she suspected. What guy was good about that kind of thing? But she wasn’t going to award him any prizes for such honesty. If she expected more of him, he would give it to her.
“You haven’t fled yet, so I’ll mark myself as lucky.”
“But I’m trying, trust me. I’d be at the door right now were you not sitting on me.”
“That creepy, huh?”
He shook his head and kissed her quickly on the mouth. “I like you, Zoë. But there are things going on in my life right now that could complicate the good stuff happening between the two of us. And believe me, this is very good.”
“Like things with vampires?”
“Always with vampires. I’m currently working a job that I don’t want you to get tangled up in.”
“I’ve no desire to tread the grounds a hunter walks. But...” She traced her fingers down his bare chest. “I do want to tread this. You can’t work all the time, can you? Daylight doesn’t seem the optimal time to track vampires.”
“It’s not, but—”
“Then kiss me again.”
“Sounds good, in theory.”
“You really are skittish.”
He heaved out a sigh.
Zoë sensed a distraction from his deeper thoughts was a necessity. Leaning in, she lingered before his mouth, not touching, waiting to see if he would take what she offered. She dusted her lashes and they fluttered against his cheek.
Kaz’s kisses touched her lips, her cheeks, the lobes of her ears. He explored down her neck and skimmed his tongue across her breasts’ exposed curves. The square neckline did not allow for further access, and Zoë bemoaned the prim dress style.
But no. She did and she did not want to tear off clothing. While rushing into kisses, and tastes and touches could lead to sex, that was an entirely different chapter she hadn’t even gotten to yet. Happily ever after would come with patience and a slower turn of the page.
She didn’t want to scare him off. Especially when he’d confessed an urgent need for escape. Slow and exploratory felt right. Because she knew little about him, and suspected she had only peeled back the first layer of Kaspar Rothstein. Beneath, he harbored many layers that she would be wise to cautiously seek out and carefully explore.
The dryer beeped that the cycle had finished. Kaz nuzzled his kisses between her breasts and then up along her neck.
“You smell good. Peaches?”
“And cinnamon. You like? Men usually do like the food scents.”
“Speaking of which, I’m starving.”
“You should have finished the chia pudding.”
“Yeah, I’m not so into all that healthy stuff.”
“You should be.” She bent to kiss his pectoral. “You want to keep these muscles hard as rocks, you should feed them properly.”
“I eat well. Protein and veggies. But chia? That doesn’t sound remotely foodlike.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. It does require a certain palate. I can make you some lunch. Or how about I take you out for a bite?”
“Are you talking about vampires now, because I’m not sure...”
“The bites I have to offer don’t involve fangs.”
“A lunch date?”
She nodded, hopeful for his positive answer. “We can go Dutch. Come on, hunter. I dare you to be seen in public with a creepy witch.”
His smirk wasn’t so horrible; in fact, it was sexy shy as his mouth gradually caught up to the smile that already beamed in his eye. “Lunch, it is.”
Chapter 5
Seated at a tiny table for two beside a window that overlooked the streets crowded with tourists, Kaz felt as if he were being watched. And not by the gorgeous witch across the table, who was digging into her crème brûlée. Her blue eyes flashed up to his and she smiled before forking in a generous bite.
“Want a taste?” She tilted her head. “Kaz? You seem distracted.”
“Uh, sure, I’ll take a bite. Anything that makes you smile that big must be great.”
She served him a taste.
Kaz didn’t indulge. Didn’t have the time for it. Since joining the Order ten years ago, his life had become disciplined, and his diet militant. Picard’s grocery was his usual stop for frozen meals he could pop into the microwave. He rarely ate in restaurants, unless he was on a date, and dates were few and far between because he never had a day off to actually meet women. He was always on call, which meant he didn’t hang out in nightclubs or bars.
Instead, he had to beat up vampires to get the girl.
Apparently, that method worked for him.
Zoë devoured the dessert, and Kaz split his attention between her and his surroundings. It was difficult to completely let down his guard in public. No wonder his relationships never lasted long.
What was a relationship?
Whatever it was, it was beginning to appeal more and more. Had she been in many? Did he appeal to her as much as she did to him? Could a knight ever attract a woman looking for stability? Did she want stability?
Well hell, who didn’t?
It had been a long time since he’d thought about that night Tor had found him behind Madame du Monde’s Dance Emporium, bloody chair leg clutched in his white-knuckled grip. Man, had his life taken a one-eighty for the better since then. Though, most certainly a strange turn.
“Is it something outside?” she asked. “I’ve not had your full attention since the salad. I’m sorry to bore you—”
Dragging his gaze from the window, Kaz forced himself to pay attention to the only thing that he should have in focus. “It’s not you, Zoë.” She was all kinds of pretty to command his attention. “Do you know how exciting it is watching you eat? I’m trying not to stare at you so much you want to start calling me a creep.”
“I could never do that. You’re too handsome to be creepy.”
He wished he’d never said that about witches. It would remain a sore spot for her, he felt sure.
“Do you ever feel like you’re being watched?” he offered as a means to change the conversation. “I can’t put a finger to it. I usually can tell when vampires are nearby. This feeling I’m having is...out there. That’s not a good way to explain it, but it’s the only words I can summon.”
She
nodded knowingly, and set down her fork. “You’re sensitive to the paranormal breeds. That’s why you can feel it.”
“It? Feel what?”
“FaeryTown, of course.”
“Faery—”
While the Order had only touched on faeries during training, Kaz did know FaeryTown existed within Paris. It was sort of a fourth dimension overlaid upon the mortal realm. A place where faeries lived amongst mortals, yet could not be seen by them. It was also where vampires in the know went to get their dust fixes.
“Why didn’t you tell me where we were?” He darted his gaze around the small restaurant and out the window, but wasn’t sure what he expected to see. Wings? “Right now?”
She nodded.
“I should have been told.”
“Wow. You hop right up that anger scale with little provocation, don’t you? I didn’t think it necessary because it’s not as if most people are aware of it. And you’re not a vampire, so—”
“So, it’s important to me to know these things, Zoë. Don’t keep significant information like that from me.”
She leaned back, toyed with her fork, but left her half-eaten dessert alone. He’d offended her, had spoken harshly when she could have no reason to understand his anxiety. It had been a bad idea to go out for lunch during a job. Did he want to hook up with her that badly?
Yes.
“Sorry.” Kaz turned his focus to her pouty pink mouth. “Once again, I said the wrong thing to you.”
“I’m not taking offense, but I am surprised at your reaction. So we’re in FaeryTown. What of it?”
A lot of it, actually. Especially since Kaz was tracking the source of the Magic Dust. Could it be in FaeryTown? Made a hell of a lot of sense. Why hadn’t he considered this angle of investigation until now?
Probably because he had no known way of accessing such a realm.
“Let’s say I’m curious about my surroundings and this very obvious feeling of unease I mentioned to you. I mean, can they see us?”
She nodded.
“But we can’t see them.”
“Not unless they want you to see them, which is rare. A faery could be standing right next to you, or even sitting in that very spot.”
Kaz jostled on his chair, but didn’t go so far as to stand up. The idea of someone sitting in the exact spot where he was right now... “You have to admit that’s disturbing.”
“Not if you don’t think about it.” She was so calm about the possibility their conversation was being observed.
Kaz propped a concealing hand along the side of his mouth and spoke quietly. “Isn’t there some way for a human being to see faeries?”
Zoë smirked. “You do know some things, hunter. There is an ointment that will allow you to see into the sidhe realm,” Zoë offered.
“And where does a guy—” he checked his tone and lowered his voice to a whisper “—get some of that?”
“From a faery healer, or someone in the know. Or...a witch.” Zoë winked.
He held her gaze, discerning that she may be a witch with access to just such a thing.
It hadn’t so much been the fact that the ink witch’s physical appearance had creeped him out. It was that he—any witch—could command the elements, move things, change things, with but a few spoken words or hand gestures. That was a lot of power. And a guy never knew when said witch was going to whip out the magical words or gesture.
At least with vampires, Kaz could see the bad coming.
Zoë leaned across the table, speaking quietly. “What do you want it for?”
“Hunter stuff.”
“It will cost you,” she offered, and sat back.
Had he thought that little blue bow was pretty earlier? Yes, and he’d also thought the breasts behind the bow deserved an exploratory licking. Why hadn’t he stuck around at her place longer?
Right. Hunger. And work. Which he really should get back to. The witch, and her delicious assets, would keep. Besides, much as he wanted her, he was still leery of the whole witch thing.
“So...” He dropped to a whisper again. “If I stop by later would you have some available?”
“Does that mean you’re ditching me now?”
“I, uh, have to get back to work.” And home, away from temptation so he could focus on what had become key—FaeryTown. “I’ve been gone all night, and I appreciate the care you’ve given me. Who would have thought I’d be completely pain free after the beating I took last night? I owe you one, Zoë.”
“I will remember that. It’s always an advantage to have an indebted hunter at one’s call.”
Yikes. Really? What had he just promised her?
“I’ve work to do, anyway,” she continued. “It was fun getting to know you, Kaz. I hope this is more than just a returning-favors thing between us.”
He rose and leaned in to kiss her across the table. She strolled her fingers inside his open coat and hooked them at his waistband. Some of her touches were kind while others were more focused on seductive danger. He liked both styles of touch. Lingering with their mouths together, Kaz wanted to make sure she understood this was more than a favors thing.
But not until he got his priorities in order.
“I like you,” he whispered in her ear. “And you’ll have a time trying to get rid of me from now on. But, uh, the job comes first.”
He traced his forefinger through the creamy dessert and tapped her lip with it. She licked it clean. He glanced aside. In Paris everyone enjoyed a sexy show, and the couple at the nearest table smiled at them.
But were the faeries smiling, as well? Too disturbed to put aside the nervous feeling that he was being watched, Kaz kissed Zoë quickly and told her he’d see her later. He filed through the closely spaced dining-room tables and turned to catch the witch’s wink before exiting.
Why was she interested in him, anyway? He was everything wrong for her—any woman, really. The pretty little witch should find another witch or vampire, or whatever breed floated her boat, and forget about the trouble he could bring to her life. Because where a knight from the Order walked, trouble spattered the street in piles of ash.
Before crossing the restaurant threshold, Kaz shoved a hand into his pants pocket. His fingers curled about the old brass key. Safe. He could move onward.
Outside the restaurant, he scanned the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of something, anything not right. He didn’t know exactly what he was looking for, but sensed he might feel it.
Would he know if wings fluttered nearby or brushed his arm? What if a faery were standing before him right now, staring him down with a pair of violet eyes and a goofy grin?
This place was creeping him out more than a witch with a tattoo gun ever could.
“Later,” he muttered.
He headed toward the left bank, where Order headquarters were located. He needed to scan the database and brush up on his knowledge of faeries.
* * *
Zoë had much work waiting completion at home. Of course, she was insane for thinking her work was more important than spending time with Kaz. She must have eaten too much dessert and now the sugar was messing with her brain, because who chose work over romance? Certainly not a damsel headed toward happily ever after.
But apparently, the knight did.
She wouldn’t overthink this. So he had to work. She could accept that. They were just getting to know one another.
She hadn’t far to walk home, and the afternoon served up a chill that made her glad she’d brought a long, gray sweater to wrap about her shoulders as she kicked her boots through a pile of fallen maple leaves cluttering the alley behind her home.
A flash of red caught her eye as she strolled up the back way through her garden. Her neighbor Lillian, who was also a witch, and who had seen
the French Revolution—not to mention Joan of Arc’s rise and fall—waved to her from amidst a tall crop of hollyhocks that had gone to seed.
“Hello, little one,” Lillian called as Zoë approached. She never called her Zoë, having once explained she thought the name didn’t fit her misplaced soul. Zoë wasn’t sure why her soul was misplaced, but it sounded about right to her. Because really, her wanting soul should have found true love by now. “It’s a lovely day.”
“That it is. Collecting seeds for next year?”
“I’ve a stew to make for a certain gentleman suitor who intends to call later this evening. Hollyhock will clarify his thoughts regarding engaging in an affair with me.”
“You have a sneaky way of getting what you want, Lillian.”
“And I’d never deny it. So what’s put the blush in your cheeks? And don’t tell me it’s the weather.”
Leaning her elbows on the wrought-iron fence and toying with the dried head of the flower, Zoë managed to sprinkle the seeds into Lillian’s waiting bowl as she detailed her adventures with the sexy hunter.
“You don’t often date humans,” Lillian noted.
“I don’t think I’ve ever dated a human. And we’re not dating. We’ve kissed and I’ve healed his wounds.”
“Kissing is one of life’s finest pleasures,” Lillian said on a sigh threaded with experience.
“Kisses are delicious magic,” Zoë agreed. “He took a shower this morning after spending the night on my couch in healing mode. Lillian, that man’s muscles are remarkable. I couldn’t even fit both hands around one of his biceps. I never thought I was into muscles until I saw those guns.”
“I was once the courtesan to an English knight. Let me tell you about that man’s muscle. It was always hard.”
“Lillian!”
“What? Oh, you mean you were talking about some other kind of muscle. Pfft. The most important one is always the most interesting, yet men tend to keep it tucked out of sight.”
“I haven’t seen that particular muscle on Kaz yet.”
“What’s taking so long?”
“I told you I’ve only just met him. Half of me wants to take it slow while the other half is already picking out china patterns and writing happily ever afters.”