Flipping her over, he rolled on top of her with his knee between her legs, his mouth descending on hers again, seeking and demanding. Her tongue met his with every stroke. Sighing, she relaxed in his arms.
Placing the head of his hot shaft in the opening of her fiery core, he eased through the slick opening. Holding back the impulse to impale her in one hard thrust, he slowly eased inside, relishing the way her taut, wet flesh gripped his shaft.
He lowered his weight over her soft, naked body, crushing her to him. She moaned, lifting her legs and wrapping them around his hips. He braced himself on his elbows, pumping in slow, deliberate thrusts. Gazing into her eyes, he watched her pleasure build with every slick stroke.
She whimpered as his thick shaft slid out of her in a long, smooth glide only to slide inside again, stoking the embers to the flame building inside. With each thrust, she soared higher, and her hunger for him consumed her. She brought her mouth to his, wanting to feel his smooth tongue against hers.
His mouth covered hers, thrusting his tongue deep. His hips continued to pump against hers in a maddening rhythm. She felt a climax building, the pressure growing with every sensuous stroke.
He felt her body tense. Releasing her lips, he thrust harder, dropping his head to her shoulder. She cried out, her body shaking in climax, her tight core pulsating around his rigid shaft. In the heat of the moment, his fangs dropped and he sank his teeth in her shoulder. He marked her as he came inside her with a final stroke, burying his shaft to the hilt.
He held her until he grew soft, and then he eased himself down on the cot beside her. She lightly dozed in the aftermath with a slight trace of a smile on her face. She rolled toward him, cuddling her body to his. He smiled, sliding his fingers gently over her bare hip. In the past, sex was just that, sex. Purely for self-gratification. With Desiree, it was somehow different. He wanted to please her more than take his own pleasure.
He lifted his head. The smile left his face as he looked at the mark he’d left on her shoulder. Suddenly feeling very possessive, he held her tighter, frowning at the tiny puncture wounds he left. He had not meant to mark her, but he was not sorry. He wanted to keep her, Drake be damned.
“That was amazing,” she whispered, snuggling closer.
“You’re amazing.” Holding her tighter, he nuzzled her neck. “It will be dawn in a couple of hours.”
Her eyes flew open as his words registered. She sat straight up, looking around frantically. “Oh no, we’re running out of time!”
He chuckled softly, propping up on his elbows. “We have plenty of time to go back into the cavern before sunrise.”
She whipped her head around to gawk at him. Her brow furrowed in worry. “No, no, no…I need those ingredients for that spell. It can’t wait. I need time to experiment. The longer I wait, the greater the chance of failure.”
He sat up, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Calm down. If we get dressed and go now, we should still have plenty of time before sunrise. Pigeon Forge isn’t far from here.”
She crawled over the back seat to retrieve her clothes. Slipping into her bikinis and jeans, she turned her head, searching urgently for her bra. She bent down, rummaging around on the floor, laughing at herself. Sitting back up, looking all around again, she threw out her hands, shrugging. “I’ve lost half of my clothes.”
He rested on his elbows on the back of the seat and grinned at her. “I don’t care if you don’t find them. I like the view.”
She grinned. “I’m sure Agatha would appreciate that…or Caleb.”
Pointing to the corner, the smile left his face. “They’re over there.”
She sat up, staring at him for his change in tone. “What just happened?”
Pulling on his boots, he stopped, looking over at her. “What do you mean?”
Reaching down, she grabbed the rest of her clothes. “We were just laughing, and suddenly you sound upset.” She locked eyes with him, cocking her head to the side. “Did I say something to upset you?”
“No, not directly.” He looked away. “I just don’t want Caleb to see you like that.”
Snapping her bra, her fingers nimbly buttoned her shirt. “That was supposed to be a joke.” She looked back up at him. “I have no intention of doing what we just did with Caleb. I told you that earlier. I don’t think of him that way.”
“He can be very persuasive.”
She looked up from tying her tennis shoes. “So can you.” She shook her head. “Mica, I don’t make it a habit to sleep with every guy I meet.”
“I wasn’t implying that you did.”
She looked away. “I was married…once.” She shook her head sadly. “He died in an accident when I was thirty. There’s not been another until you.”
He made the mental math calculation. His mouth dropped open dumbfounded. “You haven’t had sex in ninety-five years?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“Why the hell not?”
She flushed red, sighing dramatically. “I have to feel the attraction.” She looked away and then shrugged. “And even then it’s nearly impossible most of the time.”
Now he was curious. “Why?”
“The minute they find out I’m a witch, they usually hightail it and run.” She threw out her hand, gesturing to him. “You’re the first one in ninety-five years that I’ve been attracted to who wasn’t scared to death of me.”
He laughed at her statement. “What’s there to be afraid of?”
She narrowed her eyes and glared. “If I get angry, I have the ability to turn human men into farm animals with just a little rhyme,” she remarked. “That’s why Jason gagged me. He is afraid of me and of what I can do to him.”
He laughed again. “I’ll have to be careful not make you angry.”
His comment hit a sore spot; her eyes flashed. “I said human men.” The sharpness in her voice was unexpected, and the smile left his face. She turned away from him, mumbling, “I don’t have power like that over vampires.”
“Desiree, look at me.” Bringing her eyes up to meet his, hers held a deep sadness. “I was only kidding. I’m not afraid of you.”
She blew out a troubled breath. “I know you’re not afraid if me.” She looked away to avoid his eyes. “I’m just afraid you’ll leave, and I’ll be lonelier than ever, because now I know what I’ll be missing.”
He lifted her chin with his finger, and remarked softly, “I’m not leaving, because I know what I’ll be missing.”
She searched his eyes, seeing his sincerity. Every fiber in her body wanted to believe him, but ninety-five years of loneliness weighed heavy on her mind. She could not allow herself the luxury of hope, so she looked away, choosing to dwell in her fears. “What if I can’t cast this spell and Drake won’t let me go?”
“I’ll try to convince him to let you go.” She looked up, shaking her head sadly, so he continued. “If that doesn’t work, I’ll move back in with the rest of them, and you.”
“You hate being around that many others.”
He nodded in thought. “I do, but I’d do it to be near you.”
His words warmed her heart, but her conscience would not allow him to sacrifice his freedom for her. She shook her head stubbornly. “I can’t let you do that.” She looked back into his eyes. “I know how much you hate that kind of life. I know eventually you would resent me for putting you through that.” She looked away, shrugging. “I’d hate myself for putting you through that.”
“I thought you didn’t want me to go.”
Her shoulders slumped in her misery. “I don’t.”
She had succeeded in trying his patience. “Then stop trying to push me out of the door.” He lifted her chin, forcing her look at him. “Look, we’re going to go see Agatha. You're going to get the ingredients to cast that spell. That spell will work and Drake will let you go.”
“But…”
“No arguments. We don’t have the time to debate this. The sun will rise soon.”
>
Nodding, she hung her head in resignation.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mica drove south on Highway 441 in the direction of Pigeon Forge. Snow was trying to stick to the roadway, making it difficult to drive. It was 4:00 in the morning, and they were in a race against the clock. Desiree stared intently through the glass looking for the all-night laundry that Sherry described.
He pointed off to the left. “There’s a laundry.”
She stared hard into the darkness, shaking her head in frustration. “That one’s closed. I don’t see the apothecary. Sherry specifically said the laundry was open all night.”
“We’re almost to Pigeon Forge.” He looked over at her. “Maybe we missed it.”
“We’ve got to find it.” She sighed heavily. “We’re running out of time.”
“I’d give us about another fifteen minutes before we have to turn around and try again tomorrow.”
She focused her attention back on him. “We may not have tomorrow.” She fidgeted nervously in the seat next to him. “If Jason’s out here looking for me, I may already be out of time.”
“Hargrove will not lay one finger on you.”
“Mica, Jason is sneaky.” She frowned, the worry sounding clear in her voice. “We may not see him coming.”
“He’ll still have to get through me, and that’s not going to happen.”
“I do not doubt you, but he’s tricked me before. I want to be ready for him this time.” She sat back, smiling. “When he gets a taste of what I’m planning to do to him, he will regret the day he heard my name.”
Mica glanced at her. “Just what are you planning to do?”
She rolled her eyes, grinning. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
He looked over at her sharply at that statement. Calculating her mischievous expression put a severe warning edge to his voice. “I won’t allow you to put yourself in danger.”
She laughed at his reaction. “I won’t be.” Her eyes sparkled. “When I put my plan into action, Jason will just have long enough to see it coming. He couldn’t run fast enough.”
He nodded. “You’re going to cast a spell on him?”
She nodded back, laughing as her plan unfolded in her mind. She did not try to mask the excitement in her voice. “Yeah, and I’ll add a twist to make it permanent.”
He glanced over at her, seeing the excitement and anticipation of her planned revenge lighting up her face. He chuckled softly. She was a girl after his own heart, although he knew he would have to keep a close eye on her to make sure she did not get too reckless. That he would not stand for. He glanced back at the road. Pointing ahead of them, he drew her attention to some lights up ahead. “There’s an all-night laundry.” He looked back at her for confirmation. “Do you see the apothecary?”
She sat up straight, staring out the window. “Yeah, I see it.” She looked back over at him tilting her head. “You can’t see the apothecary?”
“No, all I see is the all-night laundry.” He pulled the Express Van into the parking lot, parking it.
“This must be the place then. Sherry said that only a witch can see the apothecary.” Grabbing the handle of the door, she glanced back at him, biting her lip. “You might need to stay in the van.”
He reached for the door handle. “I’m not letting you go in there by yourself.”
She placed her hand on his arm. “You have to. Agatha is a witch. She will know immediately you are a vampire. If you go in with me, she probably won’t help.”
“Here, take this money.” He handed her a stack of cash. “If you’re not out here in ten minutes, I’m coming in after you.”
Her eyes rounded, looking at the stack of cash he placed in her hand. Grinning, her mouth dropped open. “You can take me shopping anytime.”
He grinned back. “Very cute…just make it fast, please.”
She wiped the smile off her face, trying to look demure. “Since you said please.” She grinned again when he rolled his eyes. “I’ll be quick.” Jumping out of the van, she ran up to the door, and rang the bell.
The light in the front room illuminated, the curtain pulling back away from the window, and a dark-haired woman stared out. The speaker by the door sounded off. “Yes?” said the voice from the speaker.
“Agatha?” she spoke loudly. “I’m Desiree; did Sherry call you and tell you I was coming?”
The woman looked past her toward the van suspiciously. “Who’s that with you?”
“That’s—uh—that’s Mica, my bodyguard.” She looked in the direction of Agatha’s gaze, locking eyes with Mica. Her eyes widened at the expectant look he gave her, and she shrugged, turning back to the speaker. “He’s going to wait in the car.”
The speaker sounded off again. “He’s big enough to be a bodyguard…I don’t know…I don’t want any trouble…”
She blew out a frustrated breath. “We aren’t bringing any trouble with us.” She knew the woman did not have any reason to trust her, but time was a precious commodity right now. She needed the ingredients for that potion, and this witch was the only obstacle standing in her way. Her tone of voice reflected her desperation. “I just need some ingredients for a spell. My life depends on it.” She impatiently tapped her foot when a new thought occurred to her. “I have cash.” She splayed several bills in front of the camera.
“Very well, stand back and I’ll buzz you in.”
The buzzer sounded off and she opened the door. Glancing back over her shoulder at Mica, she smiled, waving her hand to let him know she was okay, and walked through the door, closing it behind her.
The apothecary was a regular store of witchcraft. Picking up a stack of tarot cards, she flipped a card over. Her eyes rounded at the card. She placed the stack back down and shivered. “It would be the death card,” she grumbled under her breath.
A tall, dark-haired woman entered the room from behind a curtain. She was sleek and as graceful as a cat. “I’m Agatha.”
“Hi, Agatha.” She nodded in acknowledgement, sticking out her hand. “I’m Desiree.”
Agatha looked at her outstretched hand, ignoring the gesture. “What is it that you require?”
She took her hand back, wiping it self-consciously on her pants. It was obvious that Agatha was suspicious of her motives, and she did not have the time to try to win her trust, or make a new friend. “I’m on a time crunch.” She handed Agatha a list. “I need the ingredients on this list, a small cauldron, and a mortar and pestle.” Her eyes darted around the shop. “Do you have any amulets for sale?”
Agatha’s eyes skimmed the paper at the long list of ingredients. “I’ll have this ready for you in a few minutes.” She looked up, pointing to a table. “The amulets are over on that table.”
“Oh.” Desiree put her hand up urgently, trying to catch her attention. “I also need a book on the black arts.”
Agatha’s head whipped around, her eyes widening in surprise. “Are you planning on cursing someone?”
She brought her chin up defiantly. “I can handle myself.”
The woman raked her eyes over her skeptically, trying to judge her character. “Black magic can have dire consequences.”
She rolled her eyes at the woman’s condescending tone, crossing her arms over her chest in an impatient manner. She was old enough to be this woman’s great-great-grandmother. “Agatha, what did Sherry tell you about me?”
The woman mimicked her stance and crossed her arms over her chest as well. Her eyes raked over Desiree again in an appraisal. “Obviously not enough.”
“I am the leader of our coven.” She raised her chin a notch. “I am the senior member.”
Disbelief flickered in her eyes. “Does your entire coven consist of children then?”
She could not help it. She laughed at the look on the woman’s face. “No, not hardly.” She shook her head at the woman’s assumption. “I’m a lot older than you think.”
She eyed Desiree up and down again. “I’d say twenty-five
or thirty at the most,” she murmured in calculation.
“Try one hundred and twenty-five.” She smiled at the disbelief flickering across the woman’s face. “I was born in eighteen eighty six.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you that with magic anything is possible?” she remarked in her teaching tone.
Agatha sighed, still in indecision as to what to believe. “The book you seek is on the shelf by the register. I’ll be out with your herbs in a couple of minutes.” She brushed behind the curtain out of Desiree’s sight.
Her eyes scanned the room, finding the register. Her fingers skimmed the books on the shelf until she found the one she was looking for. Pulling it off the shelf, she placed it in the crook of her arm. Hurrying to the table with the amulets, she was struck by indecision. She did not usually use trinkets, but she needed to bless something, so she grabbed a handful, placing them on the counter by the register, and set the book down. On impulse, she picked up the stack of tarot cards and placed them with her purchases. She also snatched up several boxes of candles of assorted colors, some incense, and a couple of sage sticks.
Agatha came out of the back room with two large bags crammed with items. Setting them down on the floor next to the counter, she rang everything up. “Will there be anything else?”
“Yes…” She looked around. “I also need a few small pouches, say about ten of them.”
The woman nodded, grabbing the pouches from under the counter, counting them out, and placing them in the bag. “Is that it?”
Desiree looked everything over. “Yes, I believe so.”
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