Magic, New Mexico: A Touch of Fate (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Fated For Curves Book 1)

by Aidy Award

  Great, way to get on the angry little man’s good side. She might not have all that many social skills, but at least she could apologize and start them off on a better foot.

  “Sorry, we couldn’t see where we were going in all that fog. We didn’t mean to invade or break your, uh, wards.” Whatever those were. Kady glanced at Black’s wounds, her own towel dress and then to the woman, hoping for some empathy. “But, we were run off the road and we could really use your help.”

  “Oh, yes. Come, come, we’ll put you in the house Sigar just completed.” She indicated they should follow her and walked toward one of the containers. “It’s on order for another witch so the interior should be the right size for the two of you.”

  Maybe Kady had bonked her head in the crash down the mountain because these people were saying some things she couldn’t wrap her mind around. Another witch?

  The man stomped his foot. “Margreth, you always do this. We are not doing anything for these people. They broke into our garden, trouble is following them, and I have to ship that house tomorrow.”

  Margreth tsked him again and then bopped him on the nose. “Shush yourself, Sigar. Everything will be fine. The bear needs our help and you can still ship your beautiful house tomorrow.”

  Sigar seemed to like to get his nose bopped and the compliment because he rolled his eyes and pretended to still be mad, but there was an unmistakable grin on his face.

  “Will your broom be okay in the grass?” Margreth indicated to Herbie and then led them to one of the containers.

  “My truck? Sure. The grass is fine.”

  The house had been painted a beautiful light blue on top with grass and trees to blend in with the scenery below, a whole bay of windows had been added, and it even had a covered porch. It was bigger, and much nicer than Kady’s tiny house. A stylized graphic of a garden gnome had been stamped on the door of the shipping container tiny house. Under it were the words Gnome Sweet Home, Inc.

  “Oh. You’re Sigar Gunderson of Gnome Sweet Home? I looked at buying one of your tiny houses earlier this year.”

  Sigar harrumphed. “Why didn’t you then?”

  “Well, to be honest, you were a bit out of my price range.” By about fifty grand.

  “You could have asked for the magical people discount, dear.” Margreth waved her hands in front of entryway and the door popped open.

  Cool, motion sensors. “Uh, I didn’t know that was a thing. I’m not really into magic.”

  The Gundersons and Black stared at her.

  “What? Do I have something on my face? Are there branches in my hair?” She wiped at her face and patted her head. Had her towel slipped?

  She yanked on the terry cloth and made sure it was still in place.

  Margreth and Black exchanged a look. The kind that people who know something you don’t, give each other. Black shook his head.

  “She doesn’t know?” Margreth asked.

  “Know what?” This was why she didn’t like to be around people. Even with an alien and two people who resembled garden gnomes she still felt like an outsider.

  “I don’t think she does,” Black replied.

  “I’m right here. What don’t I know?”

  Sigar walked inside the house and they all followed him. No one said a word.

  Kady could feel the heat rising up her neck and chest. They were all staring at her and she wanted to find a hole to climb into.

  Sigar crossed his arms. “But she broke our wards and created that cloud you floated in on. She’s powerful. How can she not know?”

  Kady swallowed, twice. “Please tell me what you think I don’t know.

  Margreth smiled in the way a grandmother who is about to give out presents did. “My dear, a powerful magic lives inside of you. You used it to enter our garden which is protected so non-magical folk can’t find it. You’re traveling with a bear in man form, a familiar and a broom.”

  None of this made any sense. Aliens she could buy into. But magic, like the kind out of Hogwarts? No way. That was true fantasy, kind of like love and happy ever afters for geeky chubby girls who wore glasses and grew up in foster care.

  Some people believed in both. Kady wasn’t one of them.

  She shook her head.

  Margreth, Sigar, and Black all nodded theirs.

  She looked at Black, searching his face. He wasn’t laughing at her, none of them were. In fact, his gaze had both heat and honesty there.

  He reached out taking her shoulders and pulled her into his arms. “Kady,” he brushed his lips across hers and cupped her cheek in his hand.” My sweet mah wah, you are a powerful magic-wielding witch.”

  Chapter

  Seven: Thunder, Lightening and Snow

  Black’s luscious mate was not taking the news that she was more than an ordinary human very well. He wasn’t sure what he expected her reaction to be, but the stark stillness that enveloped her body was not it.

  “We’ll go make some food and drink, and let you two be, then shall we?” Margreth grabbed her husband and dragged him out the door.

  Good. He needed time to tend to his mate and then his own wounds. Once he was sure she was all right, he would shift and heal the remaining injuries.

  But, by the look on Kady’s face, that wouldn’t be for a while. She needed time and comfort. One he could give, the other they had precious little of.

  He lifted her into his arms and headed for the back of the strange little abode. There had to be a bed where she could rest.

  “Whoa. You can’t pick me up and carry me around. I’m too heavy, you’ll drop me on my ass.”

  Ah, there was his Kady.

  “I assure you, mah wah, you are the perfect size and I will never drop you.” Her ass was his to savor and protect.

  “Where do you think you’re taking me, and why do you keep calling me that?”

  “I am taking you to bed.”

  She poked him in the chest. That fire inside her sparking to life again. “No, you are not. Stop right there, alien, bear-man, whatever. Put me down.”

  He should heed her wishes, but he didn’t. If he had to spark her ire to continue to bring her back from shock, he’d do everything he could to piss her off.

  The flush that made her so tempting spread across her skin. He was beginning to recognize the different shades of her skin based on her emotions. The anger was pretty, but he wanted to again see the blush of sexual excitement.

  He kicked open the door to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. How he wanted to crawl in with her, pleasure her, make her forget ninety-nine percent of this day had ever happened. All except for the part when they’d kissed.

  But, she’d been through more than enough for today. She needed food, drink, and a good sleep. He would take care of her, protect her, defend her, comfort her, and when she was ready, pleasure her, claim her, mate her.

  He reached for his ember, and felt its absence keenly.

  “Hey, where are you going?”

  “You’ve have been a fierce warrior today, pulling me from the wreckage of my ship, hiding me from the TFO tree weasel in your pleasure den, making them think battle ships were attacking so we could escape, and finding a refuge. It is my turn to take care of you. Rest, while I make food.”

  Of course, she didn’t. She flipped her legs over the side of the bed and moved to get up. He growled and tackled her, pushing her back into the bed and under him. As it should be. His soul cried out to claim her now, make her his forever.

  He pinned her arms above her head and pressed his hips to hers, letting her feel how hard and ready his body was and had been all night for her.

  “Don’t move from this bed, mah wah. I will never hurt you, but you are mine to take care of, especially when you won’t take care of yourself.”

  Her mouth popped open into a surprised oh, and he couldn’t help but lick her round little lips. “You have had enough for today. Rest, or I will make you rest.”

  She pushed against him, but without u
sing her magic, couldn’t move him even a little. He watched her struggle, waited for her to wear herself out.

  “I’ll…I’ll use a magic spell on you.”

  Fates, she was pretty when she was mad. “You don’t know any.”

  She wrinkled up her nose wiggled it and her lips back and forth. A tiny storm cloud formed over their heads.

  Uh-oh, maybe her magic instincts were about to revolt. He hoped she planned to rain on his head and not strike him with lightening.

  Three giant fluffy snowflakes drifted out of the cloud, one sticking in his hair, one landed on the pillow, and another on her eyelashes.

  The fire in her eyes banked and she stopped fighting against him. Her lack of powers defeated her. He would do his best to help remedy that as soon as they were safe in New Mexico.

  “Good girl.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him.

  He was sure it was meant as a slight, but all he wanted to do was tangle his own with hers. “Sometime soon I’ll ask you to do that again. But, for now, rest while I make us some food.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “But you are stubborn. If I get up will you stay?”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Fine.”

  Black released her arms and she didn’t move. He couldn’t resist one quick kiss. He stole the kiss from her, pressing his tongue inside to say hello to hers and make promises for more later, then got up before he couldn’t resist and stayed.

  He stood over her for a moment, ready to push her down, should she get up again, but she turned on her side and cuddled into the pillow.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  He hurried to the door to check with the gnomes about food and if they had a communications device. When he opened the door, he found tray with food, glass jars of water, a small container, and a note.

  We’ve reinforced the wards, so you two will be safe to rest until morning. We’ve coaxed the big broom into another container for the night. The small jar has a little healing salve for your wounds.

  Sleep well,

  The Gundersons

  Black took the food and salve to the bedroom where he found Kady asleep. Make that talking in her sleep.

  “George Lucas…you can’t do that to Captain Picard.”

  Hmm. Sounded like Kady had many other men in her life. He would have to work hard to make her forget all of them. Starting now.

  He should eat, shift, and let his bear finish healing his wounds, but he was too damn tired, and curling up with his mate was too tempting. He stripped off his clothes and crawled into the bed gently pulling Kady into his arms.

  “Help me, Obi Bear Kenobi, you’re my only hope.”

  He drifted off listening to her have a conversation with a droid named R2-D2 who needed a good reprogramming for all its shenanigans.

  His dreams were filled with spectral soldiers, stealing the souls of everyone around him. He offered his own soul in trade for leaving Kady’s.

  “Black? Black, are you awake?” Kady was wrapped tight in his arms and whispered against his chest.

  “What is it, mah wah?” He ran his hands over her arms and back, needing to reassure himself she was safe and secure.

  She didn’t pull away, but grasped his arm. “You’re bleeding again.”

  Sure enough, one of the wounds from the TFO weapons seeped blood down his arm. “It’s okay, my body is trying to heal.”

  She was quieter in the dark of the night, like she’s been awake thinking for a long time. “We need to get you some medical care.”

  Black didn’t want her to move, even for a second. It might break the spell they were in, the one where he got to hold her and touch her and hopefully she wanted to be held and touched.

  She hadn’t try to get away from him when she awoke. She’d spooned into him and seemed comfortable in his arms. “No, I’ll be fine once I shift. My bear can heal me faster than anything else, unless you want to try your magic.”

  She looked up into his eyes, and was so close, so soft, he needed to kiss her.

  She placed her fingers on his chest, playing with the skin where his soul ember should be hanging. Did she sense its importance to their relationship too?

  He could see her mind working, she was deciding on something. “You should do that, change into the bear.”

  She was avoiding saying what was truly on her mind. This might be the only time they have in the foreseeable future. It was the perfect opportunity to draw her out, to woo her. The battles ahead were not exactly the best time to start a relationship.

  “I’d rather lie here with you in my arms, mah wah. That’s harder to do with paws and claws.”

  She didn’t look up, avoiding his eyes. “What does that word mean, the one you keep calling me?”

  “Mah wah? There isn’t a good equivalent in your language or the translator would have chosen it. It’s something like sweetheart, and lover, and soul mate all rolled into one.”

  She frowned and tried to pull away from him. “Why would you call me that? I mean, I like you, more than seems normal, but you’re like a thousand percent hotter than me. I’m not the kind of girl someone like you, calls something like that.”

  The bear inside roared at the outrage of her words. It rose to the surface, close to the shift, pouring its energy through him, healing the last of his wounds, ready to defend his mate.

  His Kady had been hurt, more than once, if he had to guess. He wanted nothing more than to eat the faces off anyone who had ever made her doubt herself in this way.

  So sweet, so vulnerable. He contained the bear and breathed her in. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Let me show you how wrong you are.”

  He lifted her chin and brushed his lips across her, asking for more. At first, she stiffened, but when he skimmed his fingers along her neck, and gently took her bottom lip between his teeth, her eyes fluttered shut and she responded with a soft sigh.

  She wanted to be touched, to be pleasured, she needed it. He would be the one to give her everything she needed.

  He rolled so she was under him and he could caress and touch her whole body. He wasn’t wearing anything, but she was in the towel. “Use your magic, pretty witch, make your clothes disappear so I can touch every bit of your luscious body.”

  “I don’t know how.”

  He kissed the soft skin behind her ear, licking and learning how to turn her on. “You do, use your spell, ask the Universe for help.”

  “Oh, mmm, do that again.” She clasped her hands into his hair and pulled his mouth back down.

  He obliged, sucking and nibbling from her ear down to her chest. “I can lick you in many more places if you were naked.”

  “I feel strange asking the Universe to help me get some sexy times. Let’s just take my towel off.”

  The top fold of Kady’s towel wriggled and Black hoped her powers were manifesting. Instead a small creature stuck its head out.

  He stilled, instantly forming a plan to rid them of the creature and not break the sexual tension they were building. “Do not be alarmed. There is a spiky rodent sticking out of your clothing. Stay as still as you can and I will dispose of it.”

  She blinked and alertness came into her eyes. “Don’t you touch Percy.”

  Percy?

  She wiggled her nose like she’d done before and her towel and the creature disappeared and manifested on the table next to the bed.

  “Ha ha. I did it.” She giggled and a smile lit up her face.

  “Yes, you did.” And she should be rewarded for her skill. Black lowered his head and sucked her now exposed nipple into his mouth. Fates, she was so sweet.

  “Oh, my god. Ooh, Black.” Kady’s hands pushed back into his hair, holding him to her breast.

  He’d work to make sure her hands were occupied all night. He licked and sucked and nibbled making her moan. Her other breast needed attention too. He cupped it, loving the way it filled his hand. Her nipple pressed hard against his palm.

  “More, B
lack. Please.”

  “Your undergarment, Kady, I’ll give you more when you make it disappear too.”

  She closed her eyes, wiggled her nose, and her undergarment joined her towel on the table.

  “Fates above, you are fucking gorgeous.”

  The flush of her skin, he’d waited too long to see, crept across her chest, neck, and skin. But, with a wrinkle of her nose, there was nothing between him and Kady anymore.

  Except the sheet she pulled across her legs and belly. “You don’t need to see those jiggly bits.”

  Black growled low in his throat. “Oh, yes. I do.”

  He ripped the sheet from her body and threw all the bed coverings onto the floor. Now he had Kady in all her naked glory, her body ready to explore.

  “Eep.” She crossed her legs and thrust her arms over her sex.

  “Don’t try to hide from me, mah wah. Don’t deny me your beauty.” He grabbed her hands and pushed them over her head. She bit her lip and turned her face away from him.

  Once he claimed her and showed her over and over again how desirable she was, she would never have to be ashamed of her body, ever.

  He pushed his thigh between hers, opening her. The scent of her sex wafted over his senses, pushing his bear toward the feral need to take her. Soon she would be his, but not yet.

  “Kady, look at me.”

  She closed her eyes.

  “Let me see the fire and lust inside of your soul. I need it, I need you.”

  Her eyes flew open, and she looked at him surprised. That was all the advantage he needed. He slid his hand between her legs and caressed her inner thigh, coaxing her to open for him.

  “Don’t look away. Let me see the desire, the passion building in you.”

  Kady swallowed and licked her lips. Slowly, she spread her legs, giving him access to her plump pussy.

  Chapter

  Eight: Baby, You’re a Firework

  Sex had never been like this, and they hadn’t even gotten to the main event yet.

  For Kady, sex had been a fumbling, under the covers, lights out, ten-minute deal with guys she told herself cared, but who she knew didn’t really.