by Tawny Weber
It’d been one of the hardest things she’d done.
And one of the most empowering.
Next to seducing Jacob, of course.
He didn’t look so happy, though. Pushing a hand through his hair, his expression was torn between delight and worry. She’d seen that same look on her sisters’ faces often enough to know that all she had to do was show a hint of fear, and he’d talk her out of it.
So, instead, she slowly walked across the room. Four steps brought her within touching range.
“I’m going back,” she said quietly, sliding her hands up the hard planes of his chest and giving a delighted sigh at the warm muscles there. “I know what I’m facing. Probably better than anybody, I know what Lynn is capable of. But I can’t, I won’t, keep hiding.”
His hands settled on her hips, his fingers rubbing soothing little circles there. The move both relaxed and turned her on. She wanted to feel his mouth on her again. To taste his lips, to lose herself in his kiss.
But first...
“I’ll need an attorney,” she told him.
“I’m available.”
“That might be a problem.”
“Why?” Looking like he was trying not to be offended, he tilted his head toward his cellphone on the nearby counter. “You can check my references. I’m a damned good lawyer.”
“I already did, and yes you are,” she said, smiling at his frown. “No, my only concern is if you have one of those silly conflict of interest rules.”
His smile was just this side of wicked as he shook his head.
“Nope. I’m all yours, in any way you want me.”
“I do,” she admitted. “I don’t know where this will end up. I’m not sure if the feelings I have for you are just because of the situation, because you’re gorgeous, or because you’re awesome in bed. But whatever the reason, I want to see where they go. I want to see where we can take them.”
She held her breath. As scary as facing Lynn was, putting herself out there like this was harder. Jacob was the first guy she’d ever pursued. The first she’d ever stripped for and seduced into bed. And even that’d taken help from her friendly neighborhood witch.
Jacob’s smile shifted from naughty to sweet in a blink, his hands shifting from her hips to her waist as he pulled her closer.
His eyes locked on hers, he said, “I think we’ll take things into a pretty great place.”
Almost dancing with relief and laughing indelight, Bianca lifted her mouth to his. The kiss was a sweet promise that quickly slid into hot delight. Their tongues tangled as desire swam through Bianca.
Then, before things could get really interesting, Jacob’s cellphone rang.
Slowly, they pulled their lips apart, both turning their head toward the intrusion. Her cheek snuggled against his chest, Bianca read the display.
Lynn White.
“Whatever you need, I’ll make it happen,” he said quietly.
She took a second, closing her eyes and searching her mind, her heart.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, her lashes fluttering open so she could look at Jacob. She pressed one palm to his cheek, then brushed her lips over his.
“After all, I’ve got my very own prince charming by my side,” she teased just before she took the kiss deeper.
Epilogue
Natalia stood in the apartment’s tidy little kitchenette and pressed her fingertips to her eyelids, trying to push back the hot flood of tears.
“Natalia? Why aren’t you home? It’s getting late.”
Lowering her hands, Natalia sighed and gave her mother a shrug.
“Jacob left this morning, so I was clearing the apartment in case we get a new renter,” she said. No point in mentioning that he’d left with the love of his life, riding off into the sunset to fight dragons by her side. Odette already knew that. She’d even baked them treats for the long plane ride.
“Why so sad?” Odette asked, her tiny figure framed by the doorway. “Love was found here, in this room. That’s something to be happy about. It leaves a trace, a giddy sort of joy, that you should be celebrating.”
Of course she should. Just like she shouldn’t have gotten her hopes up over a match between Jacob and Anja. She’d known when she’d read Jacob’s chart that they wouldn’t have been a good match, long term. But she was desperate, so she’d settle for short term.
“I’d wanted him for Anja,” she admitted, even though she knew her mother was already aware. Her mother was aware of everything. “But she didn’t even give him a chance. Just like before, she shoved him at someone else instead of opening herself to a relationship. That girl makes me so angry.”
Natalia stormed from one end of the small apartment to the other, frustration fueling every stomp of the way.
“You can’t force love, darling. You know that. Anja will find hers when it’s time.”
But time wasn’t a luxury the Karmanski’s had.
“Mama, the magic is fading. If Anja doesn’t marry, have a child, it’ll be lost.”
“You don’t know that, Natalia.”
“Family legend says—”
“Family superstition, you mean.”
Natalia ground her teeth as her mother dismissed that gut-wrenching fear with a languid shrug. As if it didn’t matter. As if the blessed magic that ran though their blood drying up was as negligible as a tray of burned tarts. Easily thrown away, easily forgotten.
She waved her hand, throwing fire at the array of candles lining the counter. The energy pulsed, beautifully inside her, then it sputtered and faded away. Her breath caught in her chest, she held back tears when she saw only half of the twelve candles had lit.
“See,” she ground out. “Even now, my power is lessened.”
“Because you expect it to be,” Odette snapped, flicking her fingers toward the remaining candles. The wicks flared, flames dancing as she placidly folded her hands together at her waist. She took a breath, then continued in the same tone she’d always used when teaching her daughter, her granddaughter, the meaning of old ways. “Believing that power is real, or that love lasts, is always the first step. These are things that require faith. Without it, the magic falters, the love fades.”
“Gramma Irina said—”
“Stop,” Odette interrupted, throwing both her hands up as if she could shove the words back. “Consider the source, Natalia. My mother believes that all women should be married, cared for by a man because they can’t care for themselves. This is a woman whom we have no pictures of because she believes a camera will capture a piece of her soul.”
“Just because she has a few silly ideas doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. This is family legend, after all.” And maybe not all of her ideas were silly. Too many nights, Natalia had cried into her pillow, wishing for a man by her side. To care for her, to carry part of the load. There was nothing wrong with a mother wishing that same blessing for her daughter. Natalia ignored the bitter memory of how that’d worked out for her. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting a man, mother.”
“Men have many uses. Sex, spider extermination, and yes, for love. But to want a man to simply become a checkmark on a to-do list? That’s wrong,” Odette said softly. “You married as much in fear as for love, darling. You’ve allowed this superstition to rule you, to influence all of your choices.”
Even as the truth rang loudly in her head, Natalia lifted her chin and steeled her spine. Love. What had that gotten her? She’d thought she was in love with Sergie, had left her home, followed him over the ocean. Only to be alone. There were more important things than love that she wished for her daughter. Power, for one.
“Anja must marry,” Natalia declared, her tone adamant. “She’s thinks she’s circumvented my plans, but so far these have only been happenstance. I’ll cast a spell, bring the perfect man to her. Then she’ll fall, and our powers will be secured.”
“You know better.”
“I know that we’re against the deadli
ne, and I’m not giving up my gift,” Natalia ground out. She looked around the apartment, knowing it was the perfect setting for weaving a love charm strong enough to catch her headstrong daughter. Here, love would grow. It had twice already, for two other couples. It would awake soon for Anja, too.
“Anja will marry before the year is out,” she vowed. “I’ll make sure of it.”
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You can find more of Tawny’s sassy, sexy stories at www.tawnyweber.com