Wicked Intentions

by Nikki Landis

  Sighing, I grew bored and restless in my room as I heard Cora singing softly. Her open bedroom door allowed a perfect view of her curvy frame as she ran a comb through her hair and applied makeup or whatever girls did in front of the mirror. I hardly paid attention. My mind was entirely too focused on that sweet voice and the swing of her hips to the beat. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips and I couldn’t remember the last time I did so as spontaneously as I did now.

  There was something about Cora that drew me in, dangerously close to allowing my heart to feel again. A part of me wanted to fight against the pull but thanks to Corinne I knew much more than I should. Where she kept Colin in the dark about Cora on purpose, she confided in me deliberately. Perhaps it wasn’t wise to pressure Corinne into revealing what she knew but I had a feeling she’d tell me whether I wanted to know or not. None of her visions were concrete but it didn’t matter. I wanted to know every detail anyway.

  Cora was unlike any witch I’d ever known. Her magic was stronger than anyone else in the Order. In fact, she was born with numerous gifts while the rest of us had specific and limited abilities. A few of us had two or even three but no one had several – or in Cora’s case – all. As in every single magical gift known to the Order.

  That was when Corinne begged me not to reveal the truth. She didn’t want the Order to swoop in and take her new friend away. I didn’t have to ask why my sister felt such a close bond to Cora already. The gap that had grown steadily wider since Connie’s death had finally started to close. Corinne needed Cora and I think their friendship was born of a mutual desire for companionship.

  My gaze landed on the tight black pants that Cora wore, and I stood up as she grabbed her purse and headed toward the door. I didn’t have a plan. My instant desire to speak with her had nothing to do with the fact that my pulse pounded and thrummed in my ears. Or how I wanted to grab that succulent ass whenever she walked into the room. No, it had everything to do with the fact that I wanted to devour her like the delicious morsel that she was, gobbling her up until she was mine alone.

  The thought was so fiercely possessive that I nearly stopped in my tracks, but I quickly recovered and met her at the door. She wasn’t paying attention and collided with my body – her soft curves slamming into the hard lines and rippled muscle of my own. I resisted the urge to growl and steal the kiss I wanted so badly but the art of seduction was a game I was enjoying playing with the sexy little witch.

  Colin interrupted before things could become heated and I reluctantly walked away to follow the girls to the party. I never left my sister without an escort. Magic was too unpredictable, and our circle was broken since that fateful night a year ago. Maybe I felt protective over Cora, too.

  Not thinking clearly, I was overwhelmed with company the instant I stepped through the front door of the house. I didn’t want or need distraction but as my eyes landed on the pretty prize, I couldn’t resist the smug satisfaction I felt when her expression was clearly both annoyed and jealous. Maybe I wanted to see her squirm a little more before I kissed her again. Winking in her direction, I didn’t expect her to leave so quickly.

  Minutes later I was nearly panicked as I searched the house and then the backyard, nearly tripping over the chairs on the deck. Cora was nowhere to be found. Using magic was forbidden in public but I didn’t give a shit. Closing my eyes, I whispered a quick location spell and found her almost instantly.

  A low growl erupted in my throat when I realized Rex Henshaw had found my little witch. Furious and protective, I interrupted their little conversation right before Rex could ask her on a date. His pheromones were so high I didn’t have to try to see his lustful aura. He nearly leaned in and kissed her before I intervened. The bastard.

  “Slumming it again, Rex?” My voice didn’t hide my contempt.

  Rex hissed as he tried to hide his true nature. “Always appearing where you aren’t wanted, Bradford.”

  “I appear where I’m needed. You know that.”

  Cora seemed uncomfortable. “I think this is my cue to return to the party and find Rin. It’s getting late.”

  “I’ll be right behind you, Cora.” I kept my focused glare on Rex in case he tried any of his tricks.

  “Nice to meet you, Rex.”

  “Oh, the pleasure is all mine, Cora. I’ll be seeing you around soon, my sweet.”

  A sneer of contempt combined with my sudden anger and I nearly lunged forward, my fingers twitching at my sides with the desire to confront his reckless behavior. He would be nothing but trouble when it came to my witch. “Stay away from Cora.”

  “Or?” He was taunting me on purpose.

  “Colin and I won’t hesitate to take you down.”

  Laughing, Rex stepped forward until we were only a few inches apart. “I don’t answer to you.”

  “Don’t piss me off, Henshaw.”

  He didn’t reply but left so quickly no hint of his presence remained. Turning toward the house, I fully intended to take the girls home and have a long chat with my brother.

  “WHERE WERE YOU LAST night, Colin? I waited up for hours.”

  Smirking, he shrugged. “None of your damn business.”

  “This was important. I needed to find you.”

  “You needed me? Since when?”

  His attitude was pissing me off. “It’s about Cora.”

  “What about her? She can hold her own.”

  Seriously? Was he just being an ass or trying to deny his true feelings? “Aren’t you sick of acting like she doesn’t matter to you?”

  “Shut up, Casey. You don’t know shit.”

  Really? He wanted to play that game? “How long are you going to stand in denial, brother? How long will you bury your emotions and refuse to move on from Emma?”

  Alright, so I was taunting Colin. We both knew my words were true even if he didn’t want to admit it. Didn’t change the fact that I was being a jerk on purpose, but he started it.

  “Shut up, Casey.”

  “How long do you keep hiding your feelings for Cora?” I snapped my fingers in front of his face, deliberately pissing him off. “Face reality. Stop moping around. Emma is never coming back. She’s gone.”

  Colin snarled, both palms meeting my chest as the same moment he shoved. I flew backward several feet and into one of the tall oak trees that bordered the edge of our property. “Back off, now.”

  Darting forward, I slammed into his body and knocked him into the solid concrete statue of our ancestor, the powerful and ruthless witch Cavrell Phineas Bradford. His hard-unwavering stare beat down on my body as if he was condemning my actions. I glanced forward in time to catch the cobalt blue blast of fire that was headed in my direction.

  A smirk graced my lips as I centered my attention on my brother. “Now we’re gonna have some fun.”

  I threw up my shield a mere second before the flames had a chance to burn my flesh. The invisible barrier prevented the heat and flickering ball of fire from moving any closer. Shaking my head, I closed my eyes and lifted several feet off the ground, opening my arms wide as my palms turned upward toward the darkening sky. My body began to hum and buzz with an electrical current as I felt the zapping bolts dance across my skin. As my eyes opened, I brought my hands together and pushed outward. The force of my actions produced a yellow tinged thunderbolt that hit my brother squarely in his chest. He was slammed into the nearest tree and pitched to the side before he stood quickly with a snarl.

  Laughing, I lowered to the ground and ran in his direction until our bodies collided. A loud boom echoed so raucously I was certain we probably broke a few windows on the main manor. Out of sight didn’t necessarily mean we were out of range. The crash knocked us both to the ground as my brother’s fist connected with my jaw.

  “Leave Emma out of it and Cora alone. I mean it,” he huffed, his breath ragged.

  The hit was impressively hard and for a moment I was dazed. “You forget your place, Colin.” I tested my jaw with my hand and then
shoved him away. Hopping up and into a fight stance, I crouched low. My brother was watching me warily.

  “Don’t make me kick your ass, Casey. That isn’t what Connie wanted.”

  His words produced an ache so fierce in my chest that I couldn’t stop the flash of pain that rippled across my entire body. Collapsing to my knees, I glared at my fellow Guardian and brother. “Don’t speak of her.”

  “Who’s the hypocrite now?” he taunted; hands lifted out to his sides in silent appeal. “Face your own demons, then you can have a legit reason to confront me about my own.”

  Shit.

  Rising slowly to my feet, I opened my mouth to reply when the low rumble of a motorcycle’s engine reached my ears. There was only one group of guys who rode into this area of town, one in particular who had taken a liking to our newest family member. The Ravaged Souls MC and their youngest member.

  “Rex Henshaw,” I spat, turning toward the house.

  Colin scowled. “Temporary truce?”

  Nodding, I was right behind him as he ran toward home.

  Chapter 8 – Cora

  The low hum and steady throttle of a motorcycle’s engine purred beneath my window as I tried to focus on my homework. A lazy Sunday had stretched before me until I heard that sweet, rugged, and melodious sound. I shoved my chair back and away from my desk as I walked toward the clear panes of glass. A familiar grin matched the young man I had met last night at the party.

  Rex Henshaw sat on a Harley wearing a black leather vest with some kind of reaper or skull drawn on the back and the words Ravaged Souls Motorcycle Club. I could barely read from this height, but I managed to make out the letters as he turned toward Casey and Colin. The two brothers sauntered forward in some kind of territorial display as they walked slowly around Rex and his bike. Resisting the urge to roll my eyes in exasperation, I paused to glance in the mirror and decided I was presentable enough. I snatched up my small purse and slung it across my right shoulder.

  Rex was standing next to his bike with a helmet tucked under his arm as I walked outdoors. He immediately stopped talking as our eyes met and that sexy grin of his widened. “Hey, Cora. Wanna go for a ride?”

  Like he had to ask. Nodding enthusiastically, I didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes!”

  “No,” Casey and Colin growled at the same time.

  I completely ignored the Bradford twins and accepted the helmet from Rex’s outstretched hand. His gaze swept over my body from head to toe as he replied, “good choice on the boots. Ridden before?”

  “Maybe,” I winked and adjusted the strap under my chin.

  “Definitely,” he observed, sliding a leg over the bike as I strode forward to join him.

  A hand wrapped around my upper arm as I caught Colin’s frown. “Be careful.”

  “I will,” I promised, reaching up to place a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t wait up.”

  “What?!” Casey exploded and a slight giggle escaped from between my lips.

  I shot him a glare and walked around to the left, throwing my leg over as I sat behind Rex. Colin and Casey grumbled under their breath. Their reaction was entirely too predictable. Neither had a right to say a word and they knew it.

  “Ready, my sweet?”

  “Let’s roll!” I shouted as the bike lurched forward and I screamed, clutching Rex around the waist. His deep laugh was mostly distorted by the wind as we sped down the circular drive and out onto the open road. Asphalt shimmered beneath the combined weight of the bike and riders as I leaned back and opened my arms, enjoying every second the rippling waves of sunshine and warm afternoon breezes blew over my skin.

  Rex’s hand patted my thigh before he leaned into the next turn and I slid my arms around his stomach. I didn’t miss the fact that I could feel the rippling muscle beneath his t-shirt or the way his skin seemed to burn beneath my touch. The sun was starting to set before I realized how the afternoon sped by. The warm colors melted into the horizon as Rex turned down a dark road and stopped the bike next to a clear blue lake. We left the Harley as he reached for my hand and led us closer to the water’s edge.

  “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

  Lifting a hand to shield my eyes, I walked forward until my boots met the edge of the coarse sand. “Not just pretty, it’s gorgeous.”

  “Agreed. I come here often. It’s quiet enough to think . . . and practice.”

  “Practice?” I wondered aloud as I spun and found Rex balancing a ball of reddish orange fire in one palm while he casually leaned against his bike.

  At my gasp, he smirked. “Don’t pretend you haven’t sensed any high energy levels while we’ve been around one another.”

  I had but I thought I was misreading everyone. Rex wasn’t the only one I felt all those vibrations around. Both Casey and Colin also had high frequency waves and random spikes in energy. Obviously, I preferred to think they were normal. I didn’t know any other witches. Clearly, I was wrong in that assumption.

  “Wonderful,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest. “I guess that means I’m correct about the Bradford twins.”

  He laughed lightly. “Yep.”

  “Are you only magical? Because you feel a bit different,” I admitted, my curiosity too great to ignore.

  “Well, sweetness, the answer is a bit complicated but if you really want to know I’ll tell you.”

  My sarcasm chose that moment to kick in. “That is why I asked, biker boy.”

  He guffawed loudly, moving away from the bike. “Come a little closer.”

  Not the least bit intimidated, I swished my hips and deliberately stopped only a few inches away. Our eyes met as I lifted my chin. “I’m waiting.”

  What happened next defied logic. I could swear up until this moment that supernatural creatures didn’t exist. Witches and magic? Sure, it was passed down through our bloodlines. The abilities were rare but not unheard of. Shapeshifters? Vampires? Pure legend.

  I was wrong again.

  Rex’s eyes began to glimmer like they did the night we met as I felt a warm rush of blood flow throughout my body like I was standing under a hot shower. My body instantly relaxed as an overwhelming urge to wrap my arms around Rex and lean into his sexy muscles dominated my thoughts. Visions of our lips meeting in a passionate and erotic kiss weakened my knees. Dazed, I almost missed his wide smile . . . and the fangs that glistened in the twilight. He caught me before my knees buckled and blinked, retracting his fangs as his eyes returned to their hazel color.

  Instantly, the fog lifted. Confused, I felt the effects of his presence diminish until I was left standing in his embrace. My jaw dropped as clarity returned. “Are you a vampire?”

  He chuckled as he shook his head. “No, my sweet. Not entirely. In fact, I’m half blood. Quite scandalous, actually.”

  “Half?”

  “I believe you would know me as a dhampir.”

  Wow!

  “Did you do that on purpose? All those things I was feeling?”

  He tightened his grip. “I don’t know, pet. What were you feeling?”

  Liquid heat traveled along every cell in my body and this time it had nothing to do with Rex or his skills. “Uh, I . . .”

  He laughed when I wouldn’t answer. “You’re not afraid?”

  Shaking my head, I was honest. “No. Is that bad?”

  “Only if you met a full vampire.”

  Biting my lip, I was tempted to ask what else he could do but decided that was probably not wise.

  He flashed a grin like he knew where my thoughts had lingered. “Wanna see my fangs again? I’ll be careful about the compulsion this time.”

  “Yes!” I gushed in excitement. You’d think I would be scared, but I’d learned enough about magic – both light and dark – to know he was harmless. Rex and I were definitely attracted to one another. He’d never hurt me or even try. Humans were more sinister and mean than Rex.

  Delighted, he flashed those pearly white teeth as I reached up and brushed a finger acros
s the edge of one fang. “Careful, that’s sharp.”

  Too late. A droplet of blood appeared as he swiped across my fingertip with his tongue.

  Closing my eyes, I nearly moaned with how sensual the movement felt. “Cora,” he hissed, “you’re making this difficult.”

  The next few seconds happened so quickly I’m not sure my brain registered what happened until minutes afterward. I was seated on Rex’s bike with my arms and legs wrapped around his waist as he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. That vision of the euphoric kiss from moments ago manifested as his mouth dominated mine. I couldn’t ever remember being kissed so passionately or thoroughly. My hands slid up his chest as Rex rumbled low in his throat in response.

  A few seconds later he broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to my own. “We have company.”

  “Who?” I blurted, unhappy with the interruption.

  “Your Guardians.”

  My what? I opened my eyes and turned my head, catching a glimpse of Casey and Colin across the lake. “You have to be kidding me.”

  Rex snarled lightly but slid on the bike and handed over the helmet. “We’re leaving.”

  We didn’t speak the entire way home, but Rex stopped in the driveway and slid off the bike before I had a chance to comment on it. He cupped my cheeks and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Cora.” Picking up his phone, I held it up for him to add his thumbprint and then entered my number. After a hug, he placed it in his front pocket and sped down the road as if he couldn’t get away fast enough.

  Ignoring the vehicle coming up the drive, I stomped inside and headed upstairs to finish my homework. Restless, I was unable to concentrate. Gazing up at the moon, thoughts of Rex and his revelation from this afternoon occupied my evening. My cell buzzed a short time later with an unknown number. As soon as I saw the message, I knew who it was.