by J. N. Colon
“Angeline.” His arms stretched across the gate as his eyes slowly roamed my body. I was in jeans and a t-shirt, so it wasn’t much to look at, but you couldn’t tell that by the fire flickering in his gaze. He made me feel like I was naked. “Want to go somewhere?”
I scoffed even as flames licked up my neck. “Not a chance, buddy.”
His head tilted. “You can’t lie to me. I know you were thinking of us together a few seconds ago.” His Cajun French accent was especially smooth and buttery.
“I have work to do, and if you think I’m just going to go off and hook up with you out in the woods or something, you’ve got another thing coming.” I waved my hand for him to move out of the way.
Etie didn’t budge. “I was talking about going to my house.” His bottom lip snagged between his teeth, and he looked at me like I was a glistening piece of candy.
“Oh.” I swallowed hard. My body lurched forward, deciding to take Etie up on his offer before my mind had a chance to catch up. This damn gwo-bon lyen was a force to be reckoned with. It was making me feel and do things I shouldn’t. Bad things.
Okay, so it wasn’t just the bond that had me all hot and bothered over the Cajun Casanova. I gave him such a lovely nickname for a reason. He was slathered in sexiness, and that accent could make my knees week. But it was hard getting over how my grandmother had manipulated us into each other’s lives. The bond was just another obstacle that made me doubt my feelings for him. Were they real or just a product of circumstance? How did Etie really feel about me?
He’d bound our souls together to save me despite the consequences. He’d also given up his chance at finding peace from his powers. That had to count for something.
Warm hands were suddenly locked around my hips, yanking me from the whispers of doubt and confusion. Etie hoisted me out of the truck. I squealed in surprise, and the paint can hit the ground with a thud.
“A little warning next time!” I huffed as he set me on my feet. This close his spicy scent mixed with sweat swirled up my nose, making me dizzy.
He grinned. “Where’s the fun in that, cher?” Etie’s warm, cherry-scented breath dusted over my lips. I could almost taste him. “Let’s get out of here.”
Man, he was persistent. “Don’t you have a job to do?”
“I have many jobs.” His fingers skirted over my collarbone, spawning goosebumps across my skin. His lids lowered, eyes burning into me. “The house can wait. You need some attention. You have a few things that should be tended to.”
Holy voodoo dolls. I was in way over my head. Etie wasn’t a timid, unsure high school boy. He said and did things I had no way of responding to—other than my total surrender. This guy didn’t play fair.
I swallowed hard. “I, um…”
His mouth closed in, softly brushing mine. It was barely a kiss, but electricity shot down my spine regardless. I was left breathless.
This was bad. He couldn’t have me melting so easily.
I gave myself the biggest mental slap I could muster and slipped out of his grasp. “Not happening.”
Etie’s chuckle was too dark for my liking. “So you want to play hard to get? I got to warn you, cher, I don’t play by the rules.”
I already knew that.
A saccharine smile split my lips. “Take a cold shower, Cajun Casanova. You’re not winning this one.” I grabbed the paint and spun around, marching toward the house. If I wasn’t careful, I was going to have a heat stroke—and not from the hot weather.
As I turned the corner, my toe nudged the water hose stretched across the grass. A bad idea flashed through my mind. I was about to play with fire, but I was becoming addicted to this kind of burn.
I dropped the paint and turned on the water. The Cajun needed to cool off before he got us both in trouble. I followed the green hose to the nozzle. Etie was taking a break, leaning against a tree, chewing a piece of candy.
Perfect.
I snuck around and aimed the hose. A stream of water hit him right in the torso.
He looked startled—until he found the reason for his suddenly drenched state. “You done it now, cher.” He rushed forward.
A high-pitched screech slipped out, and I showered him with water before dropping the hose and running for the door.
A lot of good it did me. Seconds later, a blast of cold hit my back. My sharp intake of air echoed as Etie soaked me, using magic to do a thorough job.
“You cheated!” I shouted, his presence on my heels.
Large hands grabbed my hips, and I was spun around, coming face to face with a grinning Etie. “I don’t play by the rules, cher. Remember?”
“How could I forget? You never play fair.” I was just as breathless from running and adrenaline as I was from his presence. His arms had wound around my waist, pinning me to his hard body. There wasn’t an ounce of space between us.
“There’s no such thing as fair with you, Angeline.” His mismatched eyes seared into me, water droplets clinging to his lashes. “You’re mine, and the sooner you get that, the sooner we can stop all these games.” Etie smothered my protests with a kiss.
There was no objecting after that. His mouth made sure of it.
Etie Benoit tasted like melting candy, sweet and warm. His tongue danced along mine, caressing and playing chase in my mouth. I lifted on my toes until every inch of his body was pressed against mine.
A groan rumbled through his chest, making my knees quiver. “Angeline,” he murmured. “You feel so good.” His hands roamed my back, kneading my flesh.
My fingers tangled in his wet hair. It felt as if my clothes had disappeared. My skin was on fire, and all I wanted was to burn with my sultry Cajun. Our hearts beat in the same frantic rhythm, crashing against each other. If we were any closer, we’d be fused together.
Electricity crackled over the toujou above my collarbone. Clearly, the gwo-bon lyen was ecstatic we were giving into our feelings. I wasn’t too upset about it either. I might regret it later, but my entire being was alive. Every nerve ending felt each stroke of his tongue, each brush of his fingers, each squeeze of his hands. My insides quivered, and heat pooled in my belly. Before long, I was going to lose the ability to stand.
As if Etie knew this—maybe he felt it through the bond—an arm tightened around my waist, holding my weight.
My breath was coming in fast pants. We shouldn’t be doing this in public. We could probably be arrested for this much PDA. If Bastien saw and had his phone handy, there would be pictures.
“Etie—we can’t—outside.” I could hardly get the words out between his scorching kisses and the waves of pleasure melting over me.
“I invited you to my house.” His husky voice did nothing to bring me closer to reason.
Going to his house sounded like a fine idea right about now. Before I could stop them, words were tumbling from my mouth. “Étienne, let’s go—”
An approaching car motor cut off the rest of my sentence. With a growl, Etie broke away from me, glancing over his shoulder. He muttered a string of French as an older, baby-blue Mercedes pulled into the gravel driveway.
He turned back to me, scowling. “I was so close.” His thumb swiped over my bottom lip before he leaned in, giving me a gentle kiss.
I would have responded to his remark—so close to what exactly?—but his suddenly tender touch had me breathless again.
A woman got out of the Mercedes, her over-processed blonde hair brushing the top of her shoulders. The skin-tight dress she was squeezed into left little to the imagination. She was older, but age didn’t stop her from showing her goods.
Once she removed the large sunglasses from her face, a sour taste melted over my tongue. Mary-Lynn Belmont. Her daughter Trisha was a growing thorn in my side.
“Étienne Benoit, you’re a sight for sore eyes.” Her sugary-sweet voice made me want to hurl.
With a sigh, Etie turned away from me, giving her a polite smile. “Hello, Mrs. Belmont.”
She waved her
hand, long fake nails flashing with metallic gold polish. “How many times do I have to tell you to call me Mary-Lynn?” She stopped a few feet from us, her blue eyes eating Etie up. “I hadn’t seen you in a long time. You and Trisha aren’t hanging out much.”
“I’ve been busy.” He gave no other explanation.
Her gaze finally flickered toward me, her red-painted lips curling into more of a scowl than a smile. “I see that. Does your mama know you’re over here, getting very close to a young man out in public?”
My cheeks warmed. Did she know Trisha was a skank who didn’t understand when a guy was interested in someone else? “I’m eighteen.” And I can do whatever the hell I want!
Etie cleared his throat and stepped closer, his fingers soothingly brushing my arm. “How can I help you, Mrs. Belmont?” His tone was slightly more clipped.
She shifted her attention back to him, that fake sweetness returning to her smile. “My husband wanted some work done on the store. You and Bastien come highly recommended.”
I staunched the urge to roll my eyes. I bet they did.
“We’re pretty busy right now.” He gestured toward the mansion behind us. “I don’t think we can do anything for a few more weeks.”
Mrs. Belmont pouted so much like an older version of her daughter that it freaked me out. “Awe now, come on. Can’t you at least come see what he wants? It’s not much. I’m sure you can fit us in. My husband’s very generous with his pockets, and it would make me so happy.”
Could someone please get me a puke bucket?
Etie sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “All right. Bastien and I can talk to Mr. Belmont later today.”
She clapped. “Great! That’s wonderful.”
He gave her a forced smile. “I’ll have Bastien call him.”
“You’re such a doll, Etie.” She waved and spun around, heading toward her car, but not before shooting me a nasty smile over her shoulder.
Once her faded blue Mercedes pulled away, I turned to Etie. “Did you have to say yes?”
“I said maybe.” He shrugged. “And it’s not my place to speak for Bastien. He may want to do it.”
“This is just a way to get you around Trisha. That psycho girl probably put her mother up to this.” Why did I sound like a whiny, jealous girlfriend?
Etie did a terrible job of hiding his grin. “Don’t worry, Angeline. You’re the only one on my mind.” His fingers clasped around my waist, and he dragged me closer. “You’re the only one I want to kiss, among other things.”
A thrill zipped down my spine. “Whatever.”
He chuckled. “If we’re not going to my house, we should get back to work. Bastien just caught sight of us out the window, and he’s got his phone.”
I groaned. What was wrong with that guy? He had a weird fascination with teasing us. And I thought Marisol was bad. “If you do take this job, be careful. I don’t like that girl.” I couldn’t tell Etie not to take a job even if that skank had ulterior motives. This was his livelihood. I wasn’t that kind of person. Besides, he wasn’t even my boyfriend. He could do whatever he wanted.
A tiny voice laughed at me. Who was I kidding? The thought of him with someone else made me want to double over and hurl.
Chapter 4
Riley and Lana stared from across the table at Bernie’s, waiting for me to dish about my day at work with Etie. No way in hell was I going to rehash our serious make-out session in the front yard. It was embarrassing enough that it happened and Ms. Belmont saw, but to bring up what a tramp I could be to my friends would cause instant mortification. No thanks.
“It was work. That’s all,” I mumbled, averting my eyes to my plate of chicken fingers. “I painted some walls.” And kissed an extremely hot voodoo caster.
Riley scoffed. “You are such a liar. Your cheeks are bright red.”
“It’s like a hundred degrees!” I pointed out. “Why are we even eating outside?”
Lana picked up her soda. “Inside is packed, remember?”
“Oh yeah.” You’d think Bernie’s was the only restaurant in Carrefour.
“And don’t change the subject.” She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork. “Something happened with that Benoit. I can see it in your eyes.”
Riley clapped, shaking the wrought-iron table. “I still can’t believe you’re seeing Étienne Benoit. Not even Marisol can claim something like that.”
“I’m not seeing him.” I was doing more than that. “And I’m pretty sure Marisol and Bastien have hooked up.” They grinned too much around each other. I glanced down Main Street, watching Ms. Unrue waddling toward my mom’s veterinarian office with her fat pug Chauncey in tow.
The knot that had formed when I learned my family had been lying to me my entire life grew bigger. I’d barely spoken to my mother in days. Her disapproval of Etie didn’t help matters. She didn’t want her youngest corrupted by him. Those weren’t her exact words, but it was pretty damn close.
Etie and I were bound. There was no keeping us apart, not physically anyway. Even though I was unsure about our relationship, I was smart enough to realize he was going to be in my life. When he was gone, my soul felt it.
“Oh my gawd.” Riley let out a dramatic gasp. “Jake Vincent is back in town.”
Our classmate was strolling down the sidewalk, his copper hair blowing in the hot summer wind. “I thought he was helping his grandmother all summer in Charleston.” She’d broken a hip, and he and his mom left right after graduation.
Lana shrugged. “Maybe she’s better.”
“Jake!” Riley wildly flailed her arms. “Over here.”
It didn’t take long for him to notice the tall, fiery redhead waving him down. Every pedestrian on the sidewalk noticed her. He changed directions and crossed the street, heading toward us.
Riley turned her emerald eyes on me. “Jake was totally going to make a move on you this summer.”
I scoffed and grabbed my cup. “Yeah, right.” The hot football player had never once shown any interest in me.
She rolled her eyes. “You are so clueless when it comes to guys. You’re the sweet girl they all want to date, but are terrified to disappoint.”
I choked on soda, slapping my chest to clear my airways. “I’ve never heard such a thing.” It wasn’t like I didn’t date in high school. There just weren’t that many options. Most guys were looking for fun, outgoing girls and not the shy, quiet type. “And I’m not that sweet.” They could ask Etie.
She waved my protests away. “Whatever. Having Etie Benoit sneaking into your bed at night should tell you something.”
I shushed her as my face burned. The entire street probably heard her.
“Hey, girls.” Jake took the seat next to me, broadening Riley’s grin.
“Hey, Jake.” She pushed her plate of nachos toward him. “Want some?”
He smiled. “Thanks.”
“I thought you were in Charleston all summer,” Lana said, dipping a piece of chicken into honey mustard.
“My mom let me come home for a bit.” He crammed a chip in his mouth and quickly chewed. “Her brother was able to come to South Carolina and help for a few weeks.”
“Sweet.” Riley got that wild look in her eyes. “You have the house to yourself. Are you considering throwing any parties?”
Lana kicked her under the table. “Ignore her, Jake. She meant to ask how your grandmother was?”
He wiped his hands on a napkin. “She’s better. It’s just hard for her to get around. Thanks for asking.”
He turned his soft brown eyes on me. “How’s your summer, Angel? I wish I could have been here when these two were gone. I hope you weren’t too lonely.”
I gave a nervous laugh. “I got a job. It kept me pretty busy.”
“Where are you working? Outside, I’m guessing.” Jake smiled as he took in my tan. “You look great by the way.”
What the hell? Maybe Riley was right.
“She’s working with—” Riley
’s words were cut off as Lana sent her another kick under the table.
Jake glanced between the two girls, a line creasing his brow. “Am I missing something?”
Before anyone could answer, a crash echoed. My neighbor Ms. Delphine had dropped her bags coming out of the drug store. Jake was already out of his seat, jogging to her aid.
I stood. “Talk some sense into her while I’m gone, Lana.”
She lifted her hands. “I’ll try, but Riley never had much sense to begin with.”
“Hey!” Riley puckered her lips. “Take that back.”
I pivoted and headed across the street, their bickering fading with the distance. “Are you okay, Ms. Delphine?” I asked, picking up a bag of prescriptions and handing them to her.
“Thank you, dear.” She took them with trembling hands. “I’m all right. Just a little out of sorts. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
Ms. Delphine was a little younger than my grandmother and normally very sharp and poised. Today her light brown hair was loosely pulled back into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. Her mismatched outfit was wrinkled and smelled faintly like charred herbs.
My skin prickled, and an uneasy feeling descended through my stomach. The scent almost reminded me of the acrid air after the voodoo spell Dumarsais and Etie performed on me. Almost.
“Maybe you should see Dr. Thatcher.” Jake handed her another bag.
“Already did.” She jiggled the bag I’d picked up. “He gave me something to help me sleep.” Her smile wavered. “I just need a little sleep, and I’ll be right as rain.”
Jake shoved his hands in his pockets. “You take it easy then, Ms. Delphine. If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got my nephew staying with me,” she said. “He’s such a sweet boy.”
If he was dating Marisol, he couldn’t be that sweet.
Jake and I turned around and headed back to the table where Riley and Lana were arguing over which dessert to split.
