Shaking her head, looking more like a pissed off mom then an angry all-powerful Priestess, Calysta scolded, “How could you do that, Kalliope Jane? Do you even know what spell you used or the words you said?”
“Well, I know the one that was part of the recipe, but it wouldn’t even make a honey bee jump flowers.” She thought for a second more then mumbled, “No, ma’am,” she mumbled, letting her head fall forward before almost immediately jerking it upright. “But I can find out. There’ll be a tape of it at the station.” Up on her feet and racing towards the stairs, she hollered over her shoulder, “I’ll go there as soon as I’m dressed and fix this, Calysta. I promise, I will.”
“Just pray that you do before the Council hears gets wind of it.” Were the only words Kallie heard as she sped into her room.
Throwing on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt then twirling her hair up on top of her head in a big messy bun, the sassy Witch grabbed her purse off the chair by the door and headed back down the stairs. No sooner had her feet hit the wooden floors then she was out the door, hollering over her shoulder, “I’ll be back in a flash with good news.”
Dear Fate, please don’t make a liar outta me…
Chapter Eight
Skimming the botto m of the rocky coastline less than a mile from the steep mountains he and Atticus roamed as children, Murdock pushed away the Mating Call beating at not only his mind but his heart and soul. He was even refusing to answer Raibert. Now that he’d seen Kalliope in person, well as close to ‘in person’ as he was ready for, there was no escaping what Fate had in store for him.
The Universe has always had a flare for muckin’ up my day…
Never in all of his considerable years had he had such a soul deep reaction to another person. Not only did his heart beat faster, but his body yearned for her, his soul reached for her and his cock, well, that bastard got so hard so quickly Dock could scarcely get away from Annie and Brannoc fast enough.
Sure, they’d gracefully accepted his excuse for not returning for dinner, but he’d heard the disappointment in his nephew’s voice and felt the hurt in the younger Guardsman’s heart. How could Murdock make them understand? There was no comparison he could imagine that would make them realize how used to being alone he’d gotten. So, he’d sought the only solace he’d ever known, the water. Black Lake, although exceptionally large and deeper than most, helped but was still a sore substitute for the ocean.
“But ye cannae go back tae the sea. No yet.” Raibert’s barely contained chuckle drifted through Murdock’s mind making the Gaurdsman reinforce his mental blocks.
He knew the Dragon King was right, the bastard always was, but that didn’t mean Murdock had to like it. Tired of circling the lake and seeing the full moon was high in the sky, the Dragon slowly floated to the top, gently pushing his snout through the surface. Careful not to disturb the team of ducks as they floated by, deep in sleep, dreaming about whatever ducks dreamt about, Murdock gave a gentle swish of his massive webbed tail and headed towards the bank.
Changing back to his human form and walking up onto the soft grass, Murdock collapsed onto his knees, rolled over onto his back and let out a deep, wistful sigh. Folding his arms and putting his hands under his head, he looked up at the stars, instantly wondering if Kalliope was looking at the same night sky.
“The sun will be up soon,” he mused. “Does she wake early or like to sleep in?”
And why the hell am I worrying about such things?
Years of listening to the Elders preparing each and every young Guardsman-to-be for the moment their mate became known to them should have prepared Murdock for Kalliope’s entrance into his life. He should have known there was so much more at work when Kayne had called then just coming to help his brethren. If he’d heard it once, he’d heard it a million times – ‘The Universe does not make mistakes. Fate will not be denied’.
“And of course, they should’ve added, ‘both will mess with your world and make you damned near crazy when you least expect it’,” Murdock grumbled.
“But They did say she wooud be the light ta’ yer darkness, th’ missin’ piece of yer sool, the one an’ oonly person who cooud and wooud complete ye in ways ‘at until ‘at moment you’d oonly imagined.”
“There really tis no way tae escape you, is there?”
“Nay a one,” Raibert snickered. “An' besides, yoo'd be lost withoout me.”
“Aye,” Murdock had to chuckle. “Guess Ah would.”
Drifting off to sleep, the Guardsman felt the touch of magic on his bare chest and down his arms. It felt like the touch of butterfly wings, just a soft kiss followed by a tingle that immediately conjured the image of Kalliope’s sparkling green eyes coupled with the inescapable scent of warm vanilla and sweet chocolate that filled his senses.
There was something different this time though. Something that did more than simply beckon him. It felt as if it was actually tugging at the very fiber of his being, warning him that Kalliope needed him more than even she realized. Looking deep inside his soul, Murdock let his eyes slowly close as he focused on the bright sparkling light that was radiating warmth then followed the tail of glittering magic straight into his mate’s consciousness.
A sly smile curved his lips as he saw her dreams were oh-so-very amorous and he had the starring role. Slipping into the body of the dream man in Kalliope’s fantasy, the one he knew was the only representation her mind could summon since she’d never seen him in person, Murdock was overwhelmed by the feel of her soft womanly curves against the hard muscles of his chest and abs.
Her lips felt like silk as she kissed along the line of his jaw, pulling his earlobe between her teeth and gently worrying it with the tip of her tongue as she whispered, “I don’t know where you came from, but I never want you to leave.”
Letting his hands slide down the curve of her back, Murdock’s greedy hands found the soft globes of her ass at the precise moment her lips found his. Lifting her off the ground, he turned, gently laid her back on the bed, and never again wanting to be without her, followed her down, letting his body settle atop hers.
Kissing her hard, needing her more than he had ever needed anyone or anything, the Guardsman growled low in his throat as their tongues collided, melded, and caressed, pushing the couple’s desire higher with every touch. Tearing his lips from hers, Murdock struggled to breathe as he confessed, “You’ve woven your way into my heart, become a part of my soul, seeped into the very essence of my being, and made me an addict. I can’t be without you. Don’t want to be, simply will not be anywhere but by your side.”
Shoving her fingers into his hair, Kalliope gripped the long strands, using them like the reins of a carriage to pull his lips back to hers. Opening completely to his mate, a growl rose from the depths of his chest as her legs wrapped around his waist, her center grinding against the steel length of his cock.
Running his hands up the outside of her thigh, Murdock’s hand ventured across the smooth skin of her hip and slipped between her legs, finding her wet center. Aching to be inside her, needing to feel her pussy massaging his cock as they became one as the Universe intended, he slid first one finger and then another deep inside her.
“Please…please…”
“Murdock,” he demanded. “Say my name, Kalliope. Acknowledge the one who makes you burn like no other ever could.”
“Yes, yes…please, Murdock. Please…” she begged.
He loved the desperation in her voice, the unbridled need she didn’t even try to hide. Her muscles shook with the raw power of her desire as Murdock began to move his fingers in and out of the one the Universe had made for him.
Rubbing her clit with the tip of his thumb on every swipe, he curled the tips of his fingers in a come-hither motion teasing her sensitive bundle of nerves until Kalliope panted with need and her short, well-manicured nails scratched at his back. Over and over she wailed his name as he pushed her higher and higher until with one final thrust, his miraculous mate wa
s overcome with the most beautifully blissful orgasm Murdock had ever seen.
Slowing his motions, watching as she floated from the heights of her ecstasy, he fought to maintain his focus as an irritatingly nasal voice shrieked so loud it was as if the confines of Kalliope’s mind were shaking from the impact.
“Kalliope Jane Sugarbaker, get your ass outta bed!” The voice burst through her mind.
The wonderful euphoria created by Kalliope’s dreams exploded into a million shards of light.
Popping up as if launched from a catapult, Murdock’s eyes flew open as he cursed, “Damn it all to Hell. Now, I have no choice but to find her.” Picking up his shirt and boots, he added with a growl, “And kill whoever dared to disturb our dream.”
Chapter Nine
Racing over ever y back road she knew of from her house to the station, Kalliope couldn’t shake what remained of the dream Jesse had interrupted with his caterwauling and screeching. It was just another kick in the tail from dear ol’ Fate. She was having the best ever, erotic fantasy and boom everything exploded.
“Damn, I can still see his face,” she whispered to herself, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “Lordy, could that man kiss, as well as a whole bunch of other delicious things.” She shivered at the memories, seeing his deep blue eyes – the exact color of the sea, his long dark eyelashes, the high cut of his cheekbones, the aristocratic line of his nose and his jawline that begged to be nibbled. “And nibble, I did,” she murmured.
Wiggling in her seat as she finally drove into town, Kalliope sat up straight still feeling the weight of his hard, muscled body pressing into hers. She’d always said her perfect mate would be tall, with wide shoulders, a slim waist, and an ass that made her mouth water, “And boy howdy, did that man have it all.” Her fingers gripped the steering wheel even tighter, reliving what it felt like to have his long, dark hair within their grasp.
Touching her cheek just as the stoplight in front of her turned red, Kallie swore she could still feel Murdock’s stubble caressing her skin. “Murdock,” she whispered his name as she let a slow, nostalgic sigh cross her lips. “How do I know that?” Hitting the accelerator as the light turned green, she shook her head sarcastically chuckling, “Wow, you really do need to get out more, Kalliope, old girl. You…”
Her next words froze on her tongue at the horde of men, all standing in line outside WTCH, the station that aired her show. Feeling as though she crossed into an alternate universe, Kallie stared at the guys, some carrying signs asking her to marry them or date them or Goddess forbid, cook naked for them, all chanting her name. “What the hell have I done?”
“You’ve screwed the pooch, Girlie.” Gram’s disgust was almost palpable and made Kallie scoff, “And now I’m hearing voices. Great! Just super-dee-duper.” Turning the corner, seeing even more of her admirers lining the side and front of the station, she tried to come up with a way she could get in the building unnoticed.
Driving two blocks over, she parked in one of the ’15 minutes only’ spots in front of Cameron’s Coffee Shoppe, jumped out of her car and raced into the little café. Ducking out the back, she dashed into Harper’s Hardly Used Hand-Me-Downs via the shipping door and raced to find the owner.
Seeing Harper, dressed in one of her eclectic, multi-colored, boho chic, flowing outfits, Kallie tapped the store owner on the shoulder and begged, “Please help me. I need a disguise like yesterday. I have to get into the station without being recognized.”
Nodding, the tall, thin Earthen Witch laughed out loud, “A disguise? Girl, you need a total makeover, maybe even plastic surgery, if you think you’re gonna get past your ‘adoring’ fans.” The frizzy-headed blond raised her arms, adding air quotes. “What in the name of Marlin did you do?”
“I screwed up, okay? I lost my concentration during my live show yesterday. I accidentally bespelled every man in my viewing audience with Gram’s True Love Spell, at least I think that’s what happened.” She shifted her weight to her other foot put her hand on her hip and tapped her forehead with the tips of her fingers, praying that her head didn’t explode. “If I don’t get into that damned studio, figure out what I did and stop the rerun from airing in like,” she looked at the clock on the wall, “twelve minutes and instead broadcast the counter-spell, this shit is never gonna end.” She stepped forward, placed her hands on Harper’s upper arms and gently shook to get her point across. “Please help me, or I’m gonna be booking an appointment with the plastic surgeon, changing my name, getting a fake passport, and heading for the Andes.”
“The Andes? Damn, Girl, pick somewhere warm, at least.”
Glaring at her friend as she let go of Harper’s arms, Kalliope searched for just a bit of calm and patience as she pleaded, “Please, Harper .”
“Of course, I’m gonna help you, Goof. I just have to give ya’ a little shit along with it.” Chuckling as she walked among the racks grabbing different articles of clothing, Harper inquired, “Why don’t you just use a little magic? Seems like that would be a helluva lot quicker.”
“Yeah,” Kallie blew out an exasperated breath. “It sure would, but I’m a little wand-shy right now. Gonna try the non-magical way, just to be extra careful.”
Good plan,” Harper snapped a finger-gun in Kallie’s direction. “Can’t say as I blame you. Now, follow me.” The older, much more laidback Witch motioned as she headed towards the dressing rooms. “Oh, grab that long blond wig and floppy suede hat behind the counter.”
Doing as she was told, Kallie jogged to the dressing room, threw the wig and hat on the chair in the dressing room and disrobed. Putting on the clothes Harper had picked out for her so quickly she was out of breath by the time she slid her feet into the brown leather, platform sandals, Kallie looked in the mirror as Harper put the floppy camel-colored suede hat on her head.
Kallie had to admit she barely recognized herself. She looked like a refugee from Woodstock, then wondered if she should conjure up a pair of circular lensed sunglasses to complete the outfit.
No magic, Dingbat. With your luck, you’ll reincarnate John Lennon or Janis Joplin. How in Hades would you explain that? And…Calysta would kill you.
Spinning towards her friend, she hugged Harper, happier than she’d ever been that her friend had been stuck in the seventies long before it was cool. “Thank you so much, Harp. You really are the best.”
“No need for thanks. Just get your ass in there and stop the Love Fest. Free love is cool, but highly overrated and you damn sure don’t want Calysta or Goddess forbid, the Council coming after your happy heinie.”
“You got that shit right, Sister.” Giving Harper another quick hug, Kallie ducked out of the dressing room, out the shipping door, back through the coffee shop and into her car.
Pulling into the underground garage, she dodged more of her admirers, overjoyed when they didn’t even give her a second look. Parking in one of the secretary’s spots in the farthest corner of the structure, Kallie used all her mirrors to be sure no one was coming her way. Letting out the breath she’d been holding when she saw she was all alone, she got out, straightened her striped peasant top, the plethora of beaded leather chains, hemp necklaces and clunky charms around her neck, stuck her keycard in the back pocket of her bell-bottom jeans and pulled the floppy brim of her hat further down over her face.
Pushing her door shut, she hit the button to lock them on her key fob before stowing it in her front pocket and heading towards the elevator. Answer the question, ‘Do you know Kalliope?’ at least a hundred times in the thirty seconds she stood waiting for the lift, the newly-blond, seriously freaked out Witch pounced as soon as the tall silver doors opened, immediately pushing the button that would close the door and only breathing when she was safely locked inside.
Exiting on her floor and running right into Derek and Pete, two of the biggest burliest ex-marines the world had ever known, who also happened to be Grizzly bears in their other forms, Kallie ripped off her hat and wig and smiled,
“Just me, trying to clean up the cluster-fuck I created,”
“Thank God.” Derek’s baritone exclamation nearly rumbled the wall right before his cohort laughed, “Damn Girl, you’ve whipped up some cantankerous magic.”
Giving the two bear shifters the best ‘no-shit’ look she could muster, Kallie flittered her fingers as she rolled her eyes and groaned, “Don’t I know it. Losing my touch in my old age.” Shaking her head, she added, “May I pass, gentlemen?”
Stepping to the side and motioning like they were the door attendants at the Ritz, Derek and Pete sing-songed in unison, “Your wish is our command.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.” She stomped away, adding over her shoulder, “Y’all are so funny.”
Striding down the hall completely unnoticed, Kallie breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped into her dressing room and shut the door. Crossing the room, her butt had just landed in her seat when a deep, grumbling whisper made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
“Kalliope Jane Sugarbaker, what a pleasure to meet you.”
Not wanting to turn around, but desperately needing to see who or what sounded like James Earl Jones playing Darth Vader – mask and all – and also knew her name, Kallie looked in the mirror and stared at the shadow just over her right shoulder. Praying it was just her imagination once again running away with her, she was just about to look away when out of the darkness walked a man, or at least he looked like a man, that had to be at least seven-and-a-half feet tall – and that was before the horns on his heads.
Horns? The dude really has horns. Or are they antlers? Yeah, maybe their antlers. Hell, I don’t know. They look like the freaking pointy things that come out of a big, ole male deer’s head. What. The. Hell?
Not wanting to speak, but feeling the pregnant pause, Kallie had to try twice to find her voice and when she did it still was little more than a squeak when she asked, “Do I know you?”
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