by Deanna Chase
“Of course,” he said, his expression carefully blank as he headed toward the door.
“See you in the morning?”
He nodded and disappeared.
Exhaustion claimed me. My limbs were lead and I wondered what it must be like to be a normal person. I’d never know. But I could dream. Like the mature witch I was, I squeezed my eyes shut and thought of nothing but puppies and chocolate. And maybe Guinness. ’Cause Lord knew if there was anything I needed right then, it was a drink. Or two.
Chapter 25
I must have passed out on the way back to Bea’s, because the next thing I remembered was lying in her guest bedroom with Kat beside me. She was gently brushing my hair while whispering something I couldn’t quite make out to Lucien.
“Hey,” I said in a faint voice. “How long have I been out?”
“Hey, yourself.” She smiled down at me. “About an hour or so.”
I brought my hand up to brush a lock of hair out of my eyes but paused when I saw all the gauze. My other hand was wrapped, too. I held them up, studying them. My hands and wrists were completely covered. “How bad is it?”
Kat wrinkled her nose. “It was bad. Like, really bad. You saw them.”
I groaned.
“I said ‘was.’” Kat smiled. “Dude, I can’t believe how awesome Bea is. She put that poultice on them and the blisters started to go down almost at once. She said they’d be gone in a few hours.”
Relief flooded through me. If I never saw a blister again, it would be too soon. Then I shifted to sit upright. The room spun from my sudden movement, and I brought my gauze-wrapped paws up to hold my head in one place.
“What is it, Jade?” Lucien asked.
“Just dizzy. I’ll be all right.”
Lucien got up from his chair and came around the bed to sit on the opposite side from Kat.
I blinked and wanted to touch his hand but settled for smiling at him. “How are you?”
“Perfect. Exhausted. But perfect.”
“And your magic…?” I couldn’t bring myself to ask the rest of the question. I wanted to know if he was back to the witch he’d been. If his magic was safe. But I wasn’t sure if now was the right time to talk about it.
“My magic is fine. Purer than ever, thanks to you.” He touched my arm. “I owe you my life.”
I shook my head forcefully and regretted it when my vision blurred. Did I have a concussion? A magical hangover for sure. I steeled myself and met Lucien’s eyes. “No. You don’t owe me anything but friendship. We’re here for each other, always, right?”
“Yes,” Kat said softly and smiled at us both.
“Of course, but—”
“No buts,” I said, gently. “Seriously, none of us would be here without the others. I’ve relied on you. You’ve relied on me. And that’s the way we’ll continue. We’re coven members, but more importantly we’re friends, and I know you’d lay down your life for any one of us.”
“So would you.” His green eyes flashed with emotion.
I blinked back the threat of tears. “Don’t do that,” I said with a laugh. “I’ve cried enough for one day.”
Lucien leaned in and gave me a light kiss on my cheek. Before he pulled away, he whispered, “I’ll take care of her. I promise.”
Nodding, I punched him in the leg.
“Ouch. What was that for?”
Wiping away the lone tear with my gauzed hand, I shook my head. “I told you not to make me cry. Now get off the bed. We need to go downstairs. I need something to eat.”
They both got up and Kat held out a hand for me.
I brushed her off. “I got this.” But when I went to swing my feet out of the bed, my left one got caught in the sheet and my upper half toppled over.
Laughing, Kat caught me. “Yeah, you got this.”
I stuck my tongue out at her and grinned as my heart swelled. She shook her head and held her arm out again. This time I braced myself against her and managed to stand without flailing or knocking myself out.
The three of us, battered, bruised, and in need of a week’s worth of sleep, walked arm in arm down the hall until we got to the stairs.
“Think you can make it?” Kat teased.
“Better let me go last just in case I topple over. Then I’ll have both of you to cushion the fall.”
“Forget it,” Kat said. “You first.”
Kat and I bickered back and forth in jest until Lucien shook his head and swept past both of us. We burst out laughing, and together we followed him.
Bea was at her kitchen table studying one of her spell books. She waved for us to take a seat, while she got up and poured fresh cups of witch’s brew.
“Where’s Lailah?” I asked. I’d been in the guest room. Unless she was hiding in Bea’s room, she wasn’t here.
“Jonathon came and picked her up,” Bea said.
“Wait, what? Jonathon Goodwin?” I asked, shocked. He was Lailah’s ex-mate. They’d had trouble coming to an agreement about the ex part. He wasn’t convinced their relationship was over, despite the fact that she was in love with someone else.
“Yep, Goodwin.” Bea pulled three mugs out of her cabinet. “He said he had a feeling that she was in danger and came for her.”
“Really?” Kat’s eyes got wide. “That would suggest that they might be mates after all.”
Bea nodded. “It appears so.”
Whoa. That was interesting. And disconcerting. Goodwin wasn’t my favorite person on the planet. He was an ex-evangelical who’d tried to use me to rile up his congregation and had put me and the rest of the coven in danger. But he was an angel, and it was likely he’d take care of Lailah. So the fact that she was with him wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Bea placed a mug and a sandwich in front of me, and I smiled up at her. “Thanks. For everything,” I told her.
She squeezed my shoulder. “You never have to thank me for anything.”
Lucien chuckled. “That’s pretty much exactly the same thing she said to me upstairs.”
“Yep,” Kat said. “I heard it.”
“Oh, stop.” I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Everyone likes to feel appreciated.”
I ate my sandwich in silence as I listened to my friends chatter. Once I was done, I put my hand on Lucien’s arm. “Lucien?”
He tore his attention from Kat. “Yeah?”
“Can you take me home?”
***
I knew Kane was home before I even stepped inside. There weren’t any lights on, but I felt his presence deep in my heart. Relief flooded me. He wasn’t hidden from me due to his new incubus status. There was nothing I wanted more than to feel his strong arms around me.
Because my hands were still bandaged, Lucien had walked me to the door. He glanced at me. “Do you have a key?”
“Not with me.” Everything was still back at the hotel.
He nodded and pressed his hand to the lock. A moment later, he pushed the door open.
“Thanks.” I turned and waved at Kat, who was waiting in his Jeep. She smiled and waved back. “Have a good evening,” I said to Lucien.
A sheepish grin broke out on his face, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Then I sobered. “No more magic until Bea runs some tests.”
“No magic,” he agreed. He turned to go, but I placed a hand on him, stopping him, and let my vision shift. The darkness that had clung to him before was completely gone. “What is it, Jade?”
I shook my head and gave him a small smile. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Go. Kat’s waiting.”
He grinned and strode off, happiness glowing around him like a ray of sunshine. Finally they were getting their happy ending.
“Hey, pretty witch,” a welcome voice said from behind me.
I spun, finding Kane wearing o
nly a low-slung pair of jeans, and launched myself into his arms.
“Whoa.” He tightened his arms around me and whispered, “What happened?”
I buried my face in his bare shoulder and took a deep, calming breath. “Everything.”
“Sounds familiar. Come on. Let’s get inside.” He pulled me through the door and kicked it closed with one foot.
“Kane?”
“Yeah?”
“What happened to you?” I brushed my lips over an angry laceration on his chest and then pulled back, eyeing his naked torso. There were three more slashes, and he had a bruise on his left cheekbone.
“Demons.” He gently pulled me from him and held my arms up, inspecting my bandaged hands. “What happened to you?”
“Black magic witch.” I wiggled my paws, pleased when there was no pain. “I think the gauze can come off now.”
“Come with me.” With one hand on my lower back, he led me to our bedroom.
I sat on the bed and waited while he disappeared into the bathroom. He reemerged with scissors and a damp towel.
“Hands out,” he ordered.
I gave him my right hand. “One at a time.”
“Right.”
I sat there while he took his time cutting the tape and then painstakingly removed the bandage. When he got to the last layer, I squeezed my eyes shut, terrified of what he’d find. If there was even one blister, I was likely to vomit. The cool air caressed my skin, and then after a moment, I felt Kane’s lips on my palm. He moved to each finger, tenderly kissing each one.
“How bad is it?” I asked, cracking one eyelid.
“Terrible.” His kisses continued, making my entire hand tingle.
The other eye popped open and I peered at my hand. It was red but not beet red. And there wasn’t a blister in sight. I let out a sigh of relief and caressed Kane’s cheek with my thumb.
He glanced up at me, desire swimming in his eyes. That one look set my body on fire. I wanted him in my arms, needed to be as close to him as possible.
“Kane,” I said, my voice husky.
He let out a tiny groan and sat back. “Other hand.”
“Huh?”
He gently took my other arm and proceeded to unwrap my other bandage.
“Oh,” I breathed. With each new caress of his fingers over my skin, tingles shot like live-wire sparks through my body. The connection was intense and overwhelming, and we had barely even touched each other. It was the incubus thing. It had to be. Every feeling was magnified a thousand times over. And add in the fact that we’d both fought and defeated death, our need for each other was staggering.
Once my second hand was free, Kane pulled me to my feet and clasped both of his hands on the sides of my face and leaned in. Our lips met in a heated frenzy, tongues stroking and warring in desperation and sheer need. Light started to shimmer around us, and I was lost to him. Lost in him.
My fingers curled in his dark hair and I pressed closer, molding myself to him. He tore his lips from mine and ravished my neck, kissing and nipping, until I shivered in pure ecstasy. “More,” I demanded, moving my hands to his shoulders and down his back.
I tilted my head back, giving him more access, and continued my exploration of the muscular planes of his back. My fingers came upon a ragged edge of hot, angry flesh and I froze. “Kane?”
“Hmm?”
“What is this?” I pulled back and ducked under his arm to inspect the gash.
“It’s just a scratch.”
My breath caught as I suppressed a gasp. The wound started at the bottom of his left shoulder blade and crossed diagonally to his waist. I traced one finger along the edge, and when I got to his spine, he winced. “Like hell it’s just a scratch. Have you cleaned these up yet?”
“I showered.”
I straightened and put my hands on my hips. “Get the antiseptic.”
He gazed down at me, mischief dancing in his eyes. “You’re gorgeous when you’re being bossy.”
I shook my head and strode into the bathroom. When I returned, I pointed to the bed. “Lie down.”
He gave me a devilish grin and lay down on his back, but he winced as soon as the angry gash hit the covers.
I sat down next to him and kissed him softly. With my lips still against his, I said, “Stop acting so nonchalant. I know those have to hurt. Let me do something about it.”
“This is already helping.” He wrapped an arm around me and kissed me again, only slowly and more intensely, the way that was designed to make my body light with fire.
I pulled back and shook my head. “Not until you’re fixed up.”
“I’m up.” He cast his gaze down the length of his body.
“I bet you are.” I let my gaze follow his for a moment. My cheeks heated, and he let out a low laugh. Unscrewing the antibacterial cream, I focused on the lacerations and scrapes on his torso. Fear turned my mood sour. “These were all from demons?”
“Yes,” he said hesitantly. “But I’m told they’ll heal quickly.”
I raised one eyebrow. With a little power, I was sure they would. “Is that why you’re so eager to get me into bed?”
“What?” he sat up, scowling in pain. “Dammit. No. I want to get you into bed because I want you. I always want you and today was a bitch of a day and the only thing I can think of to make it better is to have you in my arms.”
The look of pure indignation, combined with the love pouring off him, made me melt. I wanted the same thing. It was just weird having his new gift influencing my physical reactions. It would take some getting used to. And I was sure it was the same for him. “I know,” I relented. “I’m sorry. I want you, too. Now lie back and let me take care of these.”
He brushed his lips softly over mine and then settled back against the pillows as I ran gentle fingers over his wounds, mixing a tiny bit of magic into the antiseptic.
“That feels better,” he said as I finished doctoring the last one on his chest.
“Good. Now roll over.”
His back was a mess of bruises and scrapes. Nothing too serious except the long gash that ran over his spine. I took my time applying the magic-infused cream. He winced and twitched through the entire episode, but by the time I was done, the red had faded to pink and he was breathing easier.
“Okay. You’re done,” I said.
He rolled back over and managed to not wince this time. “That was incredible. You’re handy to have around in situations like this.”
I stared at the cinnamon flecks in his dark eyes and felt a surge of love manifest from deep in my heart. “Kane?”
He clasped his hands behind his head. “Yeah, pretty witch?”
“Make love to me now.”
Those eyes of his turned molten. “With pleasure. Come here.”
I curled up next to him, tracing my fingers over his jaw, down his neck, and back up again.
He kneeled before me and ever so gently peeled my clothes off one piece at a time until I was lying before him naked and wanting.
“Pants,” I said, grazing my hand down his abdomen. He shivered under my touch as he discarded his jeans and stood before me in all his naked glory. “You’re incredible.”
He climbed over my body, marking a path of kisses from my hip to my breast. His lips hovered over my taut nipple as he met my eyes. “So are you, Jade. So fucking incredible.” Then his mouth was on me and sensation rippled deep inside, shooting straight to my center. In moments I was writhing beneath him, desperate to feel him inside me.
“Kane,” I said on a gasp. “I’m ready.”
His hand that had been trailing down my hip froze, and he paused in his exploration of my breast to look up into my eyes. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” I spread my legs and moved his hand to show him just how ready I was, and when his fingers
slid over my slick flesh, I moaned low in the back of my throat.
“So fucking hot,” he murmured against my throat. Then he placed his hand back to my hip and pressed his thick length into me. Our eyes locked and we both stilled, taking in the moment. And when Kane started to move, it was slow and perfect as my magic once again spread over both of us, building an intensity that blocked out everything else until all that was left was us, our love, and the magic healing both of our bodies.
Chapter 26
I awoke the next morning in Kane’s arms, totally spent but completely satisfied. I smiled and stretched in the pale light of the dawn.
Kane shifted and his eyes fluttered open. “Morning, love.”
“Morning,” I said sleepily.
He sat up, and the first thing I noticed was all his wounds had healed. I checked my hands. They were still just as red as they had been when Kane had removed my bandages. Well, at least my magic worked for someone.
“You’re drained,” Kane said, staring down at me.
“Just sleepy.”
He shook his head. “No. That’s not all.” He lowered himself and placed his hand over my heart. “I took too much of your magic last night.”
“You needed it more than I did.” I’d known exactly how much magic I’d given up the night before. I could have held back, but instinctively I’d understood he needed more to heal his wounds.
Kane shook his head in exasperation. “You can’t keep doing that.”
“I know. But last night was different. I wanted to. Needed you to be all right after the terrible day I’d had. Can you understand that?”
He stared into my eyes with such intensity, I wondered what exactly he was looking for. But then his gaze moved to my lips and he was kissing me again, lighting the spark with just one brush of his lips. This incubus thing had its perks.
An hour later, we lay side by side, languid and tranquil, and my hands were completely healed.
***
It was very early in the morning, and Bourbon Street was deserted except for the street cleaners. I peered in the windows of The Grind, spotting Pyper behind the counter. She was by herself, not an employee or customer in sight. As soon as we walked inside, Pyper’s head snapped up. Her tired eyes locked on Kane’s and she ran into the lobby, throwing her arms around him. “Don’t ever do that again.”
