by J. E. Taylor
CJ paused at the entrance to the hallway and turned. “Your parents’ really named you Paige?” he asked with a smirk.
Paige blushed and nodded.
“Do you have a middle name?”
“No. It’s just Paige. Paige Turner,” she said, and a smirk found her lips. It found everyone’s lips.
CJ Ryan smiled, scribbled something, and then tossed a compact disc to Paige.
Austin glanced at the note. ‘To the girl whose name will always make me smile. It was a pleasure meeting you, Paige. Next time I’m playing in the city, I’ll make sure you and Austin have front row seats. CJ Ryan’
She glanced up from the signed CD like it was a shiny diamond instead of just a collection of his best music and then looked at Austin. For whatever it was worth, the words pulled the shine back into her eyes, and Austin smiled, thanking whoever was up above for sparing her.
“Well, I’ll just grab our things,” Austin said and headed to the room to collect what little they had left.
CJ caught him at the door, his expression dead serious as his eyes penetrated the deepest part of his soul.
“It’s going to be a long, hellish road back,” he started, but Austin stopped him by raising his hand.
“I know, and it might tear us apart in the end.”
CJ’s lips twitched into a smile. “Only if you let it. And if you do, he wins.”
The shock of his words was like a jolt of electricity, and he jerked a step back. “Why do you even care?”
CJ glanced over his shoulder for a moment before returning his gaze. “I recognize angel blood when I see it. It’s one of the few things I’ll risk my ass for these days,” he said and walked away.
Austin stood frozen to the spot, and then his gaze traveled in the direction of the living room. “Who?” he asked, thinking about the color of Paige’s eyes. It seemed to be in the same color palate as both Tom and CJ.
CJ stopped before he stepped into the bedroom at the end of the hall and turned in his direction. “Paige isn’t a descendant,” he said, reading Austin’s mind accurately. “She’s just a very talented Wiccan like my brother’s wife.”
The suitcase fell out of Austin’s grip as he stared at CJ Ryan, the man who wielded angel wings and annihilated the evil hurting Paige. His index finger slowly pointed at his own chest. When CJ smiled and gave a shrug before disappearing, he nearly sat on his ass in shock.
“What the hell does that even mean?” he asked no one in particular.
Black Magick Chapter 16
Austin stared out the window of The Plaza Hotel focusing on nothing as Paige shuffled through the television channels. The news story she stopped on pulled his attention to the television. It was the report of what happened to them, including the so-called attack at the hospital.
When Detective Connolly stepped into the shot to make a statement, Austin took a seat and listened as the facts poured out. The only thing not included was that Paige had killed Hunter. Instead, they catalogued it as a suicide.
Paige turned toward Austin, her eyes wide and her mouth open in the same kind of shock radiating through him.
“Did they?” she asked, pointing toward the window.
“I honestly don’t know, Paige. Detective Connolly was so shaken by what happened to him at the hospital that he just might have done that one on his own.” He glanced at the television and back at Paige. “Either way, it makes both of us free and clear of any wrongdoing.” He added a shrug for emphasis. “So, we’re free to go home after we get a decent night’s sleep.”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever sleep again,” Paige mumbled.
He slid into bed next to her and pulled her into the nook of his arm. “We will, eventually,” he said and kissed her forehead. “Until then, I’ll do my best to keep the nightmares away.”
She looked up from his chest, and a tear spilled down her cheek. She didn’t need to say the words because they reflected as clearly as the sunrise over the city, but when the shaking words whispered between them, he smiled at the ones left unspoken.
“Thank you for not giving up.”
“Baby, I could never give up on you,” he said and gently planted a kiss on her cheek. “How would you feel if I applied to Dartmouth?”
She blinked at him and shifted onto her elbow. “But your dreams...”
He shut her up with a kiss and then said, “Dartmouth has a decent medical program. Besides you’re there, and if I’m being honest here, you are my real dream.”
“Even after all this?”
“Especially after all this,” he said and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Paige seemed to curl into herself, and her gaze dropped between them. “You know what they did to me.”
“Yes. But you aren’t the only one damaged by this,” he said very softly, and her gaze lifted. “I couldn’t stop what happened any more than you could, and that’s going to eat away at me, just the way what they did will tear you apart inside.”
“So, why go through that pain?” she asked, and a little part of him died inside.
“We have something here, right?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer, but her tentative nod sparked his hope. “Do you trust me?”
She blinked at the question, and her chin trembled. “I trust you with my life,” she said and her husky voice cracked, making it sexier than normal. “But I’m not sure I can give you everything you want.”
“What is it you think I want?” he asked, using his softest, calmest voice despite the aggravation eating away at his stomach.
She dropped her gaze to his chest, avoiding his eyes. “Sex,” she whispered.
His head fell onto the pillow and he stared at the ceiling, silently counting down from ten in order to make his voice calm and devoid of anger.
“Is that really all you think I want from you?” he asked without looking at her. She didn’t answer, and he stifled the urge to growl out a swear word or two. When he finally made himself look at her, the tears were spilling down her cheeks, and she was looking out the window instead of at him. “The past few months I didn’t make a move because I needed to know this was more than just the bedroom connection, because God knows we have the sex thing down to a science.”
Her head snapped towards him.
“You wanted to know why I didn’t touch you? It’s because I didn’t trust what I was feeling. I had to be sure it wasn’t just a sex thing.”
She stared at him.
“And I basically asked you to move in with me at the hotel, so that should give you a clue about what’s really important to me.”
“You still...” She couldn’t finish her statement and she sat up, wrapping her arms around her legs.
“If we let this fall to pieces, then that fucker wins, and there is no way I’m going to let that happen. You know why?”
Tears spilled and she shook her head, still looking out at the city lights.
“Because I fucking love you. That’s why.”
Her chin trembled and she buried her face in her hands. Each sob ripped through him, and he sat up, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his lap. Her arms snaked around him, and she cried into his shoulder, clinging to him like if she let go, he might disappear like a wisp of smoke.
After what seemed like forever, she picked up her head and met his gaze.
“I’m such a mess,” she said, wiping her face.
“Yeah, you are, but I’m not exactly the rock of stability, either.”
She uttered a soft laugh and pressed her lips to his. “You’re more of a rock than you know.” Her breath tickled against his lips, and when she pulled away, she met his gaze.
“I think this, what we have, is worth it,” he said.
Her eyebrow cocked. “You think?” she asked with a teasing sniffle.
“Yeah. I think. As long as we’re both in the same place.”
Her hand caressed his cheek as she stared into his eyes, and he bit his tongue, avoiding asking
her the direct question. He wanted her to say it of her own accord, and he was afraid he may have already pushed it too far. When she leaned her forehead against his, he swallowed the disappointment.
“I didn’t realize how far gone I was until...” she said and paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, “... until I thought I’d lost you.”
He pulled away, and their eyes met. She leaned in, delivering a soft kiss with a spark behind it. He let it morph into more, and their tongues mingled, intimate and tender, tangling in a slow roll that took his breath away. It was the type of kiss that promised more, but he also knew now wasn’t the time to explore the boundaries.
He broke the kiss and pulled a slow breath before opening his eyes to hers.
“I am in the same place, Austin, but I’m afraid that might not be enough.”
He smiled, cocking his head while he kept her gaze. “I can’t promise you it will be easy, but I can promise it will be worth the fight.”
The End
Continue the Magick Series with PRACTICAL MAGICK.
Thank you for reading BLACK MAGICK. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review.
About J.E. Taylor
J.E. Taylor is a USA Today bestselling author, a publisher, an editor, a manuscript formatter, a mother, a wife, a business analyst, and a Supernatural fangirl, not necessarily in that order. She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:
“Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?”
From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back.
In addition to being co-owner of Novel Concept Publishing, Ms. Taylor also moonlights as a Senior Editor of Allegory E-zine, an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.
She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine.
Visit her at www.jetaylor75.com and sign up for her newsletter for early previews of her upcoming books, release announcements, and special opportunities for free swag!
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You might also enjoy other books from J.E. Taylor’s backlist:
THE STEVE WILLIAMS SERIES:
From the mountains of New Hampshire to the streets of New York City, these novels take you on a journey through some of the darkest days in Steve Williams' FBI career.
The series includes these single titles:
DARK RECKONING (Book 1)
"J.E. Taylor has penned a tale of terror worthy of Lovecraft. The strong characters, edgy atmosphere, and unflinching narrative hooked me from the first and kept me riveted all the way through to its horrifying conclusion - a solid piece of storytelling!" Ty Drago, Editor of Allegory and author of PHOBOS
VENGEANCE (Book 2)
HUNTING SEASON (Book 3):
"Unstoppable, breath stealing, and terrifying all at once." - Cat Connor, author of killerbyte, terrorbyte, and exacerbyte.
"Hunting Season goes where few venture, mixing a compelling crime thriller with supernatural forces. The action and drama is thick and fast and I guarantee you will not be able to put this book down." - Poppet, author of Seithe and Darkroom.
GEORGIA REIGN (Book 4)
CRYSTAL ILLUSIONS (Book 5)
“Gripping, rich and magnificent - crime whodunnits don't get any better than this!” Author Poppet – Author of QUISLINGS, BLINDSIDED, DJINN and DUSAN
“CRYSTAL ILLUSIONS is a dizzying thriller with a terrifying killer, a unique detective, and some twists you will not see coming! This is Steve Williams’ most addictive adventure so far and J.E. Taylor at her very best!” Ty Drago - Author of THE UNDERTAKERS Series
"This has to be one of the best mysteries I have ever read. Move over Agatha Christie there's a new sheriff in town, and she is great." - PRG Reviews
SAVING FACE (Book 6)
THE GAMES TRILOGY
Intensely disturbing. Beautifully horrific. Indescribably intense. Gruesome and gory. You can't help but get caught up in this series.
When Ty Aris kidnaps Jessica Connor for his step-brother’s underground film network, he is not prepared for the impact this woman will have on his life. The Games Trilogy brings Ty and Jessica from the dark days in his step-brother’s sadistic prison, to the glitz of a major motion picture premier in New York City in a powerful combination of suspense, romance, and heartache. They battle the worst in human nature, as well as a paranormal twist that nearly destroys them and all they love.
This series includes these single titles:
SURVIVAL GAMES (Book 1)
MIND GAMES (Book 2)
END GAME (Book 3)
The Games Series is for sale to Adult Audiences Only. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes, graphic language, and violence that may be considered offensive by some readers.
FALLEN – Games Trilogy Prequel
Ty Ryan’s downward spiral started the day his mother met Jacob Aris.
An unexpected romance between the emergency room nurse and the multi-billionaire plunges Ty into the wealthy world of entitlement, secrets, and lies.
When tragedy strikes, leaving Ty and his siblings at the mercy of Jacob Aris, Ty is powerless to defend against the old man’s rage. Each random beating chips away at Ty’s sanity, leaving him vulnerable to his stepbrother’s master manipulation.
NIGHT HAWK TRILOGY
Damian Andreas is an ancient vampire tasked with keeping the archangel bloodlines safe. Blinded by his hatred for Lucifer, he snatches Naomi Hawk from the devil to claim her as his own. The moment his teeth sink into her neck, he realizes he has just broken his own vows.
When Naomi bites him back, his blood transform her into an immortal shadow, and puts Damian on a collision path with an angry archangel.
Single titles in this series:
NIGHT HAWK (Book 1)
TIGRESS (Book 2):
TRINITY RISING (Book 3):
THE RYAN CHRONICLES
Tom and CJ Ryan harbor the power of the Gods. Refusing to stand with Lucifer puts both of them, and everyone they love, on the devil’s hit list.
There are only so many ways you can break a man before his wrath changes the status quo. Rekindled by family, by love, by home and memories, the ruthless son of Ty Ryan steps into the shoes left under the family tree by his dad, and this time he’s out of mercy.
The series includes these single titles:
CJ’s Story:
ANGEL GRACE - Book 1
ANGEL HEART - Book 2
ANGEL WRATH – Book 3
Tom’s Story:
ANGEL BLOOD - Book 4
ANGEL FIRE - Book 5
ANGEL FURY – Book 6
MAGICK TRILOGY
Paige Turner’s magick skills are rusty, but she needs to refine her spells or her determination to save a very special soul will prove to be disastrous.
Single titles in this series:
MAGICK
BLACK MAGICK
PRACTICAL MAGICK
THE DEATH CHRONICLES TRILOGY
What would you do if you found out Death was your father and you were destined to take over the family business?
Dylan Nicholas Ramsay—Nick to his friends—does not want the job, but he has no choice. The fallout of refusing to accept his fate is bleak, and when rogue reapers step in to try to overthrow the status quo, all hell breaks loose.
Single titles in this Young Adult paranormal suspense series:
DON’T FEAR THE REAPER (Book 1)
HIGHWAY TO HELL (Book 2)
KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR (Book 3)
Introducing THE PARADOX FILES, a new urban fantasy series
A protector. A lost soul. A siren looking for salvation.
Kylee Paradox never expected to be a protector of humankind, but when hell’s portals open and let loose the creatures of the underworld, she can’t see any other way.
Armed with an ultimatu
m, Kylee has no choice but to embrace her new position as bounty hunter of the damned. Sending these monsters back to purgatory becomes her life’s mission.
The only glitches in an otherwise noble pursuit are those who hold her fate in their hands. They forbid her from using her deadly siren song to lure the beasts back to the pit.
If she harms even a single innocent soul in her quest, Kylee herself will become one of the hunted.
SILENCING THE SIREN – Book One
WAKING THE SIREN – Book Two
HUNTING THE SIREN – Book Three
FRACTURED FAIRY TALES
2018
RED
CINDER
BRAVE
TANGLED
SPINDLE
SNOW
FROZEN
BELLE
Other titles by J.E. Taylor
MESSIAH
SILENCE
STAR CROSSED
Short Story Compilation:
GLIMPSES
Visit Ms. Taylor’s website for more information on any of these titles!
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