by King, Thayer
The waiter had situated them in a booth where they could have some measure of privacy but the occasional fan still noticed Sean. He was polite and didn’t decline signing autographs. She was surprised when a few people recognized her and wanted her signature also.
It was dark by the time they returned to the hotel. She felt the tension between the two of them ratcheting up as they entered the elevator. He wanted sex. She knew it. Since their binding it was difficult to distinguish his desires from her own. She didn’t know if she could make love to him again and hold something of herself back. Each time they came together, she knew their closeness would grow. Eventually, they would be open books for one another. She wasn’t prepared for that level of sharing.
He entered her suite with her. When he leaned down to kiss her, she stopped him with a hand to his chest. Her lips tingled in want of a taste of his mouth on hers. But she knew they’d never be able to stop at a few kisses. “I can’t have sex with you. I need more time.” When his expression turned stormy and he would have left, she said, “It’s not about you. I’m trying to figure out how this changes me. I’ve avoided this foreign energy inside of me all my life and what you’ve done has forced it back upon me.”
“It shouldn’t be foreign. It’s a natural part of you. Being a witch is working with nature, not against it.”
“There’s nothing natural about what you can do.”
He laughed. “There’s not much I can do. I told you, I’ve never applied myself. I’ve never felt my abilities like I have since I bound you to me.”
“‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live’,” she quoted.
Sean gripped her shoulders, his handsome face showing anger. “Mystique, we were born this way. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. We didn’t gain our abilities through allegiance with the devil. That’s a myth conjured up by some frightened fool. Yes, there are evil witches. We’re not evil. Remember, there are evil humans, too.” He kissed her neck and left.
Chapter Eleven
Mystique woke to the smell of almond amaretto coffee, her favorite. She opened her eyes to see a steaming cup held beneath her nose. It was topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. She sat up with a moan, both hands wrapping around the mug.
“I don’t even garner a ‘thank you’ or a ‘good morning’ for bringing you a cup of Joe?”
Her eyes flicked up in time to see Sean sitting gingerly so as not to jostle the hot liquid in her hands. She blew on it, watching the foam part, and took a sip. She moaned again at the delicious taste. “Thank you. How did you get in? I locked the door.”
Sean rolled his eyes. “Locks are child’s play. I could manage that at two.”
“And the coffee? How did you know this was my favorite flavor?” She peered at him over the rim of the cup. He’d shaved and his hair was damp from his shower. The crisp blue shirt he wore accentuated the neon blue of his eyes. He was too much handsome for this early in the morning.
“Nothing special about that. Neva told me.”
“Oh.”
He grinned. “You sound disappointed. Did you think I had read your mind?” She looked away and he laughed. “If it makes you feel any better, I used magic to create the coffee.”
She frowned and lowered the cup to the nightstand. “Sean, why are you here? What do you want?”
He stroked her cheek. “All I want is to be near you, spend time with you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. But lately, the feeling is stronger. Don’t you feel it, too?”
She could feel the tug. Last night as she’d snuggled under the comforter, she’d longed for Sean’s warm hard body in bed with her. “Yes.” He leaned towards her. She slid from between the sheets to a standing position. “We’re needed onset in an hour. I need to get ready.”
“Some of the other actors and crew wanted to go out tonight. Come with me? Please?”
Why couldn’t she resist a please from him? “Yes.”
****
Mystique was relieved to see Neva seated at their table as she entered Hiro Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar with Sean at her side. She wore a simple black dress with a low back. His large hand at the base of her spine singed her where it made contact with her skin. Sean had insisted on bringing her despite her assurances that she would meet him at the restaurant.
They sat next to Neva. The chair next to Sean was empty. Sonya soon filled it and clung to his arm to gain his attention. “Sean, I’ve wanted to talk to you all day about our love scene. We need to do a reshoot.” She cut her eyes at Mystique. “While there’s enough steam between the two of us, the scene doesn’t go far enough. I’m willing to do anything to make them sizzle.”
Through their link, Mystique could feel Sean mentally recoil. However, he was kind as he explained to Sonya how granting her wish would disrupt their scheduling and impact their budget. Sonya pouted and continued to try to cajole Sean to her way of thinking.
Seeing that this was going to take some time, Mystique began talking with Neva. Their food was ordered and they received a clear onion soup to start the meal. Each time Sean tried to turn to her or change the topic, Sonya immediately began harping on her scenes again. Mystique found the Hibachi show was difficult to enjoy with the other woman’s shrill voice creating a continuous droning background noise. Halfway through dinner, Sean put down his fork. Mystique could feel the anger brewing inside of him like a dark cyclone. “Damn it, Sonya, let it go. I only gave you the part because I owed your father a favor. I don’t think he’ll thank me for letting his only daughter bare her goods for the camera!”
“This is my career we’re talking about here. Daddy will understand. This is the way careers are made for women these days, Sean.”
“Then make your career somewhere else.”
“Would you say that if I’d been fucking you like Miss Goodie Two Shoes over there?”
The table grew quiet. Mystique felt more than saw Sean reining himself in. “If you’re referring to Mystique, she doesn’t have to do nudity to boost her career. She’s that talented. I understand you don’t have her skills and want to employ whatever assets,” he said coolly, his eyes trailing over her figure with apparent disapproval, “you possess, such as they may be. But you’re not going to use my movie to expose yourself. Got it?”
Sonya glared at him and grabbed up her purse. She left without another word.
Mystique felt her face grow hot as the silence grew at their table. She couldn’t look at anyone. Is that how everyone thought she’d gotten the lead? On her back?
Sean cleared his throat. “I guess this is as good a time as any to make our announcement. We wanted to wait until the movie wrapped, but I’d like to end the evening on a positive note.” He took her hand and brought it to his face, kissing her fingers. “Mystique and I are getting married.”
Her mouth dropped open. She snapped it closed as she was pulled into an embrace by Neva. Congratulations rang out down the length of their table and beyond. Her eyes met his over Neva’s head. He was grinning from ear to ear. Bastard! This was sure to get out. No doubt Sean was counting on it. Flashes went off. One of the actors had his phone in his palm, his thumbs moving in brisk swipes over the touchscreen.
Mystique tried to keep her false smile in place for the remainder of the evening. Her cheeks ached and her head hurt by the time they left for the hotel. She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to the cool glass of the window. “How could you do that?” she asked Sean as he slid behind the wheel.
“We both know that you’re going to marry me. And I didn’t like Sonya’s insinuations. I wanted to give people something else to gossip about.”
She grunted, deciding to ignore his statement about marriage for the moment. “They went from thinking that I slept my way into the part to knowing that I had.”
“Trust me, I know spin.” He started the car. “The engagement will make it all seem romantic. Next thing you know, people will want wedding details. Aside from Sonya, everyone else knows you won the part on
the merit of your acting skills. But she’s the type who may want to spread her lies. Some people may buy her story. I wish I could just say ‘Fuck what they think,’ but we both know that image is important in our line of work.”
She fell silent, mulling over the ramifications of his statement. She wouldn’t be able to break their engagement without appearing like a flake. Could she marry him? Her history with witches told her no. If Sean found out the entire truth about her family, he wouldn’t want to marry her. She realized that what she wanted didn’t matter. She had to find a way to break the bond between the two of them.
****
Back at her suite, Mystique found it impossible to get rid of Sean. “I promise all I want to do is hold you and be with you. I won’t try to seduce you.”
They’d been having this discussion for thirty minutes already. It was late and she was tired. “Fine. I’m going to get ready for bed. You go get whatever you need…” Her voice trailed off as he produced a toothbrush and toothpaste out of thin air. “Quit doing that!” His eyes continued to glow bright neon blue with the residual magic. His pupils were non-existent. He blinked and the unnatural brightness was gone and his pupils reappeared.
“I’m sorry that you’re uncomfortable with it, but there are so few people I can do that in front of.”
She grunted and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. He followed and brushed his teeth at her side. When they’d finished, he gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Sorry, your mouth was too delicious to resist.”
She changed in front of him, stripping down to a bra and panties. She chose a pink satin pajama pants set because it covered more skin than any of her other sets. She didn’t want to tempt Sean or herself.
Eyes aglow, Sean’s clothing disappeared. He stood before her in only a pair of fitted black boxers.
“That’s just lazy,” she groused before climbing into bed.
The bed dipped as he joined her. He reached out and tugged her into his embrace. His warmth and his scent enveloped her. Though she knew she should protest, being held in his arms felt too good to protest. She closed her eyes and a sigh escaped. Sean chuckled. She jabbed him with an elbow. “Shhh! I’m trying to sleep.”
She woke with a start an hour later, hot and sweating from an erotic dream of Sean. She’d hoped that sleeping with him would end the dreams. Biting her lip to hold in a whimper, she tried to extricate herself from his embrace without waking him.
He growled. “Don’t.” His arms tightened around her. One hand slid down her rib cage and over her belly before slipping into her pants and cupping her mound. She moaned and arched into his touch. He manipulated her clit through the silk cloth. “I’m hurting, too.”
“We shouldn’t. Each time we do, our connection will grow stronger.”
“I want that.” He bit her earlobe. “I want you.”
She closed her eyes tightly. She wanted it, too. For once, to feel a part of something, to be close to another human being without being made to feel inferior or different. But could she do it? Committing to him would be closing the door on reconciliation with her family permanently. She would never be able to go back.
And could she trust that Sean truly meant it? “Sean, what if this is just a temporary feeling? What if this feeling is coming from working so closely together? So many actors hook up while making movies together, but it doesn’t last. Our bond, while permanent, will be easier to endure if we don’t strengthen it. Once we go back to our normal lives and work separates us, you might want to be with someone else—”
“No. I’ve never dated any of my leading ladies. I’ve never even been tempted until now. Mystique, you’re just going to have to accept that you’re it for me. I love you and nothing is ever going to change that.”
Apparently done with words, Sean rolled her onto her belly, pushed her pajama bottoms and panties down, and thrust inside her aching pussy. She was slick from her dream and his entry was one smooth glide. The pleasure was so great that she cried out. “Oh, God,” she moaned. One more thrust and she was flying, her channel closing around his plunging cock.
He didn’t stop fucking her. He groaned, gripped her hips and thrust harder. His cock grew thicker, making her moan at the added sensation. She grasped the sheets, her legs trembling as the pleasure tore through her in waves.
“Love you so much, Mystique,” he said and bit into her shoulder. He was so incredibly deep inside her channel. Each movement of his hips brought him up against her womb. It felt so good, so right. Her belly tightened with another orgasm as he exploded inside of her. He groaned her name as she sobbed his.
Chapter Twelve
Three weeks later they were wrapping up filming. Mystique had decided not to stay for the wrap party. She needed to see her family one last time before returning home. She lugged her Louis Vuitton luggage out of the closet and began haphazardly throwing her clothes onto the bed. Sean was still onset viewing footage with the director.
She’d grown to accept her relationship with Sean but she couldn’t take him home to meet her family. She needed to do this alone. Each day, each time they made love, she felt the bond with him grow stronger. She refused to use her magic but she could feel it crackling beneath her skin, eager to be free. Sean had no such qualms. He practiced his magic whenever they were alone together. It frightened her how strong he was getting and how addictive he seemed to find his new skills. He’d made it snow inside their room the night before and made love to her as the flakes had fallen. It had been beautiful and fun at the time. The contrast of the cool flakes melting on her skin at the same time that his hot mouth cruised her body had been terribly erotic. When it was over, he’d asked her to help him clean it up with her own magic. She’d refused and it had led to a fight. It was their first fight regarding her powers but if she had to accept his use of magic then he would have to accept that she never intended to be a full witch.
She unzipped her bag and began stuffing her clothing into it. She gathered her toiletries from the bathroom, sweeping them from the countertop and into a bag. Sean expected her to be at the party tonight. She doubted it would take him that long to notice she was missing. Since their joining, she could sense his emotions. He’d tried talking with her through telepathy but she’d refused. It was unnatural. But that didn’t prevent them from sharing the occasional thought. She knew he was worried about her and that he truly loved her. He told her each night and every morning. She’d yet to tell him the same but he knew she loved him.
Her flight would take her to Charlotte first, but she should be in Asheville by three. Hopefully, that would give her enough of a head start to stay ahead of Sean if he should decide to follow her. Bags by the door, she scanned the room quickly to make sure she’d gotten all her belongings. She left Sean a letter on the bed asking him for patience. He hadn’t exhibited that trait in abundance in her experience with him. She prayed that just this once he would show some restraint and wait for her in Beverly Hills or the consequences could be dire.
****
Mystique entered the family bakery, Somethin’s Cookin’. It was amazing how little it had changed since she last saw it. She could smell fresh baked bread as the door closed behind her, a bell chime announcing her arrival. The same cozy tables and chairs were by the large windows at the front. A few customers sipped coffee and ate pastries. Business for the bakery had never been brisk. The food was delicious but service was terrible when her grandmother wasn’t around.
A display case held cookies, cakes and pies. And there at the end, her grandmother, Skye Gray, stood by the register. Her long soft hair was in a bun behind her head. There was more gray in it than she recalled but then she thought never to see her again. Mystique’s eyes misted over as she approached the counter. “Mama Skye,” she said, her voice thick with tears.
Mama Skye’s eyes widened. “Myst, child.” She came from around the side and pulled her into a tight hug. Mystique hugged her back. She’d missed Skye so much. Her support had meant th
e world to her when she was growing up.
Meadow appeared from the back carrying a loaf of bread. She paused when she caught sight of the two of them embracing before placing the bread in the display. She wiped her hands in her apron before approaching. “Mystique,” she said with a nod of her head. Her mother was tall and thin with dark skin and sharp features. With her beauty, she could have been a model but she would never leave the family business. Her dark eyes flashed around. “Did you bring him?”
Mystique’s jaw tightened. “Of course not.”
Meadow’s eyes narrowed as she studied her. Disgust tightened her lovely face as she spat, “You let him bind you.”
“I let him fuck me by your suggestion and that is what happened.”
“And you dared come here, possessed by that devil—”
Mama Skye placed a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Calm yourself.” She looked around pointedly. The bakery had grown quiet as the patrons listened to their argument. “Perhaps this is a conversation best had elsewhere.”
Meadow turned and headed for the back. Mystique followed her slowly. She did not look forward to this conversation. They went through the kitchen and to the office in the back. This room had dark shelves lined with books on one side and a wall of knives on the other side. Her mother took a seat behind the desk that had once belonged to her grandfather. It was a massive piece. When she was small, she’d liked to hide behind it while her grandmother took meetings with special clients.
“I don’t know why you bothered to come,” Meadow said stiffly.
Mystique sat on the couch. At the moment, she didn’t know either. She’d never have the relationship with her mother that she’d longed for throughout her childhood. Meadow hated her father and witches too much. A witch herself by birth, her mother had treated her especially harshly. Displays of affection were few and far between. She was not neglected or abused. She had never lacked for anything except her mother’s love.
