Briony (Naughty Witches Book 2)

by Erin R Flynn

  “We got you, Briony,” Levi muttered, giving her a quick hug as he realized she’d been keeping more from us than we realized.

  Well, we hadn’t been sitting idle, but yeah, she seemed panicked to realize every time she opened the box, there was only another one inside.

  Or backwards to pile more on? Another door always to walk through and open?

  She went through the tree trunks inside the shop and set up the mill. We lugged the first one over, and she expertly sliced off down the length at the thickness she needed. Then she showed us how the lumber kiln worked and how to stack.

  That we could handle.

  Except a small problem.

  “This has a schedule on here that says like two months?” I asked her as we lifted the next slab.

  “Yeah, drying wood takes a while. I’m cheating with magic, but this still helps because I’ve been using totems we loaded like crazy just to get what I have done. I need to start plotting for the rest, as well as get more for now, and then stacks in the corner for much later like normal.”

  “So a lot of fucking work, and we should get more trees down, got it,” Levi cut in when she looked about to ramp back up.

  I would have been worried too. But we could do it.

  Hell, we were getting so good with the chainsaws, trucks, and loaders, we could be certified on them. I liked it. It was a good workout and peaceful. Well, not cutting down the tree to kill, but the circle of life, as she would immediately plant another sapling we helped make with magic.

  So that was peaceful. Somehow, it worked in my head. It also made me realize why Levi liked cooking so much, as the parts coming together to make a finished meal seemed to have that same peacefulness for him.

  She was much more relaxed when we finished getting through all the trunks we had. And once again, I was impressed with how smart she was. She used what were meant as tall kitchen carts for wheeling thirty or more baking trays into an oven or to deliver food as her drying racks for slabs.

  And for the smaller pieces from branches, she had wire mesh soldered to be shelves that still got the air on both sides.

  It made me glad we were helping her fix her haven. My heart had hurt each time she realized what else was gone or destroyed that she hadn’t realized.

  The day she’d worked on her custom sawdust collection system that had an industrial and massive vacuum connected to all of her saws and stations, she’d been so despondent. Maybe to others it was stupid, but it meant something to her.

  Fuck, she had good memories of the thing and told us how she’d first figured it out and rigged it. It wasn’t just a vacuum and who cared to replace it. It was her invention and tool that aided in her work.

  I’d seen people melt down because their computer died, after all, so I thought it was fair the layers and depth hurt her.

  We promised to start with whatever trees she wanted in the morning and talked her into heading to bed. I almost felt guilty we’d been so demanding about how many dates and whatnot, but she’d also been overly stressed, and she couldn’t only work all the time.

  Plus, there were three of us so she could get a break then.

  “Thank you so much,” she whispered once we were all in her massive shower to get ready for bed. I used to be a shower in the morning man, but after working with wood and sawdust it was worse than sand how it got everywhere. No way I was sleeping like that.

  “Thank you,” Levi murmured as he kissed her shoulder. “I had fun, learned more, and got to see how cool you are. It was an awesome date.”

  “Yeah, I can’t wait to see how you mark out those slabs and get better with the band saw.”

  “You guys really like this part?” she checked, so she might not have gotten that through the bond, or everything was muddled since we were tired.

  “Yeah, I really do,” I promised. “I don’t know that the intricate stuff will be as interesting to me, as I’m not a detail-oriented person in that way. I think, at least. But working the saws and mills is really relaxing, and I think making tables and stuff would be really cool. I always loved those big cedar chests and furniture with such character like that.”

  “I actually think I’m the opposite, or not the opposite, but the staining seems relaxing. I know that’s the spelled part, but the sealing coat isn’t. That and the sanding is a lot like cooking, and that hum and rhythm are what are soothing. I might be good with knives but I think the saws and mills are—they sort of scare me.” Levi huffed. “Not a manly man thing to say, but my heart really races, and not roller coaster fun.”

  “No, I get it,” I cut in, hating when he was down on himself with stuff like that, as if listening to his parents about men being men. “I always felt that way when we had to help the mechanics in the Army. They would tell me to stick my hand near a thing with a spark or a battery, and each time I just really didn’t want to. No thanks. I’ll play with the saws and not electrocute myself.”

  Briony chuckled softly as she glanced between us. “I love how open and honest you both are about this stuff. There’s no caveman ego with either of you. It’s great. I love it.”

  I swallowed a thrill at what she said. That was the closest she’d come to saying anything about how she felt for us, and while it definitely was different than a declaration, it was a good step to me.

  I decided not to point it out and rolled with it. “So what’s your fear?”

  “Heights,” she admitted. “Even coming down the plateau in the ATV makes my heart race way too fucking fast. I looked over the edge once and never again. I climb up a ladder and I’m so freaked out I worry I’ll faint and fall off.”

  “Fuck, you were climbing ladders all over the place to rebuild the shop,” I said, hating we didn’t know that.

  She shrugged. “It’s done now, and being an adult means sucking it up.”

  “It also means asking for help,” Levi grumbled. “I’m fine with ladders. I could have done that while you handled a saw or something.”

  “Fine, but you could have told me too,” she defended.

  He nodded. “I thought it was newbie fear, but it’s not going away.”

  “Yeah, that’s normally how it works,” she grumbled. “Too bad we’re just not perfect.”

  I snorted. “You are. A fear of heights isn’t a flaw to make you imperfect. It makes you a person instead of an android.”

  We finished up and crawled into bed, Briony getting better at sleeping with us. There were times she seemed to need the space, and we tried not to push, but tonight she pulled my arm around her so I was spooning her as she snuggled up to Levi. It was perfect, and I slept like a rock.

  There was one slight drawback to being so into someone and trying not to have sex on a date—even a work date—when you lived with them. Like, we were all over her the next morning.

  She was naked on the island as Levi made breakfast, and I ate her to tide me over. She cried out and Levi just chuckled.

  “Damn, she liked that. Get her stretched, and we’re fucking her together.”

  “Already on it,” I promised. “Fuck, her pussy’s so wet and swollen this morning.”

  “Eat more, you dirty boy,” she groaned, grinding herself against my face. “Shit, that’s it, suck harder.” She whimpered and begged for more.

  “Oh my god!” someone squeaked from my right.

  In a flash, I stood and moved to block Briony, flinching when I saw it was Linnie, who turned away and used her hand to block her view of us.

  “I’m so sorry, Briony,” she muttered. “I heard you, um, shouting, so I just used the code to check on you—I wasn’t thinking. Clearly that was—”

  “It’s fine, hon,” she chuckled. “Sorry we scarred you. Let me get dressed.”

  “Really?” I asked, Levi echoing me.

  “Yes, you brats,” she drawled. I helped her off the counter, smirking at how wobbly her legs were as she threw on her pajamas. “You’re safe, Linnie.”

  “I’m so sorry, I thought I’d g
et a jump on cleaning and you’re—I forgot you had, um, guests.” She glanced between the three of us, questions racing through her eyes.

  “I’m with both of them,” she admitted, holding her finger to her lips and giving Linnie a wink. “It just sort of happened, and you know too many wouldn’t approve.”

  Linnie snorted. “Briony, you could really be a vampire and people would still defend you, they love you so much. And I know several people have asked if Levi is planning on sticking around. Those jams he makes are amazing. I gave some jars to the nurses at my dad’s retirement home, and he says they’re super extra nice to him hoping for more.”

  Levi winked at her. “If you can spare some time to help me get the fruit and prep it, I’ll make you lots more.”

  He flinched as we both felt Briony’s annoyance through the bond, not sure what that was about.

  “Sweet! I’ll make sure I get back the jars too.” She gestured over her shoulder. “I’m going to get to work. Sorry again to interrupt. I’ll start letting you know if I need to come early.”

  “Sure,” Briony said, slapping on a smile.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked her when we were alone again.

  She shrugged. “Nothing. It’s fine. I didn’t realize winking at women was allowed when I’ve been very careful to not act like that with men, and you both get all possessive and jealous, but I guess that only works one way.” She shot Levi a disgusted look. “I’m not hungry.”

  “Well fuck,” he sighed after she stormed off. “I’m turned on and freaking I hurt her. I’m so in love.”

  “Yeah, well fix it, because we just reached a new level with her and I’m not risking that because you are flirty.”

  “It was a conspiratorial wink to help her dad, not a flirty one,” he grumbled

  “Fix it.” I loaded a plate of breakfast and sat at the counter, staring him down until he got his ass in gear. This was our first trip up like this, and we needed to handle it quickly.

  Because I was in love with her too, and her hurt was mine.

  9

  Levi

  I made sure Linnie was on the other side of the mansion before I headed to Briony’s office, knocking on the closed door. She didn’t answer, and I realized because she was on the phone, slipping in with her breakfast and closing the door behind me.

  She did a double take when she saw me, her eyes full of heat… And still hurt.

  “Thanks for understanding, Tallulah. I’m sorry this is fucking with everyone so much.”

  “It’s not a problem,” she replied, the call on speaker through Briony’s landline. “I’m sorry you’re dealing with this fucked up mess. I wish I could come help you, but we both know we’re not the same magic. I will send some extra wine back. We’re really good for right now; I just want to start ramping up and if the wood is fresh, so be it. My guys can dry it out with fans and help instead of air dry for years.”

  “You’re way more understanding than others have been.”

  “Fuck them. I’m sure they’ll apologize later. It’s hard sometimes when we’ve all got our own shit. I’ve got downtime in the winter anyways and people who want the work. There’s always so many balls to juggle, and not the fun kind. I’m buried in my own head about maybe expanding into fruit wines, but I’m not getting the feedback I want.”

  “Like what?” she asked, frowning. “You’re an established label and a world-renowned vineyard. What would be the problem?”

  “Fruit wines aren’t as respected as real wines and labels,” she grumbled. “People are saying it would cheapen the product, like we needed to branch out instead of I wanted to. You know how big of posh assholes people are in wine, and how many rail against a female vineyard owner started by a female as if our tongues are broken.”

  “Do a sister company,” Briony suggested. “Keep the ‘family’ everything and traditional blah, blah, and blah like you didn’t do it all yourself, and do a start-up sister of fun, young fruit wines. That would make a splash and be great PR.”

  She was quiet a few moments. “You’re the best, Briony. That’s the first useful feedback I’ve gotten. You’re getting the first cases for sure.”

  “Can I invest?” she chuckled.

  “Sure. I could use the help if I’m going to really do it. You know there’s only so much we can do solo. I mean, I’ve got the greenhouses in and starting like Sia’s set up, but that was my own stubbornness without a real plan. Well, needing more solar panel acres, but the rest, I wasn’t going to admit defeat.”

  “Yeah, um, I’ve contracted two familiars for the next several months, so I’m not solo and I could spare the magic if you’re game.”

  “I am, I am, and I want details later. I never thought you’d take a familiar again.”

  “Says the woman who’s never even tried,” she grumbled.

  “Fair enough, but I’m not against it. The men I meet seem to be against a woman who’s stronger, smarter, and more badass than them. Maybe Meave’s on the right path with going younger.”

  “It has its perks,” she chuckled. They finished the call and she turned to her laptop. “Did you need something?”

  “I’m sorry,” I muttered, moving closer and setting down the tray on her desk… That had the remote to the shock collar I was wearing on my nuts. I was completely naked—which was why I’d had to be careful of Linnie—and ready for my punishment. “I swear I wasn’t flirting.”

  She ran her fingers over the remote, not looking at me. “It seemed flirty.”

  “I didn’t mean it that way, and I’m sorry it seemed like it was. I meant it conspiratory, like we’d help her dad. That’s all, I swear it.” I sighed when she didn’t say anything. “Linnie sort of reminds me of my younger sister before she started buying into my parents’ crap. She’s a few years younger than me, and given how they treated her, she’s a bit… Linnie makes me think she could have turned out that way.”

  “I can feel how sincere you are and I believe you.” She cleared her throat and petted the remote. “It was my first time really feeling jealous, so that was a bit much. And I appreciate when you cook for me, so I shouldn’t have been that dismissive of your hard work.”

  “Thank you for appreciating it. I love to do it for you,” I murmured as I moved behind her, rubbing her shoulders. “Eat, baby. I don’t like it when you’re not taken care of. Let us take care of you.”

  She nodded and cut into the omelet I’d made her. “This is very good. Exceptional.”

  “I’m glad. I want to make you happy. Do you forgive me?”

  “Not yet,” she admitted, taking a few more bites before elaborating. “Even if not flirty, I feel I have the right to be upset you did it in my home seconds after I had to get dressed because of the interruption. It felt like you were winking at her so I remembered you had options, so not to deny you again.”

  “No, no, Briony, I would never do that,” I promised.

  “I hope not,” she whispered, swallowing loudly. I kept massaging her back as she ate her breakfast. “Do you accept you deserved to be punished?”

  “I do, I get it, and I was bad. Punish me all you want, but please don’t take any steps back. We’ve been doing so well and… I want to say something to you soon. I don’t want my mistake to ruin that.”

  “Me either,” she admitted after a few moments, my heart swelling to hear it. “I can’t help how scared I am of the pain you could both bring me.”

  “I know, and I think it’s impressive how hard you push past that.” I kissed along her neck. “Punish me, baby. Let me show how dedicated I am to you. I only want you, Briony, I swear it.”

  She turned in her chair and licked her lips, eyeing me over with desire. “How far will you let me take it?”

  “Double what you feel I deserve,” I immediately said as I knelt before her. “I upset you, and that kills me. I should have been more considerate of you.”

  “Good boy,” she praised. “Lean over my desk. You get a spanking, twenty shocks,
and I’m going to put a spell on you tonight that will milk you dry, so you have nothing left to even wink at another woman because you promise you are mine.”

  “I deserve at least forty shocks,” I argued. “More.”

  “More could really hurt you, and I’m not okay with that. Believe me, you’ll suffer tonight.”

  I nodded, standing and bending over her desk. She used a leather portfolio I would never look at the same, and rotated between swatting my ass and shocking my balls.

  And still, all I could think of was touching her. She was happy when I confessed that, and after it was over, she told me I’d missed my morning dose of pussy and let me enjoy her on her desk.

  “Levi, if Linnie sees your cock as you strut around my house naked, it won’t see inside of me for a month,” she warned as she got back to work. “Next time, come in a robe and take it off then.”

  “Good point,” I muttered. “Can I borrow something to cover up?”

  “No, you’re former Army. You can handle the mission.”

  Luckily, Linnie was still across the house, so I did make it. I promised her that later, and I even wore the shock collar as we met up for work.

  My jaw fell open as she swatted me upside the head, telling me to take it off and not to wear it again when doing something dangerous like cutting down trees.

  Well, when she put it like that, I felt pretty fucking stupid.

  We managed to get several dozen sweet cherry and Brazilian cherry trees cut down.

  Apparently her friend who owned a vineyard used some really awesome tricks to make the wine so splendid, including using wood others couldn’t get to make her barrels. She had a smaller barrel company she owned as well, so all of it was just for her and another witch friend who made other alcohol.

  It was pretty cool how the light witches seemed connected and worked together to form a network of good. Instead of hunters spreading hate or BDE witches, their evil.