Scapulimancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 7)

by Charmaine Pauls

  It didn’t take long for Sara’s boss to answer with a gruff, “West?”

  He wasn’t going to beat around the bush. “I’m in Pretoria. I need to speak to Sara.”

  “It’s seven in the evening. She’s not at the office, any longer.”

  “She’s not answering her phone. Can you give me her address?”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

  “I know she doesn’t want to see me, but there are things I need to say.”

  “Tonight’s not the best time.”

  His gut squeezed in possessive alarm. “Why not?”

  “She’s out on a date.”

  It didn’t matter that his jealousy was unfounded. Logically, he knew he had no claim on her. Still, the feeling exploded, shooting darts into the back of his eyeballs. White spots popped in his vision.

  “With you?” he managed to grit out.

  Odier laughed. “West, if I was out on a date, it would be with you.”

  Dumile was right, then. “Tell me where.”

  “I can’t do that. You hurt her, you bastard. You knew how she felt about you, and you couldn’t even wait until she’d left town to fuck the next woman.”

  “What?” he thundered. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “She saw you with Bella.”

  “What the…” Then it became clear. She’d gotten the wrong impression. “There’s never been anything between us. Bella’s with Christian.”

  “You were in bed with her.”

  “It doesn’t mean something happened.”

  “Are you bullshitting me?”

  “No! Bella’s like a sister to me. We both had a tough day. I went over, and we fell asleep in her hotel room. I swear to God, it’s not what Sara thinks. You have to help me to set this right or at least explain.”

  “Do you have feelings for Sara?”

  “Yes!”

  “Are you going to hurt her, again?”

  “For fuck’s sake, no!”

  “Well, then you better hurry, because I set her up for a mercy fuck.”

  “What the hell is a mercy fuck?” he yelled.

  “A good lay to get over you.”

  “Son of a…” He clenched the phone, trying to control his worry and his rage. “Where?”

  “They’re meeting at a restaurant. I’ll text you the address.”

  “Send me hers, too, just in case, and if you have the address of that mercy fuck buddy of yours, you better give it to me, too.”

  “Only if you promise not to do anything stupid.”

  “I’ve done enough stupid things in the last few weeks.”

  “Good, and if you hurt her again, I promise you, I’ll have you fucked up so bad, you won’t remember your name.”

  He probably deserved that. He hung up and waited for the text to come through before programming the address in the GPS on his phone. It took him a record time to get to the restaurant. The thought of another man’s hands on Sara’s body drove him insane. He ran into the building and scanned the dimly lit interior, but there was no sign of Sara. Rushing to the hostess, he pulled out his phone and scrolled to Sara’s photo.

  “Have you seen this woman here, tonight?”

  The fancily dressed woman raised a brow. “Why do you need to know?”

  “I have to tell her something very important.”

  “Such as?”

  “How I feel about her.”

  “Ah.” She smiled. “In that case, yes, she was here with a blond guy—good looking—but they left almost an hour ago.”

  “Thanks,” he called over his shoulder on his way to the door.

  If Sara had slept with someone because he’d been an idiot, so be it. He’d still beg. On his fucking knees.

  * * * *

  Sara unlocked her door and let Adrian inside. Up to now, she hadn’t even thought about his name because it wasn’t important. She didn’t switch on the lights. What was going to happen was best done in the dark. She didn’t want to look into another man’s eyes when she was naked in his arms. She wanted to shut them and pretend.

  Before she could make it down the hallway, Adrian grabbed her shoulders and pressed her against the wall. It was on the tip of her tongue to protest, but, in fact, this was even better. More impersonal than the bed. He stripped his jacket while plundering her lips. The kiss was hard and unrelenting. Instead of turning her on, it made her uncomfortable. She tuned out of the moment, feeling like a bystander looking down at her body. Adrian rubbed up against her, his erection pressing into her stomach. Her instinctive reaction was to put distance between them by flattening her spine against the wall, but he grabbed her thigh and draped one leg around his body. The size and thickness of him were all wrong. The smell of his cologne wasn’t right. The way he panted into her mouth was sickening. She waited for the switch to flick, for her frigidness to turn into desire, but there was only repulsion. His hands moved to his belt, his fingers fumbling with the buckle. She had to stop this before it went too far.

  She dropped her leg and pushed on his shoulders. “Stop.”

  He lifted his head to look down at her. “What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t do this.”

  “It’s just nerves. It’ll get better.” He leaned in for another kiss.

  “No. I’m sorry. I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong.”

  He took a step away and drew a hand over his face. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Have I been anything but serious since we met?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Are you playing me?”

  “No,” she cried out. “What do you take me for? I’d never play sex games, and it’s not my habit to toy with people’s feelings.”

  “You’re certainly giving it a good go, now.”

  “Look, I apologized. Just leave. This was a big mistake.”

  He tucked his shirt back into his pants with jerky movements. “You’re one crazy bitch, you know that?”

  “At least now you’re being honest. Did you even like me when you decided to fuck me?”

  “No, I didn’t like you. I don’t like tomboys and cowgirls. I only liked your tits and your ass.”

  She turned her face away from him. “Get out.”

  “With pleasure.” He walked through the door and slammed it behind him.

  Idiot. How could she ever have thought she’d be able to pull it off? Shit, she was probably ruined for other men. For life.

  She walked to the sofa on shaky legs and flopped down. She was scarcely seated before the door opened again.

  She jumped to her feet. “Did you not get the message—” Her breath caught. Her heart stopped. “Wayne?”

  His hair stood in all directions, and his eyes were wild. His gaze ran over the length of her. “You’re dressed.”

  She blinked at him. “What…? How…?”

  “Did you fuck him?”

  “Who?”

  “Your date.”

  It was unreal seeing him here in her apartment. Somehow, he didn’t fit into this part of her life, and yet, he looked so at home standing there in his tight jeans and the T-shirt that stretched over his broad chest.

  Wait. He knew about her date? How did he get her address? More importantly, why was he here? Her mind was working so fast, it was difficult to string a sentence together. Uttering the first logical thought that came to mind, she said, “You can’t just walk in.”

  “The door was unlocked.”

  “You should’ve knocked.”

  “Why? Because you were having sex?”

  “We didn’t have sex.”

  He closed the distance between them. “Why not?”

  “None of your business.”

  “It’s every bit my business.”

  “Why would it be your business?”

  “Because I care.”

  “You care?” She couldn’t help the accusation from slipping out. “So much that you slept with Bella?”

  He took her hand. “Yes, I sle
pt with Bella, but we didn’t have sex. Bella is with Christian.”

  “I saw you.”

  “You jumped to a conclusion.”

  “What does it matter? You’re the one who said goodbye.”

  “I was jealous.”

  “Of who?”

  “Odier. I thought… Never mind what I thought.” He pulled her against him. “I was wrong. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you enough. You deserve better, but I’m here to apologize and beg you to come back.”

  “Back to Knysna?”

  “Where else?”

  “I can’t. I took the job with Cain.”

  His eyes widened a fraction. “Why would you do that?”

  “To pay you and Bella back for everything you’ve lost.”

  “You’ve got nothing to pay back. Emily gave me back the farm, and Bella has Christian to take care of her, although,” he grinned, “she makes a lot of money with her new sex shop. Even so, you owed neither of us anything.” His voice softened. “I can give you a home, now, a real home.”

  “I promised Cain. I can’t go back on my word. I’ve already taken an oath.”

  “You’re still working with Odier?”

  “Cain is paying me for missions.”

  “You can do your missions from the farm. I know you still care about me.”

  “How would you know?”

  He rubbed a thumb over the grass bracelet on her wrist. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be wearing this.”

  She was trying hard to be annoyed with him, but it was difficult when her heart was beating so fast against his chest.

  “Please, Sara. I’m begging.”

  Her heart melted, but it wasn’t that simple. “Wayne…” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It will be dangerous to live with someone like me.”

  “We’ll handle it.”

  Together, they may just stand a chance. “You’re sure?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I knew from the moment you walked into Woodcutters that you’d be trouble, but the kind of trouble that would get under my skin.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Would I be here if I didn’t?” He kissed her softly. “Nothing is going to get between us, again.” He hesitated, untangling her arms from behind his neck to take her hands. “There is one more thing you should know, something that may influence your decision.”

  Holding her breath, she waited for him to continue.

  He lowered his gaze to where their hands were intertwined. After a moment, he lifted his eyes to hers and said, “I have a son.” He squeezed her fingers. “I’m a father.”

  He was a daddy? He had a child with another woman? When? Who? Many questions ran through her mind, but she could give voice to none.

  The light in his eyes dimmed, his expression turning somber. “Say something, Sara.”

  “Congratulations.”

  He toyed with her fingers but she had to pull her hands away. She couldn’t concentrate on his touch and the information. It was too overwhelming.

  “Sara.” He groaned. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going through your head.”

  “Who … what is his name?”

  His eyes measured hers, as if he wanted to read her reaction. “It’s Khwezi.”

  “Khwezi? But Khwezi is Mariana’s…”

  “I didn’t know myself until last week. Zandi was the only one who knew, and she kept the truth from me.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He winced. “He’s my son, Sara.”

  “Why lie to you? Why keep it from you for all of these years?”

  “Zandi didn’t want Khwezi to know his father killed his mother.”

  “I see.” She nodded, her heart in her throat. What exactly was he asking of her? “What now?”

  “Zandi wants me to take care of him.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes,” he said, his expression sure but drawn. “He’s my responsibility, but more than that, I want to. I’ve always wanted to be a father. Does this change your mind? I know it’s a shock, and a huge thing to ask of you, to take care of another woman’s child.”

  She’d never reject him because he had a child. It might take some time to get used to, but she wanted everything that was part and parcel of his life.

  “I love you, Wayne. That means I love your child.”

  “Sara.” His voice choked on emotion. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “You’re a good man, Wayne. You deserve better than any man I know.” She looked him in the eyes. She wanted him to see the sincerity in hers. “We’re together, now. We’ll face whatever comes our way.”

  “God, woman, I love you.” He pressed her to his body, his big frame enveloping her. “Please tell me you’ll never have those tattoos removed.”

  “Oh no, I’m keeping them. I want everyone to know how much I love you.”

  “A man with my kind of baggage?”

  “All of you.”

  He pressed their foreheads together. “We’ll have our own babies, too. I promise.”

  She laughed. “First marry me, and then we’ll talk about our own babies.”

  A new seriousness invaded his heated gaze. “That’s exactly what I intend to do. I thought about it since the caves, was going to ask you, but then everything blew up in our faces.”

  It seemed too good to be true. Until a few minutes ago, her world was falling apart. She needed to know this wasn’t a dream. “Kiss me like it’s real.”

  Their lips touched in a tender kiss. All of her pent-up emotions found their way into the caress. She tangled her tongue with his, tasting his lips and inhaling the sweet scent of pine and cedar. Her body burst with desire cooped up for too long.

  “Show me real,” she said into the kiss.

  He pushed the straps of her dress down her shoulders, planting kisses along her neck to her collarbone. Big, strong hands gripped her ass and lifted her to collide with his body. She wrapped her legs around him, desperate to get as close as she could. The zipper of her dress made a noise as he impatiently pulled it down. Those hands she loved so much, the strong hands of an honest and good man, flattened on her skin, sending goose bumps over her arms. He didn’t break the kiss as he carried her down the hallway, kicking open doors until he found the bedroom.

  “We’ve never done it on a proper bed,” he said, nuzzling her ear.

  She clung to him as he lowered them both onto the mattress.

  His charcoal eyes smoldered with promises of pleasure. “This is real, Sara.”

  “I know. It’s always been real.”

  She put her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. When he obliged, she forgot about everything else. Only he existed. Her world spiraled out of control, and she let it. She allowed herself to come apart, knowing he’d put her back together.

  Epilogue

  This deep in the forest, the damp, cool darkness was all-compassing. Sara and Khwezi were a little way ahead of Wayne. The boy’s hand was clutched in Sara’s, his face turned up to her in admiration and awe. No matter how hard she denied it to spare his feelings, the child was much closer to her than to him. He saw it in how Khwezi sulked every time Sara left for one of her missions. It was in the way he ran to meet her car every time she got home, even from a short trip to the supermarket.

  “Don’t be scared,” Sara whispered, breaking the silence.

  Khwezi’s chest puffed out but his fingers tightened around hers. “I’m not scared.”

  She glanced at Wayne over her shoulder. “Ready?”

  A single nod was his answer. He was ready for many things. The truth, for starters. Himself. Another baby. More than anything, he wanted a child with her. She’d said they could start trying from the end of the year.

  “Shh.” Sara pointed ahead. “Here they come.”

  A leave rustled. A branch cracked. A gray mass slowly replaced the obscurity around them. Dear God. The bull was massive. A few feet away, he stopped to fan his ears and lift his trunk.<
br />
  Khwezi wheezed. “Sara…”

  She put her arm around his shoulders and tugged him against her side.

  The male continued on his path, pausing for the rest of the herd to catch up. Several elephants passed in front of them, the calves holding onto the adults’s tails with their trunks. Their big lashes dipped and lifted as gently as their step. Not a sound rose from the forest floor as they made their way over a thick carpet of leaves. A female stopped and turned her head toward them. The Matriarch. She ran her trunk over Khwezi’s body, sniffing him from head to toe while studying them with soft, brown eyes.

  “She’s saying hi,” Sara said softly. “Now she’ll never forget your smell.”

  It was surreal. Peaceful. Unlike anything he’d ever witnessed.

  Satisfied, the Matriarch turned to follow her family. They left as quietly as they came. Another minute and there was no sign of animal life. It was so quiet, he wondered if the elephants had been an illusion.

  “Am I their friend, now?” Khwezi asked.

  Sara crouched down in front of their child. “Forever. As long as you don’t hurt them. An elephant never forgets, but you’re never to come this deep alone, understood? Not until you’re old enough to find your own way, and only after you’ve proven to me you can do it.”

  “Yes, Sara,” he said obediently.

  “Good.” She kissed his forehead and straightened. “Let’s head back. You can help me feed the chickens.”

  “Okay, but it’ll cost you.”

  A smile pulled at her lips, but she managed to keep a stern face. “What have we said about chores?”

  His face fell. “That chores are responsibilities we do without expecting payment.”

  “And what date is it?”

  “The twenty-ninth.” His eyes brightened. “Time for pocket money!”

  They turned toward the exit, Sara and Khwezi hand-in-hand again.

  “What are you going to buy with all that money you’re saving?” Sara asked.