“Life seems a little slower without the threat of evil classmates and curses,” I commented as we climbed the winding stairs to the top.
“Don’t tell me you miss that?”
“Not really.”
We stepped onto the landing. Wispy white clouds brushed a powder blue sky. The breeze was light, pulling my long hair away from my face. The sunlight sparkled off the water like a sea of silver and white confetti.
Isaac took my hands in his, lacing our fingers together, and backed me up until I was pinned against the windows. His mouth tugged upward into the sly grin of a fox.
“Want to try again?”
The air between us sizzled with our magic, mingling vanilla and spearmint with chocolate and strawberries, dancing with excitement. It heightened my senses so much I could just make out the steady beat of his heart. It was the polar opposite of mine, which broke into a sprint the moment the heel of my sneaker bumped the solid wall. I was sure he could hear it. His grin stretched to a smile.
“Sure,” I replied, doing my best to pretend it was no big deal. Something we did all the time with no effort at all. Like normal couples. Only, we weren’t so normal.
“You need to concentrate.”
“I know.” And I was focusing on every bit of him, from how the sunlight revealed golden highlights in his dark hair to how his thumb drew small circles on the back of my hand.
He stepped even closer, so that there was nothing but the fabric of our clothes separating us. I tried not to think about how his chiseled chest would feel if he lost the shirt or how my thigh had ended up between his. My fingers curled tighter around his hand.
“I think we could start a fire with the amount of energy circling us,” he commented. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”
“It’s not just my powers I smell,” I pointed out.
“Okay.” And just like that, the scent of vanilla and spearmint vanished. He nibbled my ear. “Your turn.”
He wasn’t playing fair. He never had, and I secretly loved that he didn’t. I closed my eyes and focused on unpleasant things, like how much homework I had to do when I got home and how I was behind on my chores. I tried, I really did, but my mind was too busy wondering where his mouth would end up next. Right then he was skimming my collarbone.
“You’re not helping,” I muttered.
He made one last pass over my neck, up to my ear, before releasing my hands. He placed his against the windows on either side of me.
“Sorry.” His eyes met mine. No longer smoldering. More playful. “Take your time.”
He didn’t look the least bit sorry, and not having him touching me did not make it any easier to gain control of my racing heart, nor did it stifle the elated tingling that coursed through me. His gaze dropped to my lips.
“You know, this would be a whole lot easier if you wouldn’t do that,” I said.
“What?”
He knew damn well what. “How am I supposed to concentrate with you looking at me like that?”
“I can’t look at you now?”
“Of course you can look at me, just not like that.” I waved my hand up and down to indicate everything about him, from his sultry gaze to his close proximity.
Isaac laughed. “Madison, you’re over-thinking this. Take a deep breath.” He waited for me to follow his instructions. “Pull your magic in, and then let out the breath.”
I did.
His fingers tilted my face upward. His mouth found mine, kissing me softly at first. Then he slid his hand to the back of my head while the other moved to the small of my back. Mine were resting on his hips. His tongue brushed mine, ever so lightly. I rose to the balls of my feet, enjoying the moment, which lasted longer than our last kiss.
Then it happened. A hint of power licked my fingertips. I tucked it behind my subconscious. He pulled me closer. My insides warmed right behind my belly button a moment before my power burst free, shooting through every part of my body. The spark of it colliding with Isaac’s carefully concealed power was bright enough to see through closed eyelids. We jerked apart.
“Sorry,” I whimpered.
He bit his lips between his teeth and held up a hand, indicating he needed a moment. My tongue felt as if I’d pressed it to a nine-volt battery. Several seconds passed.
“You did better than the last few times.” He smiled at me, but I could tell his mouth still stung too.
I gave him a You’re just trying to make me feel better look.
He snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me close again. “No. Really. I bet if we’d timed it, we made it twenty-three seconds, and the jolt only rattled half my teeth this time.”
I whacked him in the arm. “Not funny, Isaac!”
I tried to push away. He tightened his hold on me. “I have an idea. One that should keep us from frying each other’s brains in an attempt to get a kiss.”
I stopped struggling. “And what might that be?”
We’d practiced for a week, and it hadn’t gotten any easier.
He kissed me, a quick peck. “I’ve been thinking.” He kissed me again. Briefly. His lips on mine barely a second.
“Go on,” I coaxed, dying to know this idea of his.
“We’ve been going about this whole closeness thing all wrong.” He lips met mine again and were gone.
“We are?” I cocked my head to the side, intrigued. “Do tell.”
He kissed me. Another peck, really. “We’re over-thinking the whole process.”
“You’ve said that already.”
“No.” Another peck. “I said you were over-thinking before.” His lips brushed mine. “I’m willing to admit that we both are.”
“How honorable of you.” My tone was serious, but I couldn’t hide my smile.
Another fleeting kiss.
“Have I told you you’re an excellent kisser?” he asked.
This time when he kissed me, his tongue skimmed mine. My reply, which would have been no because he hadn’t told me that before, came out as more of a moan.
“So I figured—” another peck “—if we don’t worry about the long seductive kisses and go for the quick passion, we might stand a chance.”
“I like that.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. Kissed him. “And I think—” another quick kiss “—it might just work.”
Embraced in Isaac’s wings, I decided that change wasn’t such a bad thing. It actually gave flight to a whole new world I couldn’t wait to explore.
Acknowledgments
I am very grateful for the following people:
Colleen Keough Wagner, my amazing editor, whose insight, expertise and direction were essential in molding this book.
Omnific for this opportunity and to Kayla Watson, Kathy Teel, and the publishing team for all they did to help launch Embrace.
My wonderful family. Dad and Mom for believing in me and for never once telling me to get my head out of the clouds when I was growing up. Vince for being the spark in my inspiration and for letting me bounce ideas off of you at all hours of the day and night; I would have never made it this far without you. Kyle, Cory, William and Ethan because, without you, my life just wouldn’t be the same and because I know there were times I didn’t cook so I could write and you never once complained. And to Pam for your invaluable support and advice.
My talented critique groups who always pushed me to write the best story I could and never settled for less. Kym Brunner, Katie Sparks, Sarah Barthel, Trina Sotira, Lisa Bierman, Pippa Bayliss, Michelle Sussman, and my Schaumburg group who are too many to list. Finally, my writing coach, Esther Hershenhorn, whose guidance and wisdom helped me improve my craft.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
About the Author
Cherie is always dreaming of romance and expressing her dreams in stories. She combined her passion for writing with her fascination of all things mythical to weave together a youth romance story that led to her debut novel, Embrace.
She li
ves with her family in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.
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Table of Contents
Cover
title page
Copyright Information
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Acknowledgments
About the Author
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Embrace Page 22
