by Renee Field
“I can’t do anything right. I don’t even want to be a witch.”
Lance chuckled. She playfully smacked him in the shoulder. He feigned affront but still smiled. Cupping her chin in his hand, Lance looked Cindy in the eyes. “Cindy, you can’t change what you are. You’re a Darklander witch through and through, and even if you weren’t it wouldn’t change how I feel about you. In fact, when I didn’t know you were a witch I asked you out. Sadly though you refused me. Twice as I recall.”
“I only did that—”
He silenced her protest by placing a finger on her lips. “I don’t care for the reasons. The magic of the universe works in mysterious ways. If you’re asking, am I disappointed in discovering you’re a witch and a Darklander Stephanopoulos witch at that, I will admit at one time I would have said yes. But now…” Lance took the time to stare into her eyes, ensuring she listened to his choice of words. “Now that I know you, my answer is most definitely no. I love you…Cindy Stephanopoulos Frost. You and only you. Screw the curse. I don’t care that I can only wield magic at night. So what? I want to make you happy. I want to spend the rest of my life slaying all those drákon just for you. You feel me?”
Tears pooled into Cindy’s eyes. Shit, this is not what I expected.
She sniffled and then flashed a searing smile up at him. “Lance, I think you need to understand why I wanted to give up my magic.”
He nodded, encouraging her on, not trusting himself to speak.
“I gave it up because I could never measure up to my mother. Every spell I did wasn’t good enough for her. So for all my life I doubted my abilities and I grew to hate what I inherently was. I grew to hate everything about my culture, my identity and I didn’t trust my own magic.”
“But you’re a great witch,” he said, interrupting her.
“Thank you. Coming from you that means a lot. I had to escape my predestined path. I knew my mother was grooming me to join the Witches’ Coven and that wasn’t something I wanted. Can you imagine spending every waking moment with my mother?”
She laughed, the sound light and airy. Lance felt hope magically soar through his heart. “Honestly, nope. Your mother is scary.”
“Trust me on that one, I know. She doesn’t mean to be and I truly think she did have my best interests at heart but being a member of the Coven doesn’t allow for a child like me. A child who never measures up to her mother.”
It was a telling statement coming from Cindy. Lance couldn’t have cared if she ever measured up to her mother but to think she thought herself unworthy when she was so much more than that caused his pain to morph into anger.
“If you’re telling me you can’t love me because of your mother, I’m going to spank you.”
She giggled. “You don’t really want me. You’re just doing this to free your family from the curse.”
Totally exasperated, Lance didn’t know what to do to make her listen to the truth of his words so the warlock he was decided he’d kiss away all her self-doubt. Then it dawned on him, he did have another option.
Intimately touching his forehead to hers, he snapped his fingers, sending them both spiraling into the future. Two paths lay before them. One dark, the other filled with laughter and light.
“You choose.”
“We’re not allowed to do this,” she said, caution edging into her voice.
“Before you pick the path you want us to walk down let’s see our options. I won’t tell anyone.” Lance flashed them into the void of the future. He linked his fingers through hers, nudging Cindy forward. “Pick.”
“I don’t think I want to see it.”
“I never expected Cindy Stephanopoulos Frost to be a coward,” Lance purposely taunted her, hoping it would spring her backbone back into place. She unhooked her fingers from his.
“Fine.”
Lance watched her move toward the light. He followed on her heels and gulped. The scene blazed bright and caught at every one of his heart strings. There before him on a beach was Cindy, bouncing a toddler on her lap, her belly round and full with a second child. Her face beamed with hope and happiness, while she cast a gaze up at him. The adoration shining from his face was evident. Lance heard Cindy gasp.
“I look so happy. Children. I never expected to have children.” A tear clogged her throat and he knew exactly how she felt.
“Now the other.” Lance knew he was playing the bastard but he had to make sure she saw her choices clearly.
With hesitation slowing her stride, she backed away from the bright, hopeful scene. Slinking down the blackened corridor, she gave a weak cry. There was Cindy cloistered away in a gray, bleak room. His gut told him it had to be a room the Graco-Roman Witches’ Coven had allotted to her. She was all business. A gray robe huddled around her as she scribed away.
“That’s what will become of me.” It was a stark contrast to the playful, light scene with him in her life. But again, the choice had to be hers.
“How do I choose? What if the choice isn’t mine?”
A violent yellow flash tore them both from the void of the future. Landing on his feet was pure instinct for Lance.
“You are not allowed into the void.”
Great, just great, thought Lance.
There standing majestic and proud before them, casting her usual judgment, was Sybil, Cindy’s mother. Lance’s body prepared for the zap of the attack he felt was seconds away.
“Mother, stop it. The magic of the universe works in mysterious ways. Lance came into my life and showed me that I should trust in my own magic.”
“Of course you trust in your own magic, Cindy. Don’t talk in riddles.”
Cindy took a step toward her mother. A surge of pride took hold of Lance. This was the Cindy he had fallen in love with. Determined. Sure of herself and full of confidence.
“I love him.”
“What?” Lance heard himself mutter while Sybil laughed. The sound wasn’t at all what he had expected.
Sybil reached her daughter halfway, holding out her arms to offer an embrace. Cindy cautiously edged her way into her mother’s hold. Slightly awkward at first but after a moment’s hesitation they allowed themselves to give in.
“You’ve made me proud, daughter of mine, all your life but today the magic of the universe is our witness is your crowning glory. By accepting your magic you have enabled yourself to love him and together the two of you have broken the curse. The vows of binding love have already wrapped themselves around you.”
Cindy stepped out of her mother’s hold, clutching her arms. Lance smiled, feeling what she too felt. The universal seal of magic, accepting their binding love, encased both of them. Lance walked forward, hugging Cindy.
She tilted her head up to his, the brightness of her blue eyes shining up at him in total honesty. “I love you.”
“I know.” To prove it he kissed her, wanting it to last for all of time.
“I leave you now, daughter of mine, with the Coven’s blessing for your choice. Let’s keep that little trip to the future between family members.” Sybil gave a small chuckle.
Lance knew Cindy wanted to break their kiss but he wasn’t done with her yet. Clasping his arms around her, he flashed them back to his bed. Only then did he relinquish his hold.
“I should have said goodbye.”
“Your mother surprised me.”
“Not all Stephanopoulos witches are bad.”
Lance kissed his way down Cindy’s exposed neck, breathing deep that hot candy scent of hers that instantly made his cock throb. “There’s nothing wrong with bad, it’s all relative.”
“Oh,” she said, her hands caressing his back while boldly moving to his ass. “I like your line of thinking.”
“Show me,” instructed Lance. A second later he was flashed on to his back, his arms and legs shackled, once again, in restraints. His cock jutted up proud under Cindy’s scrutiny. He watched her lick her lips and felt his abdomen constrict with pleasure.
“Oh
I’ll show you all right. After all I’m a Stephanopoulos witch all the way.”
That was exactly what Lance had magically hoped for. Good or bad, it truly was all relative. He groaned the second her tongue latched onto his nipple, knowing as a Papadopoulos warlock he was in for a long, slow torturous night of pleasure.
* * * * *
Cindy couldn’t believe all that had happened to her within the past week. After making her decision to fully embrace her magic she’d been shocked to discover Lance’s buddies, who were currently dating her two best friends, were other Darklander beings—Mitch a vampire and Hank a werecat. Coming clean to her best friends about who she was felt perfect to Cindy. And the best part about all that had happened to her this week had been being named the new CEO for Xeron. That, she had earned on her own, all without her magical abilities. Smiling at her good fortune and thanking all the Darklander Gods and deities for her lover and soon-to-be husband and best friends, Cindy basked in the warmth when Lance whispered an erotic enticement into her ear, causing her to squirm with desire.
Before responding, her magical warlock whisked them away and before she could chant her own spell she found herself naked and chained to a brick wall. Gently Lance licked her earlobe as his hands snaked around to tweak her nipples.
“Were you about to complain?” he asked.
“Not in this world,” she said, enjoying how he mastered their loving in true Darklander warlock fashion.
About the Author
Vivacious by nature, I’m either baking or thinking up my next love scenes—talking about mixing ingredients. Trust me, the recipes are always delicious, especially if chocolate’s involved. I juggle writing in between my demanding four children and have discovered some of my best plot themes while driving the mini-van to and from places. I love a good night out on the town where I can discard the mom profile and dance to my heart’s content.
Writing has always been my passion. I strongly believe in soul mates and feel eternally lucky that I snatched up mine. The wilder side of me comes out in my erotic writings, where I fuse lustful fantasy with the paranormal edge. I thoroughly enjoy making up worlds, hunky men who cause me to go weak in the knees and intelligent women who can also let their hair down.
Renee welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and e-mail address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Renee Field
Be My Vampire Tonight
Be My Werecat Tonight
Electrify Me
Elemental Love
Love Curse 1: Love Me Wild
Love Curse 2: Love Me Tender
Love Curse 3: Love Me Strong
Sweet and Spicy Spells with Christine D’Abo
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
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