Parlor Tricks

by Mara Lee

  Tabitha swallowed and tightened the reins on her emotions. It wasn’t as if her father had given her any choice. When Jeremy Riley died, Andrew’s last grasp on reality seemed to snap. He was consumed with the idea of slipping into Jeremy’s place … taking his place in Adeline’s bed, being father to Adeline’s daughter—the daughter he had always wanted in place of his own.

  She had to do it. He had been ready to leave. Ready to humiliate his wife and daughter … throw away their reputations, their very lives. Tabitha’s anger had known no bounds and before she even knew it, her father lay so still on the floor. She hadn’t meant to do it. Or did she? It truly didn’t matter now. Yes, it was all behind her. Andrew Spencer was dead and buried and the obsession that lived with him, died with him.

  Tabitha looked over the rim of her glass to where Griffin was sipping his scotch. Griffin … Griffin Sampson … he was a man that would give her everything. She hadn’t worried when his non-talented, no-account father had whisked him away. No. She had known he would return and when he did she would have him. He was the only son in a powerful family. It was in his blood. And soon … soon … it would be in her blood, too. He would give it to her. He would give her everything.

  Tabitha’s lips curled. She would not believe that Saskia Riley could ruin her plans. That that bitch could possibly ruin everything.

  Tabitha had meticulously planned it—Griffin Sampson’s seduction … his ultimate gift to her.

  In a town where most everyone was a Paranormal, Tabitha had only wanted one, Griffin Sampson. Oh, he resisted his nature, that was for sure. It was actually one of the things she liked about him. He fought his nature with such single-minded determination that she couldn’t help but be impressed. It was an indication of strength, focus and power. Griffin Sampson was powerful and Tabitha wanted to drink that power in. Actually, she wanted to have that power lodged deeply within her. She wanted to feel him … smell him … wrap herself around him.

  She had been furious when Griffin slipped through her fingers the last time he was here. She had worked on that lust spell for three months, carefully preparing it for the day Griffin would come back to Daring. When he had arrived she had monitored his every move … waiting … waiting for the perfect opportunity to get him alone and administer the spell. She had found the perfect chance in stupid Duane’s silly potluck dinner. She had easily slipped Griffin the lust spell … what happened next was still a mystery to her.

  Griffin had escaped. It was inconceivable. But he had escaped.

  Tabitha had made her way back to the clearing, intent on giving Griffin the ride of his life, only to find him gone. She had looked everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. She had raged for days—practically taking down her entire house with her tantrums. It wasn’t fair. She had worked so long only to be denied her fuck in the end.

  When she had learned from the gossip mill that Griffin would be returning to Daring for the Thanksgiving holiday she felt vindicated. At last, this had to be the fates telling her that they were meant to come together. She was being given another chance—only this time she would have to do her seduction the good old fashioned way—she had unfortunately run out of cloverleaf, a necessary ingredient to her lust spell. But Tabitha was confident in her ability to seduce any man of her choosing. Hadn’t she stolen away every beau Saskia Riley ever had?

  Tabitha continued to grind her teeth together in frustration. Griffin had a faraway look in his eyes and a truly dopey grin on his handsome face. Could Saskia really have gotten to him already? No. No. There was no way that that insignificant witch could pull Griffin’s attention, not when there was someone like her around. And she was around. She had entered the picture—truly she had never really left—and she would have Griffin Sampson in the end.

  She was Tabitha Morgana Spencer. And she always got what she wanted.

  * * * *

  Griffin finished his scotch and looked over at Tabitha. She was lovely. Tabitha Spencer was the epitome of the classic beauty. She reminded him of old Hollywood glamour, what with her long blond hair, creamy complexion and full, pink lips. She was a stunner. But she failed to move him. In fact, sitting here in her cold presence he could only think of Saskia’s laughing eyes and broad welcoming smile.

  Saskia. It was only Saskia.

  Griffin tossed Tabitha a sheepish smile. “Thanks for the drink, Tabitha. But … I really have to be going now.”

  Tabitha narrowed her eyes. “What? So soon?”

  “I’m afraid so…” Griffin stood.

  Tabitha reached out and ran her hand down his arm, suggestively. “Could I perhaps entice you to … stay?”

  Griffin smiled. “You are a beautiful woman, Tabitha.”

  Tabitha flinched. “But?”

  “I’m just not interested,” the words came out in a rush and Griffin watched the terrible stillness that came over her.

  “I … see…” Tabitha smiled tightly. She removed her hand from his arm and placed it demurely in her lap. “I … see…”

  “It’s really not…”

  Tabitha held up her hand. “No need to say anything else, Griffin. I understand,” she smiled then, “I do.”

  Griffin nodded. “I had a nice time, thanks.”

  Tabitha’s smile was still in place, if not a little strained. “Me too. I’ll see you around?”

  “Of course.” Griffin gave her one last warm grin before turning and walking away.

  Tabitha watched his retreating figure with cold, narrowed, calculating eyes. Silly, silly, silly man. Did he really think it was over?

  Chapter Six

  Sass groaned and turned to her side. She was sleeping. She wasn’t supposed to be disturbed when she was sleeping. It was a rule—a rule everyone should have.

  “Go away,” she cried.

  “Wake up, wake up, someone is at the door.” The tiny sprite danced upon her bare shoulder.

  Sass growled. Stupid sprite. She had employed the little garden sprite … given her free reign of her property, including her rather sizable garden out back and this was the thanks that she got. “I’m sleeping … go away!”

  The sprite laughed. “You’re talking to me … you’re not sleeping.”

  “You are so annoying.” Eyes still closed, Sass flicked the sprite off of her shoulder.

  The sprite returned, this time digging her sharp little teeth into Sass’s arm.

  She shrieked and jumped up. “Ouch! Dang it all. What is wrong with you?” Sass rubbed the sore spot on her arm. “God. I am totally firing you.”

  The sprite grinned. “You can’t fire, now get up, there is someone at the door.”

  Sass checked the time groaned again. “There can’t be someone here … it’s two o’clock in the morning. It’s not allowed.”

  The sprite shrugged. “He’s here. I don’t think he knows that he’s not allowed.”

  Sass frowned. “He?”

  “Uh-huh…” The sprite smacked her lips together. “Cute too … if only I were five feet taller … or he was six and a half feet smaller.”

  Sass got out of bed and put on her soft slippers. It could only be one man standing on her doorstep at two in the morning. Her curiosity was piqued, her heart pounding, and her body already flushed with excitement.

  * * * *

  Sass opened the door and regarded Griffin with sleepy eyes.

  “Saskia.” Griffin’s eyes were bright as he stared at her.

  “Griff.” Saskia sighed. “What are you doing here … do you know what time it is?”

  Griffin nodded. “Can I come in?”

  Sass hesitated but after a moment nodded and motioned for him to enter.

  “Saskia … I … I just wanted to say…” Griffin broke off helplessly.

  “What?” Sass trod into the living room. “What did you want to say to me, Griff?”

  Griffin ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not sure, Saskia. I’m not sure what I have to say…” Griffin took a deep breath, “to make you,” he s
wallowed, “care for me.”

  Sass jerked back and blinked. “What?”

  Griffin clenched his jaw and his hands. He felt suddenly ridiculous, ridiculous and awkward. This had been a mistake. A lapse in judgment; perhaps brought on by too much scotch and the craziness of this town.

  Griffin turned to leave, only to find that Sass now had a strong grip on his arm.

  “Say that again.” Sass said quietly.

  Griffin swallowed. “What do you want me to say?”

  Sass stepped closer. “You want me to care for you? Does that mean that you care for me, Griff? Do you … do you care for me?”

  Griffin’s mouth felt dry and his tongue leaden. They were there … the words … but he couldn’t seem to get them out. Why? Why couldn’t he just tell her how he felt?

  “Griff?” Sass urged.

  He took a deep breath, reached over and cupped Sass’s cheeks in both of his large hands. He had her here, with him. How many times could he run and expect her to welcome him back? He had to tell her. If anything he had to make her understand that nothing was her fault.

  “I’m empty, Saskia,” Griffin finally said.

  “What?”

  “I’m empty…” Griffin swallowed, “when I’m away from you … I’m empty. Being with you is like touching … touching the sun. There’s a glow about you, Saskia and I, I want to learn how to be a part of that.”

  Sass remained silent.

  Griffin tried to contain his nerves. “I’m not sure about this. I’m not sure if this will work. But I know…” Griffin smoothed a finger down her cheek, “that when I’m away from you … when I’m away, nothing works.”

  Sass smiled slowly. “You missed me.”

  Griffin laughed. “Well, I was only away from you for a couple of hours…” when he saw the look on her face he nodded and said, “Yes, I missed you.” Griffin ran a hand down her sleep-tousled hair. “I have no idea what’s going on, Saskia. I’m at a complete loss to explain the workings of your mad little town … but … but I can’t deny that, well, something about it, and you … calls to me.”

  “It’s your town too, Griff,” Sass said quietly.

  Griffin moved his hand to her collarbone and began to gently message her shoulder. “It hasn’t been … not in a long time.”

  Sass leaned into Griffin’s hand and sighed. “Only because you don’t open yourself up to the magic, Griff—the calling … that’s the calling of the town to your blood. You can run as far and as fast as you can but you will never outrun your blood … your need … it lives in you, Griff.” Sass stepped gently away from Griffin and opened her hand to reveal a small ball of flame. Twin emotions of fear and curiosity filled Griffin’s eyes.

  Sass allowed the ball of fire to grow larger until it was about the size of a baseball. She then smoothed her hand over the top of the ball and a coating of ice appeared miraculously on top.

  “Saskia?” Griffin’s voice was filled with wonder.

  Sass smiled as the ball began to spin in her hand. “Would you like to learn, Griff?”

  “Learn?”

  “About magic, Griff. Would you like to take a step forward?” Sass knew how important this moment was—his answer would determine the next crucial step in their relationship—or if they would have a relationship at all.

  “I’ve never seen…” Griffin’s voice hitched, “This is incredible, Saskia.”

  Saskia’s smile widened. “This? This is nothing, Griff…”

  Griffin tentatively reached out his hand before quickly pulling it back again.

  Sass nodded. “It’s okay, you can touch it, Griff … please do.”

  Griffin took a deep breath, reached out and touched the icy hot ball. Wonderment filled his face. “It’s … I’ve never felt anything like it before.” The ball was both cool and hot to the touch. Half the surface was a blanket of icy flakes, the other half burning flames; both sides licked at his hand as if to press hot and cold kisses to the skin.

  Sass magically removed her nightgown until she stood naked in the flickering light of the magic ball.

  “Saskia … God … you are so beautiful,” Griffin swallowed, “So unfucking believably beautiful.”

  Sass quickly cast a spell and Griffin’s shirt peeled itself away. She stopped then and gave him a questioning look. When Griffin nodded slowly, throat convulsing lightly she had her answer. Within seconds Griffin stood as naked as she.

  She held out her hand, gave him a large inviting smile and waited.

  He took her hand.

  * * * *

  Griffin had never seen anything as magical as Saskia’s bedroom before. She slept in Eden.

  “Can you handle it?” Sass asked, her voice a mere whisper.

  Griffin nodded mutely.

  The floor of Sass’s bedroom was grass, lush, ripe, rich grass. There were walls and two large windows but there were also vines, flowers and the odd assortment of fruit growing off of the wooden panels. But the most extraordinary thing of all was her ceiling; it was sky and right now it was inky black and twinkling with a million stars.

  “I like to surround myself with nature,” Sass said, curling her toes in the soft grass.

  “It’s beautiful,” Griffin murmured, “like you, Saskia.”

  Sass flushed with pleasure. Her eyes lit. “To the bed?”

  Griffin moved to the bed; a mattress covered with a thick downy blanket. He tossed Sass a look.

  Sass laughed. “I said I liked nature … that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the invention of the bed.”

  Griffin shared her laughter as they both took to the bed.

  Sass pressed her already heated flesh to Griffin and they both moaned in unison at the feel of their naked flesh touching.

  “You’re like satin…” Griffin murmured.

  Sass reached between their bodies to caress Griffin’s hard cock. “And you’re like hot steel…” Sass rubbed her thumb around his cock-head and sighed with pleasure. She wanted more.

  Sass used her hand to push Griffin back. She straddled him and tossed him a saucy grin. She began to move slowly … teasingly against his aching flesh. “I want to do something … will you let me?”

  Griffin half moaned, half laughed. “Baby … you can do anything you want.”

  Sass grinned. “I’ll hold you to that.”

  Griffin’s eyes widened when he saw that the ball of fire and ice was back. Now it hovered over his chest.

  Sass got on all fours and began to crawl down his body. She held out her hand and called the fireball to her—it followed. When she reached his ankles she stopped, massaging his foot gently. She brought the icy hot ball down to caress his instep.

  He gasped, body jerking.

  “Shhhhhh … you’ll love it…” Sass crooned, “Just wait and see.” Sass began to knead his calf muscles.

  “Sass … please…” Griffin began to twist as icy hot flames licked up his body.

  “Yes, Griff … I’m going to please you a lot.” Sass inched up his body, licking and kissing as she went along. When she reached his groin she licked a slow wet line from the inside of his thigh to his heavy, aching balls.

  Griffin was tossed between heaven and hell. Sass was licking and caressing him while the ball of fire and ice was rolling across his highly sensitized skin. The sensation was incredible—beyond imagining.

  When the ball reached his nipples, it hovered and dipped, tormenting his skin … making him gasp.

  “Saskia … Saskia…” Griffin’s voice came out with a growl.

  Sass stopped licking and she looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw the feral look in his eyes. She had expected to see heat … desire—not the look of full intent and focus that filled those gorgeous green orbs. “Griff…”

  It was all she got out before Griffin had flipped and pinned her expertly beneath his muscular body.

  “Griff…?”

  Griffin smiled, eyes raking over her lush body. “You’ve shown me your magic,” he trailed
one finger down and around the stiff peak of her nipple, “Let me show you mine,” he paused and then corrected himself, “ours. Let me show you the magic we’ll make together, love.”

  Sass relaxed and let out a moan when she felt Griffin’s mouth close over one distended peak. She arched her back and thrust her breast more deeply into the wet cavern of his mouth, begging with her body for more.

  Griffin lashed her hard nub with his tongue. With both hands he lifted … molded her smooth, pliant flesh, and began to suck and nibble. He squeezed her breast and continued to feast on her.

  Sass mewed and began to squirm beneath him. Her hands went to his taut back and she dug her fingers into the muscular expanse. As his mouth became more demanding she raked her fingers across his hard flesh, desperate to hold onto something … ground her body to keep from flying away.

  Griffin parted her legs with his knee and moved his hands to massage the soft flesh of her thighs.

  “You are so soft, Saskia … so very soft,” He said. He rubbed his palm against the downy curls shielding her moist pussy and sighed. “You’re even softer here, my love.”

  “Please … I need…” Sass bit her lip to keep from crying out.

  Griffin nodded. “I know, love, I know.” He parted the soft folds of her pussy and inserted one thick finger into her wet tunnel. Hot liquid met his finger, encompassing it, bathing it. She was scalding hot and wet beyond belief.

  Sass groaned and pressed herself against his inquisitive finger. Her heart was thudding and her eyes were screwed tightly shut.

  “Love … you have to tell me,” Griffin said. Griffin watched as Sass’s face tightened. “You have to tell me what you want … tell me.”

  Sass grabbed Griffin’s hand and tried to guide it more firmly into her. She moaned in frustration when he wouldn’t be budged. “I … I … please … Griffin please…”

  “Please what?”

  Sass’s eyes popped open. “Fuck me … please finger fuck me.”

  Griffin nodded. “Yes, love … yes,” he soothed. He added a second finger to the first and both began a slow and even rhythm within her hot, pulsing pussy.