Parlor Tricks

by Mara Lee

  Sass was squirming and inching her hips forward. Her mouth was opening and closing quickly, as if she was desperate for breath.

  He felt the slow shivers work Sass’s highly sensitized and aroused body. His cock was working deeper now and beads of sweat were popping out on his forehead. With a grunt he thrust his hands beneath her ass and grabbed her soft, pliant flesh in both of his hands.

  “Griff … Griff…” Sass jerked in her bonds. She clutched the sheets and shut her eyes as rough spasms began to shake her body. “I’m … it’s … oh … oh … yessss…”

  Griffin let out a shout of deep satisfaction as Sass’s entire body went tight. Her pussy all but squeezed the life out of him and her juices burst and coated his hard cock.

  His own orgasm took him over not a minute later.

  “Baby…” Griffin grit his teeth and let out a long groan as his cock jumped, pulsed and released his seed deep within her waiting warmth. “That was…” Griffin’s words cut off when he felt Sass’s arms and legs wrap themselves firmly around his sated body. She had slipped out of her bonds. He smiled. “Mmmm … maybe next time I should double knot?”

  Sass snuggled into his chest and grinned. “Next time I’ll let you triple knot.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Sass couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face. Life was good. She was in love, she was loved and the world was a beautiful place.

  She yawned and stretched her arms up over her head. Griffin had gone. She had tried to entice him to stay. Actually, she had enticed him to stay—a little longer. And that had been a really, really, really good time.

  She definitely liked doggie position. They were going to have to try that again—soon.

  She moved onto her side and sighed happily.

  “Sass … Sassy … get up.” Tumbleweed cried, rushing into the room.

  Sass rolled her eyes. “Why is it that you’re always disturbing me in bed, Tumble?” She moved to her side and covered her head with her pillow.

  Tumbleweed nervously fluttered her wings and jumped up and down on the pillow. “Perhaps because you’re always in bed, Sassy,” she shot back.

  Sass threw her pillow at her. Tumbleweed easily dodged it.

  “Stop playing, Sass,” Tumble groaned. “They’re at the door, both of them.”

  “What?” Sass jumped out of bed and slipped on her robe. “Who is at the door?”

  Tumbleweed didn’t seem to hear her. She rushed to the door, bobbing impatiently up and down. “Come on. They’re getting impatient.” She flitted out of the room.

  Sass let out a beleaguered sigh and followed the sprite out of her bedroom.

  * * * *

  Whatever she was expecting to find at her front door it wasn’t this.

  “Carrie.” Sass smiled at the pretty dark haired woman standing at her front door. Her smile faltered when she saw the tense lines marking the other woman’s face and the stiffness of her stance. “And Tim, hey…”

  Sheriff Carrie Edding cleared her throat. “May we come in, Saskia?”

  Sass nodded and ushered the two of them in.

  “Saskia … this is … well…” Carrie clenched her hands into fists. “I’m afraid that we’re going to have to bring you down to the station … for questioning.”

  Sass burst out laughing. Her laugher, however, stopped abruptly when she saw that neither Carrie nor Tim seemed even slightly amused. She drew back. “This is a joke, right? There’s a hidden camera somewhere? Or did Tumble put you up to this? You know she’s trying to make my life miserable.” Sass frowned, and cocked her head to one side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand, Carrie.”

  “Tabitha’s dead, Sass, murdered,” Tim blurted out.

  Carrie shot her deputy a chastising look.

  “What?” Sass’s eyebrows shot clear up to her hairline. And she braced herself against the doorframe. “What? Tabitha … it can’t … I mean … how?”

  Carrie’s face was completely blank. Her lovely features were drawn tight and her odd amber eyes seemed to be searching something out. “I was hoping you’d be able to clarify things for us, Saskia.”

  Sass shook her head. “No, I mean, I can’t believe this,” she stopped when she saw their expressions. “You can’t think I had anything to do with this, Carrie.” Her mouth dropped open in shock. “You do. You actually think I had something to do with this. Carrie … this is crazy. You know me, you both do.”

  Sass felt suddenly light-headed. It was too much to take in. How could Tabitha be dead? She had seen her just yesterday. And murdered? It was inconceivable.

  Carrie’s expression hardened and she took a deep breath before speaking. “Yes, we know you, and that’s why this is so difficult, Saskia. But we have to take you to the station. There are questions we need answers to. And unfortunately, you’re the only one who can answer them.”

  Sass looked between Carrie and Tim, dazed. Finally she nodded and said, “Can I put some clothes on first?”

  * * * *

  Sass sipped her water and tapped her fingers. It was too surreal for words. She was sitting in Daring’s police station being questioned by Sheriff Carrie Edding. The same Carrie who had dipped her braids in glue in kindergarten. She was flustered and frankly confused out of her mind.

  “You two didn’t get along,” Carrie said blandly.

  Sass rolled her eyes. “You know we didn’t, Carrie. Heck, the whole town knows that Tabitha and I didn’t get along.”

  “You two fought at Duane’s potluck. There was some mention of wands being drawn,” Carrie continued, pen in hand.

  “Oh for heavens sake, Carrie. It was nothing. Tabitha was a little overwrought and foolishly drew her wand.”

  “But you took care of the situation.” Carrie’s probing eyes searched Sass’s confused ones.

  “I … well … sort of…” Sass frowned. “Carrie, this is nuts. Tabitha and I had a little fight. So what? We’ve fought before. I went home with Griffin and we…” Sass stopped.

  Carrie tilted her head. “What? You were saying?”

  Sass shook her head. What went on between Griffin and herself was private. “Nothing. That’s all.”

  Carrie sighed. “I’m afraid that isn’t all, Saskia. I know you went home with Griffin Sampson, in fact, I don’t care about that. What I care about is what happened after he left.”

  Sass’s brows drew together. “What are you talking about, Carrie? Nothing happened. Griffin went home. I went to bed.”

  “Oh.” Carrie tapped her pen.

  “Oh, oh, oh.” Sass was getting impatient. She was tired and very cranky—being accused of murder had a way of really putting a downer on things. “Oh, away, it doesn’t change the facts. I didn’t do anything.”

  Carrie took a deep breath. Her eyes seemed to burn even brighter. “Funny that you should mention facts, Saskia. You see … there are some facts that I am finding very hard to ignore at this moment. You and Tabitha Spencer were not friends. Indeed, you hated one another. You had a large fight at Duane’s potluck, at which wands were drawn. You were home, alone, during the time Tabitha was murdered. Convenient, don’t you think?” Carrie leaned closer to Sass. “And harder still to ignore … your prints were found on the body.”

  Sass gasped.

  Carrie nodded—eyes dark and solemn. “Exactly.”

  * * * *

  “Sass … this is crazy.” Henrietta reached between the cell bars and clasped Sass’s cold hand. “Absolutely crazy.”

  Henrietta was madder than a wet hen. How could anyone in their right mind think that Sass had murdered someone?

  Henrietta blew some hair out of her face and swore. It was ridiculous. Sass and Tabitha had been mincing[?] words for years. If Sass had wanted to kill the bitchy witch, wouldn’t she have done so long ago? Everyone in Daring knew of the feud between them, but most laughed it off as natural rivalry between two very competitive witches. It was common among paranormals—to fight for dominance. Shifters were not the only species to
keep to a class system. Witches fought—often deadlier than most—to see who would rule the Coven.

  Henrietta had always assumed that Tabitha was merely jealous of Sass’s vibrant personality and charismatic nature. Tabitha was as sour as the day was long. No amount of sugar would have sweetened that pot. But Sass had always taken it in good stride, giving as good as she got. If Tabitha pushed … Sass would push back. But to think that Sass would have resorted to murder merely showed Henrietta that the sheriff had spent too much time out in the hot sun—her brain was completely fried.

  Sass squeezed her friend’s hand. “I know. I … I…” Sass’s voice trailed off and she looked heavenward. “I don’t even know what to say, Henny.”

  “Well, we’re going to get to the bottom of this. We’re not going to rest until we figure this out.”

  “We?” Sass asked quietly.

  Griffin came up to stand next to Henrietta. He nodded. “Yeah, we.”

  Sass smiled brilliantly when she saw Griffin. “Oh, Griff.” She blinked then. “You … look different.”

  Griffin straightened his tie and grinned. “Like it? I couldn’t well plead your case in my jeans and sweater now, could I?”

  “Plead?” Sass’s eyes widened. “You’re taking on my case?”

  Griffin stroked her palm. “What’s the good of having my own practice if I can’t take on the clients that I want?”

  Sass rested her head heavily against the bars. “God, Griffin, this is all madness. I tried to explain to Carrie … explain … about Tabitha and myself but she’s not listening.” When Sass’s head lifted, her eyes were bleak. “They say they’ve got evidence, prints…”

  Griffin kissed the knuckles of Sass’s hand. “Shhhhh … baby … it’s going to be all right. We’re going to get this all sorted out. You have nothing to worry about.”

  Sass chuckled nervously. “Too late for that.” She swallowed. “They wouldn’t even tell me … about Tabitha … about…” Sass’s voice trailed off.

  Griffin stiffened. “It was bad, honey. Someone really tore into her.”

  “Oh,” Sass moaned. “Oh God.”

  “It’s not your fault, love.” Griffin caressed her cold cheek.

  Sass bit her lip. “I did hate her, Griff. I did.”

  “Sass…”

  “But I didn’t…”

  It was Griffin’s turn to shush her. “I know, baby. I know.” His eyes took on singular purpose. “And we are going to get to the bottom of this … we are.”

  * * * *

  Griffin sat across from the pretty sheriff and smiled tensely, it was after hours and he had come to speak to Daring’s female sheriff about Sass and her case. He had even brought a plate of Henrietta’s famous gingerbread and his sister’s home brewed tea.

  “It’s not like I’m enjoying this, Mr. Sampson,” Carrie said.

  Griffin’s jaw clenched.

  “But I have no choice. I have to follow all of the leads and suspects. And at this time, Sass,” Carrie cleared her throat, “Ms. Saskia Riley is…”

  “Your best suspect,” Griffin finished for her.

  Carrie sighed. “If you have anything to offer, Sampson, anything other than your own personal feelings that she’s innocent … please do tell.”

  “She was with me,” Griffin ground out.

  “Yes, before Tabitha Spencer was murdered. She can’t account for the time after.” Carrie rubbed her temples. “I shouldn’t even be discussing this with you. You’ll have your opportunity during the hearing, so will she.” Carrie groaned and moved on to rub her forehead. Her headache was getting worse. Nothing had prepared her for this—having to arrest Sass Riley.

  All of Daring was up in arms about the arrest. The phone had been ringing off the hook the entire day and people kept stopping by to offer their ‘unbiased’ opinions—on Sass, on Tabitha, on the murder. It was enough to drive a nun to drink.

  But Carrie had a job to do, and do it she would. But, God, she’d give up her pension if someone would take this burden off of her shoulders. “I think I will have some of that tea,” Carrie said. She reached over, picked up the fragrant tea and took a sip. “Nice,” she said with a sigh, taking several more sips.

  Griffin clenched his hands into fists.

  “Jasmine?” Carrie said, yawning. “Mmmmm … a little lavender maybe?” She finished the tea and placed it on the desk. “Lovely, really lovely. Did you say Tina made it?” Carrie blinked and swayed slightly. “I’m going to have to ask her for the recipe. Really I haven’t ever had such a lovely…” Her head fell with a thump onto the desk.

  Griffin grimaced. Well, it couldn’t be helped.

  “Griffin?” Henrietta’s voice shot clearly through his mind.

  He growled. He was still uncomfortable with this entire telepathy thing. Being able to communicate mind-to-mind—creepy to say the least. But for Saskia … well … he’d put comfort aside.

  “Henrietta?”

  “Is it safe? Is Carrie out?” Henrietta’s voice was filled with worry and a tad bit of impatience.

  “Yes.” Griffin looked over at the sleeping sheriff and pushed away the pangs of guilt he felt. No choice. “So, are you coming over?”

  Henrietta tapped Griffin on his shoulder and smiled when he jumped. “Already here.”

  Griffin scowled. “For the love of,” he took a deep breath, “don’t do that again.” He looked between Henrietta and his sister. “By the way … how did you do that?”

  Henrietta’s smile broadened. “Trade secret.”

  He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I can live with that.”

  Tina tapped her foot impatiently. “Come on. We don’t have much time.”

  “I thought you put an extra dash of sleeping powder in the spell, Tina,” Henrietta said.

  Tina narrowed her eyes. “I did. But I couldn’t risk overdoing it, could I? I didn’t want comatose Carrie. That wouldn’t work for us, would it?”

  Griffin gently pushed the two women forward. “Okay, let’s quarrel later. Right now we have more important things to do.”

  Henrietta and Tina nodded shortly.

  * * * *

  Sass lay quietly on her cot. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. She only knew that she was getting weary.

  It was strange. As little children, Sass and her friends had always scoffed at Daring’s police station. Because really … what ever happened in Daring? Who actually wound up behind bars in Daring, Massachusetts?

  “I must be the worst witch ever,” Sass murmured. How in the world had she landed in this predicament—accused of murder and the first to grace this cell in over fifty years?

  “By-the-by, you’re not the worst witch out there,” Henrietta’s mouth curved up in a smile, “Have you taken a trip to Salem lately?”

  Sass jumped to her feet. “Henny. Oh my God. What are you doing here?” Sass’s eyes widened when Tina and Griffin rushed into the room. “Are you guys crazy? Why, I mean how…” she broke off helplessly.

  “Well, Henrietta concocted the plan, I made the tea, and Griffin drugged Carrie,” Tina said with a large smile.

  Sass gaped at them.

  “Are you all right, Saskia?” Griffin asked. He frowned. “You’re pale, love.”

  Sass nodded and looked over at Tina. “You know how we always made fun of this prison, Tina? We said it looked like something out of Bonanza.” Sass took a breath. “I’m not laughing now. The cell is a power siphon.”

  Tina blanched.

  Henrietta swore.

  Griffin blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “She means that it feeds off of her magic, Griffin,” Henrietta said. “That way it keeps the prisoner completely confined—both physically and magically.” Henrietta cursed. “God, I’m so stupid. I should have foreseen this.”

  “What are we going to do?” Tina looked nervously behind them, as if afraid that Carrie was going to burst in on them at any moment.

  Griffin went suddenly still. “Question.” He wai
ted until all three of them were looking at him to continue. “Saskia said that I’m a power conduit, right?”

  They nodded.

  “And … I’m telekinetic.” Griffin swallowed. “I can move objects … do you think that means I can control them completely?”

  “What are you getting at?” Tina asked. She placed a hand on her brother’s arm and squeezed gently.

  “Can I bend them, Tina? You’ve been explaining to me how Telekinesis works … if I am a conduit, and if you can lend me power as I lend it to you, then I should be able to bend these bars.”

  Tina gulped. “Those are a lot of ‘ifs’, Griff.”

  Griffin shrugged. “What do we have to lose, Tina? Sass can’t get out, we can’t get in and I doubt that those keys,” he gestured to the keys that Henrietta was holding, “are going to work. Do we have another choice?”

  Sass’s eyes were turbulent. “Griff … the energy you’re going to need to expend … well, you haven’t, what I mean…”

  “Shhh, baby, didn’t I tell you before,” Griffin winked, “everything is going to be fine.”

  Tina took one of Griffin’s hands and Henrietta took the other.

  Sass stood back. “If this doesn’t work…”

  “Then I’ll come back with a crowbar,” Griffin said. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  Sass held her breath as the power in the room grew heavy. She watched in awe as Tina, Henrietta, and Griffin began to glow steadily. It was like watching currents of energy being transferred through very visible lines—the lines being those who held the power.

  Griffin began to sweat. Beads of perspiration popped out on his forehead and began to trickle down his flushed cheeks.

  Sass’s eyes widened as the bars to her cell grew bright and began to shake. It was extraordinary … it was the sharing of magic.

  “It’s working,” Tina gasped.

  Griffin ignored her and concentrated on focusing his power completely on the prison bars. His head was aching … pounding and reverberating but he remained steadfast. Each path of his mind was fully narrowed into the object that he was trying to control. And it was happening. It was happening for him.