Witch You Were Here

by ERIN BEDFORD

  “And yet here we sit in Atlanta, Georgia.” I smirked. “Must have been some broom ride.”

  Grandfather chuckled, but my grandmother only rolled her eyes letting out a puff of irritation. “No one rides brooms. That has never been a thing. The same thing with the silly wand waving. Some might use them, but they are purely for show.” She shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “No one in the Mancaster line would ever stoop that low.”

  “Except cousin Addy,” grandfather pointed out, earning a glare from my grandmother.

  “Yes, but she’s an exception.”

  “Who’s cousin Addy?” I asked, unable to help myself. If it’s someone they didn’t want to talk about, then it was definitely someone I wanted to know.

  Grandmother sniffed and then let out a sigh, completely put out by my asking. “Your cousin Addy is from your grandfather’s side of the family, she lives in Vegas. She runs a...” She visibly shuddered. “... magic show.”

  “Really?” My eyes widened, and I looked to my grandfather for confirmation.

  He nodded. “Quite. She rides a broom and everything. Of course, the humans think it’s all wires and such, but she was the top of her class at levitation.” As if speaking of it reminded him of something, the gravy bowl on the far side of the table lifted from its place and floated toward him. It poured a generous amount on his plate before going back to its resting place. “However, Addy despises everything to do with our society and chooses to remain estranged.”

  “As she should,” my grandmother retorted picking up her fork. However, before she could take a bite, Charlie appeared in the dining room doorway, his lips pulled into an unpleasant frown.

  If I didn’t know better from his encounter with my mom, I’d think he was just as stuck up as my grandmother was. However, I knew it was all a farce, or at least, my mom was enough to crumple his hard exterior, an ability I prided myself on inheriting from.

  “What is it, Charles?” My grandmother shifted in her seat to meet his gaze.

  Charlie shifted in place as if he didn’t want to be the one to announce whatever it was he was there for.

  “Come now, out with it. My food is getting cold.” My grandmother waved a hand at him.

  My brow furrowed. “Why does that matter? You could just do a spell and reheat it up again.”

  My grandmother made a face, but it was my grandfather who answered. “Magically heated food never quite tastes the same. There’s an unusual chalky taste to it.” He smacked his lips and took a drink of his water as if talking about it made him thirsty.

  The question answered, Charlie took a moment to say, “Miss Maxine has visitors.”

  “I do?” I asked at the same time my grandmother asked, “She does?”

  “The Broomsteins.” He arched a brow, and if I hadn’t been watching him, I would have missed the twinkle in his eye. “Shall I escort them to the salon?”

  “Nonsense.” My grandmother waved a hand and then smiled at me. “Have Bella set another place at the table. Which one has come to call?”

  My lips ticked up and now I knew why Charlie was laughing. My grandmother only thought one of them had come to see me, but I bet both Ian and Paul were standing in the foyer as we spoke.

  “Both of them, Madame.”

  It took her a moment to say anything, so long, in fact, that I thought she might have had a heart attack or went deaf, but eventually, my grandmother snapped back into herself. Almost in slow motion, she turned her head from Charlie to lock eyes with me. “Maxine, why are both Broomstein boys visiting you? Together?”

  Not to be intimidated, I leaned onto my elbows and grinned. “Because I’m dating both of them.”

  She made a small sound of distress, and then her head jerked so fast toward grandfather that I feared it might rip off. “Harold, do something about this.”

  Grandfather wiped his mouth on his napkin and continued to eat his meal. “What do you expect me to do, Nina? Max is a grown woman. You can’t dictate who she dates.”

  “Yes, I can.”

  “And how well did that work out for you with Margaret?” My grandmother shut up with a huff after my grandfather made his point. To me, grandfather smiled. “If dating them both makes you happy, then by all means, but they should both know that I will not take kindly to either of them hurting my granddaughter.”

  I beamed back at him with a giggle. “Thank you, grandfather. I’ll come to greet them, Charlie, thank you.” Charlie nodded, and I stood and started for the door. Pausing in the doorway, I turned back to the table. “Does this rule apply to all of my boyfriends?”

  Catching him in mid-drink, my grandfather choked. Banging on his chest as he coughed, his eyes widened. “All of your boyfriends?”

  I winked and left without answering his question. Humming to myself, I made my way toward the foyer. When my eyes landed on the backs of two familiar men, my eyes widened, and a small smile spread across my lips. “Ian. Paul.”

  At the same time, they turned to me, Paul with his boyish grin and kind eyes, one hand tucked into the pockets of his slacks as he waved a hand at me. It made a girlish part of me squeal in delight. Not that his brother didn’t affect me as well. That cocky smirk of his and amused glint in his eyes could turn me into a puddle of goo on the floor at any given moment.

  “Max,” Ian purred, sliding his tongue along his teeth before giving me a full-on grin. “We were wondering if you would grace us with your presence.”

  I snort-giggled, standing between the two of them. “Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

  “Well,” Paul reached a hand up and scratched the back of his head, “we know how strict your grandmother can be and wasn’t sure if she would let you see us. You are her sole heir, you know.”

  Cocking my head to the side, I surveyed them. “Why would that matter? She doesn’t control me.”

  Ian and Paul exchanged a look, and it was Ian who answered. “We figured since you are staying with her now that she might have been able to have more influence over you. And I’m not exactly the kind of person Nina Mancaster would want her daughter, let alone granddaughter, to spend time with.”

  I quirked a brow. “Really? It’s like you two don’t know me at all.”

  A smile tipped Paul’s lips, and his eyes softened. “See, Ian? I told you, you had nothing to worry about.”

  “Is that what this is about?” I glanced between the two of them. “You thought I’d change because I’m staying the summer here?”

  They didn’t answer, but the guilty look on their faces and the way they wouldn’t meet my eyes said everything.

  I clucked my tongue and tapped my foot, pretending to be contrite. “I’m really disappointed in you two. I thought you were above all that. I mean, you have the same situation. Would your mother and father be happy to hear you’re hanging around a human-raised witch, let alone sharing one?”

  There was silence in the foyer. I paused in my tapping and peeked an eye out at them. If anything, they looked even guiltier. “They do know about me, don’t they?” I slowly said, my confidence wavering.

  “Know about? Yes.” Paul began lifting a finger in the air. “It’s hard not to know about the estranged granddaughter popping back up in the Mancasters’ lives. However...”

  Ian shoved Paul’s shoulder and then slipped in front of him, so he was closer to me. “Forget about our parents. They don’t much care what I do in any case. That ship has long since sailed.”

  “But they care what Paul does,” I pointed out, not letting them deter me.

  “They know I’m seeing you.” Paul shoved his brother out of the way. “Just not that Ian is too.”

  My lips twisted into a frown. “What about at Valentine’s? Plenty of people saw us at dinner together and kissing.”

  Paul shrugged. “They must have missed that gossip or are in denial.”

  “Either way,” Ian pushed back in, “it doesn’t matter how they feel about it. I want to know more about this sharing thing you mentioned
.”

  A smirk cracked through my hard exterior, and I purred, “Oh, Paul didn’t mention it?”

  “No, it must have slipped my brother’s mind.” Ian glared over his shoulder at Paul before his eyes locked back onto mine.

  Sliding a hand down my side to rest on my hip, I shifted my weight. “Well, my grandmother wanted me to invite you to dinner, but if you’re not hungry... we could do something else?”

  “Already ate,” Ian quickly stated, followed by Paul, “Cutting back.”

  Stifling a giggle with my hand, I spun on my heel and started upstairs. When they didn’t follow, I placed a hand on the banister and gave them a coy grin. “Are you coming?”

  Not even hesitating, they scurried over each other to chase me up the stairs. I laughed and only halfheartedly ran away from them. We ran past a few curious servants, the very fact that my grandparents had servants still astounded me. However, Paul and Ian didn’t seem bothered by them at all. Not surprised since they had servants themselves. Still, it put a slight falter in my step.

  “What’s wrong?” Paul wrapped an arm around my waist, concern replacing his eager expression.

  “Nothing.” I shook my head, giving him a small smile. “Come on, my room is over here.” I pointed at the nearby door.

  “It’s the servants, isn’t it?” Ian, ever the perceptive one, said as he opened the bedroom door and ushered us inside. “Does it bother you?”

  Once we were behind closed doors, I tilted my head to the side. “What do you mean?”

  Paul watched our exchange, not really catching on to why I would be bothered. He seemed more interested in my room than anything. It wasn’t that impressive compared to his anyway, though it was still three times the size of my bedroom at my parent’s house. Really, who needed all this room anyway? I could do gymnastics in here with plenty of room to spare.

  “I mean,” Ian took my hand and drew me over to the bed, “does it bother you that they saw us together, or is it the whole aspect of having servants that bothers you?”

  I stared at him for a moment and then shook my head as I sank on to the bed with him. “I don’t care if they see us, but having servants to wait on me is a bit strange.” Paul took a seat on the other side of me, placing me firmly between the two of them. “I’m used to doing everything myself, but here? I can’t even get my own glass of water without getting a strange look.”

  Ian brushed my hair away from my neck, his breath hot on my ear. “There’s nothing wrong with being self-reliant. However,” his tongue darted out and licked the shell of my ear, “sometimes you need to let others take care of you.”

  A warm hand landed on my knee, and my eyes jerked to Paul. Leaning closer to me, Paul’s hand moved up my inner thigh and beneath my skirt. “I have to agree with my brother. You shouldn’t worry so much. Lean on us.”

  Okay, so I know I teased about having them at the same time. I’d even fantasied about it. I’d even been with Ian and Aidan at the same time, but it wasn’t the same. It was more exciting, more taboo because they were brothers. And now that I sat between them, Ian at my back and Paul at my front, my heart was about to pound out of my chest.

  “So, what do you say?” Ian’s hands slipped between my arms and sat below my chest, not touching me but teasing the line of my bra.

  I chuckled nervously, turning my head toward Ian. “How did this get turned around? I thought I was the one seducing you.”

  A hand took hold of my chin and turned my face back toward Paul. “I thought this was what you wanted?”

  My eyes darted to his lips which were so close to mine. Lids lowering, I allowed myself to be drawn to Paul’s mouth. Before our lips could meet, Ian cupped my breasts and pulled me back to him.

  “Don’t forget about me.” His mouth touched my neck. I moaned and then pushed away from him, detangling myself from their hands and standing.

  “Max?” They both said my name, concern and bemusement in their gazes.

  “Hold up now.” I held my hands up, not allowing them to follow me. “I don’t want you fighting over me. I’m not a rag doll.” My hands curled into fists, I shook my head. “This isn’t how I pictured it.”

  Ian smirked. “How did you picture it then?” He stood, one hand going to the bottom of his shirt. My eyes locked onto the skin he revealed as he pulled his shirt up and over his head, dropping it to the floor.

  Not to be outdone by his brother, Paul lounged back on the bed, his fingers unbuttoning each button of his shirt. His tongue slipping out to wet his lips. “This isn’t what you wanted?”

  I swallowed thickly, my thoughts suddenly gone. “Well, for starters...” I paused and then a thought came to me. A slow, wicked grin curled up my lips. “I’d always imagined it’d be you two kissing each other.”

  Paul and Ian gaped.

  I gestured at them with both hands. “Well, come on. You’re the ones who wanted to make it how I imagined. Get to kissing.”

  They’re heads slowly turned from me to each other. The look of utter disgust on their faces? Priceless.

  “Now...now, hold on a second.” Ian stepped back from the bed and away from his brother. “I’m alright with sharing, but that’s going too far.”

  “Right, what he said.” Paul cleared his throat, his eyes dropping to the bedspread.

  This time it was my turn to have some fun. Reaching under my shirt, I unsnapped my bra and pulled it out from beneath tossing it to the ground. Their eyes watched my every movement even with what I had said hanging in the air.

  “So, you’re saying...” I pulled my arms behind my back, so my shirt strained against my back, and my nipples were clearly visible. “... that even if I wanted you to take me at the same time...” I dropped my arms and shimmied out of my panties. I kicked them off, letting them fall at Ian’s feet. “... that would be too far?”

  “Uh...” Ian’s mouth fell open. They went to my panties and then to me and then jerked over to Paul before landing back on my panties once more. “Well, I don’t know about that. What kind of situation are we talking about?”

  Paul cleared his throat and moved to the edge of the bed. “When you say at the same time... you mean?”

  My hand went to the side of my skirt, and I unzipped it, letting it hang on my hips but not dropping it. “If you won’t kiss each other, how can I know what you would be alright with?”

  “There are plenty of other ways we could pleasure you...” Paul started, his eyes locked on my hands as I played with the edge of my shirt.

  Without an answer, I decided to stop torturing them. I whipped my shirt over my head, freeing my breasts, and their hot gazes locked onto my hardened peaks. “So just to be clear,” I coyly fluttered my lashes at them, “I want both of you inside of me at the same time. Are you alright with that?” I asked, dropping my skirt at the same time.

  Paul and Ian stared at me so hard I thought they might not have heard me. Then they turned their gaze from my naked form to each other. After a moment, Ian shrugged. “It’s only gay if our balls touch, right?”

  “I’m less worried about it being gay than incestuous.” Paul made a disgusted face that made me laugh.

  Climbing back onto the bed, their eyes locked on my every movement. “I’m not asking you to kiss each other.” They made a sound. “Okay, so I did just do that. But I was just kidding. However,” I grabbed Paul’s hand and Ian who had inched closer to the bed, putting their hands on my naked body. “I do want you to fuck me. Together.” I grinned up at them feeling a bit brave. “As for kissing, well, we do have two other non-relatives in our group. We can just save that for them.”

  Paul didn’t seem too thrilled by the idea, but I already knew Ian and Aidan had shared women before it wasn’t too far-fetched that they would have done stuff with each other too.

  Thankfully, my words helped persuade them both onto the bed. Starting with Paul, I pressed my lips to his coaxing him to stop worrying about his brother being there and to only think about me. Ian moved
up behind me, moving my hair out of the way so he could kiss my neck and shoulders. His hands moved along my heated skin, making me moan into Paul’s mouth.

  Pulling away from me slightly, Paul watched his brother as his fingers found the sensitive flesh between my thighs. Through partly opened lids, I held onto Paul but leaned on Ian, taking in Paul’s reaction as Ian brought me pleasure. He didn’t seem as offended as I thought he might. In fact, from the way his mouth parted, and his eyes darkened, I’d have guessed he was just as aroused as I was.

  Tearing his gaze away from Ian, Paul cupped my breast and captured my mouth once more, a new kind of determination in his movements. A small part of me – the part that could still think coherently – did a little dance that they were going through with it. I fumbled for Paul’s pants, tired of being the only one undressed, and grinned at the grunt that Paul released when I had him in my palm.

  Ian made a noise and Paul glared at him over my shoulder. “Don’t even say it.”

  Now curious, I glanced between the two of them. “What?”

  “I didn’t say anything.” Ian smirked, but before I could ask for more, he dipped his fingers inside of me. I gasped, arching my back and no longer caring what the fuck they were talking about. My hand tightened around Paul’s length at the same time, and he hissed a groan. Guess he didn’t care anymore either.

  It didn’t take long to get Ian undressed as well, and I was poised between the two of them. Mouth wrapped around Ian’s pierced length. Yep. Pierced. First time for everything, I guess. A part of me was apprehensive to see how that would feel, the other part cautious and sensitive to the other brother’s feelings. Ian and my’s first time should be just him and me. So, that was how Paul ended up thrusting into me from behind while I sucked his brother off.

  All the working up, the teasing, the tension, made it so none of us could hold on very long. Each of us was eager for our own release. Desperate really. Especially, when there was a loud knock on my door and Charlie’s voice came through the wood.

  “Miss Maxine, your grandmother would like to know if you are coming back to dinner?”