Page 63 of Waltzing With Witches

KEEPER

Is it possible to be brokenhearted and falling deeply in love at the same time? I stand silently in the shadows of my basement gym, watching Morgan attack a punching bag with vigor. She’s shirtless, working out in just a bra and tight yoga pants. My gaze moves from her wild red hair pulled into a sensual bun, down the length of her elegant neck, down to those incredible breasts, breasts that spilled out from between my fingers last night.

I left her aching. I know I did. Because, even after three orgasms, her body called mine for more. She will always want more. I left aching too. And for the first time in decades, I went to my room and stroked myself while gasping her name. What we did wasn’t enough, not nearly enough for me.

And it wasn’t enough for her either. Evidenced by the wash of pheromones filling the gym.

She’s frustrated in the light of day, and I can’t fix it.

Regret and anger war inside me. But it’s like she said last night—can’t we take whatever we can get for now? Except I know it might never be enough for either of us, this half-life where I can’t fill her the way she needs. It’s exactly why I didn’t call her in the first place.

But thinking about it has me hard and needy, my fangs throbbing with venom.

“You gonna stand there and watch me all morning, or would you like to take the place of the punching bag?” She doesn’t turn to look at me, hitting the bag with an uppercut that sends a cloud of dust into the air.

Chuckling, I stalk across the mat and grip the back of her neck, turning her to face me. I bring my lips above hers, drinking her in.

“You smell fucking delicious,” I murmur. “But you’re upset. Do you want to talk about it?”

“I need a workaround,” she says, unwrapping her wrists and tossing the tape aside. “Scratch that. I demand a workaround. Because if we keep doing what we did last night, I’ll lose my fucking mind and start chasing you around the castle. Last night was so hot, but what you said about not being able to fuck. I don’t know if I can get on board with that.”

A streak of heat flashes down my spine, and I crack my neck from side to side at the intensity that vision produces within me.

Gray eyes spear me with yearning. “You know why else I need this workaround, Abe? Because I have gotten the shit end of the stick my entire life when it comes to family, and I won’t accept it with you.”

“Holy shit,” I mutter, dropping my grip on her neck. “That’s precisely what you’re getting with me if we continue to date.” I try not to grind my teeth together but fail spectacularly.

“Well, I don’t accept that,” she snaps, crossing her arms. “Ben and I came up with a workaround already.”

I glance around the room, but to his credit, the castle remains silent. They must have talked this morning while I was out patrolling with Shepherd.

I lift a brow, cocking my head to the side. “I’m listening.”

“We’re gonna tie you up.”

My mouth drops open.

Morgan smirks at me. “Ben’s going to hold you down, and I’m going to ride that fat cock, or, so help me God, I’ll start chasing.”

I scoff. “It won’t work. I’m really fucking strong, Morgan.”

She gestures around us. “Ben is a goddamn castle, Abe. I have faith that he can do this. Can you have faith with us?”

My throat goes dry. I want this. I want this desperately, even as the logical side of my brain runs through every way this could go wrong. There are only a few rules for Keepers, and ‘do no harm’ is one of them. I examine her face for any indicators that she’s joking, but the slight curve of her brows and the wrinkle between them tell me she is deadly serious.

“I have to patrol again and meet with the other Keeper.”

Morgan rolls her eyes. “We don’t have to fuck this minute, but we’re doing it later.”

“We said we’d go out later,” I remind her.

“Jesus Christ, you’re so literal,” she mutters. She places her hands together as if measuring something. “Sometime after you patrol and before we go out, I’m riding you. I won’t accept a no.” She casts a dismissive glance down my body. “Unless you don’t want to do it, of course.”

A growl rips from deep within me. I whip out a hand to grip her throat, pulling her until she hits my chest. Her cheeks go pink, her eyes wide.

“It’s never been about a lack of desire, witch,” I snap. “It’s about not tempting fate. But if you’re determined to do this, I will do my level best not to kill you.”

I’m trying to scare her a little. I want her to remember how fucking dangerous this is.

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