Page 90 of De-Witched

“Ma’am.” Officer Parks huffed out a breath. “We’ve heard enough from you. Just tell Mr. Bradford.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. As they turned on their heel and walked toward the exit, he debated, reasoned, considered—and lost the battle. With a small cough, he rubbed his chin and sent magic spiraling toward the door.

As Officer Franklin reached for it, it blew inward without warning. Staggering back to avoid being hit, he smacked into his partner with a curse. They went down in a tangle of limbs and in the resulting confusion, somehow the two found themselves handcuffed together. They stared down in bemusement.

“Clive, you idiot,” Parks snapped, hauling them upward. “Get the key.”

He patted his pocket down with his free hand, then again. And again. His eyes flew up. “It’s not in there.”

“For the love of...” She yanked at the cuffs, cursing when he crashed into her. They both knocked into the door and through it as it swung open unexpectedly. It closed behind their cries of alarm.

When Gabriel turned to Leah, her eyes were lit with laughter. “How strange for them to get locked together,” she commented evenly.

“Indeed.”

“And then to fall through the door like that.”

“Bad luck. Or perhaps karma.”

“Hmm.” She tucked her hands in her front pockets. “You know, you don’t have to protect me. I can take care of myself.”

“I don’t like anyone disrespecting you.”

She shook her head, a laugh bubbling out. “I’d never have believed it.” Her lips were still curved as she angled her head back. “A man of hidden talents.”

The amusement quickly drained as she looked pensively at the doors. “It’s like someone’s out to get us.” She slumped, closing her eyes briefly. “I’ll have to tell Sonny. Perfect. One more thing. He’ll be sure to—No,” she decided, slicing the air with her hands. “No, I’m not going to worry because there’s nothing to worry about. If they want to waste their time, then have at it. And we’ve had more adoption interest and bigger donations than we’ve had in months. Thanks to you and me. Go us.”

There was no thought. No plan.

One minute he was watching her babble, finishing with that nervous smile.

The next, he had her up against his body, tasting that smile with his mouth. Her body jolted against his, then her hands were in his hair and she was kissing him back. She thrummed with energy, the wildly beautiful energy he’d noticed from the first. He craved it.

When they broke apart, she was panting. His chest moved unevenly as she braced her hands against him.

“Gabriel,” she said, pressing her lips together as if to taste him. He felt it in his gut. “I thought we said...”

“I know.” He framed her face. “You make me weak.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” She wrapped her fingers around his wrists, but she didn’t tug him away.

“It’s not.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.”

“No, I’m not,” she agreed and grinned.

He loved her smiles.

If you really cared about her, you wouldn’t endanger her by getting involved. Kole’s words. Guilt shot into him but not strong enough to fight her pull. He’d told Kole she was a woman who made her own decisions. He couldn’t treat her as less.

“I can’t do it.”

Her thumbs gently stroked his pulse points. “Can’t do what?”

“I can’t have just one night.”

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