Page 148 of Castings & Curses

“To my bedroom. No one’ll bother us there.”

Rafael screeched to a standstill, hauling Sage into his arms to keep her from falling. “You said you never take warlocks to your bedroom.”

She linked her arms around his neck and smashed her boobs against his chest. Instant hard-on. She rubbed herself against him right where it counted. “They’re witch-style one and dones. I didn’t want to sully my bedroom with that business.”

His heart galloped.What was she saying?“I’m not a one and done?” he asked, breath lodging in his throat as he waited for her answer.

“I don’t need to sex it up with you. Goddess, I’m dying to. But your magic is so strong, I’ve already sensed your power and abilities. For once in my life, I need slow. I need the burn of touching, kissing, and getting to know one another first. You’ll be the first and only warlock ever to grace my bedroom.”

CHAPTER8

Gwyneira swoopeddown from the sky, startling Rafael. He batted at the owl’s wings flapping at his head. The familiar landed on Sage’s shoulder, evaporated to ink, and slithered under her dress.

“Where’d it go?” Rafael spun in a circle seeking her familiar.

Sage plucked the neckline of her dress aside, revealing Gwyneira’s white wings. “Once I bond you, you’ll see a familiar shift from real to tattoo. And you’ll have an owl familiar as your own, who can guide your magic in certain ways.”

He traced the tattoo on her neck, his gentle fingers inciting a hormonal jig in her southern parts. “I like the sound of that.Once you bond me.”

“Will you accept?” She gloved his hand on her skin, needing his touch to breathe.

“Let’s hit up your bedroom, and I’ll let you know.” He chuckled and brushed his mouth over her lips. He clutched her hand again, and they resumed their trek to the side yard to avoid the partiers.

An almost hypnotic herb-laced wood smoke perfumed the air, giving more impetus to Sage’s actions. She guided him into the garage and through the kitchen, winking at the kitchen staff, her index finger cutting up her lips to request their silence. She snatched a tray of mixed appetizers, and Rafael grabbed a half-empty bottle of Bordeaux wine and two plastic cups. They zipped up the back staircase to her bedroom.

Rafael opened the door and stepped over the threshold. He jolted back, fumbling with the wine bottle before it fell to the floor. “Whoa.”

Sage’s jaw dropped. “It’s warded from intrusion by magicals. Try that again.”

Again, he stepped a toe over the threshold, and an invisible wall thrust him into the hallway.

“Holy hell. Your magic’s potent. My ward shouldn’t have impeded an unbonded warlock or non-magical from entering.” Adrenaline popped in her blood. “What do you feel?”

Rafael scratched his head. “Felt like a burning mattress forcing me out.”

“No, I mean, how do you feel inside?” Sage held up a finger for him to wait. She uttered the spell to kill her protective ward and wiggled her fingers toward the doorway to dispel the magic. “Get in here.” She set the appetizers on a small accent table between two cushiony chairs in front of the large window overlooking the backyard. He shut and locked the door. “Smart man.” Grinning, she took the wine and cups from him, set them by the food.

Appreciation lit up Rafael’s eyes as he perused the large bedroom and the king-size bed. A dozen earth-tone pillows decorated the cream, gray, and pale sage comforter. “Not much different from my normal. Like something sizzling inside me. Since I’ve tasted your magic, I know it’s magic waiting for a witch to tap. Seems like fire, air, water, earth all rolled in one.”

Sage sagged down on one of her cushiony arm chairs. “It sounds like—” She stopped herself from saying “her aether.” Too soon to give up all the goods on her magic. “You need a powerful witch to uncork your magic.” She picked up a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich and absently chewed it, handed one to Rafael, who chose a meatier appetizer instead.

“Are you that witch?” He chomped on a handful of pigs in a blanket. Simple fare for the festival.

She fake-sneered, flicked a finger in the air. Appetizers flew out of his hand and floated in the air. “Want more of that?”

“No! I’m starving.” He laughed. She floated the food back to him, and he caught them in his cupped hands. They ate and drank in companionable silence for a few minutes, until Rafael asked, “But I’d kill to do stuff like that. How ’bout you bond me tonight?”

Sage’s heart thudded in her chest. Her shock and absolute joy on the best day of her life swamped her. She scrunched her face and groaned. “I hate to even put this out there. No. You need to absorb everything you’ve learned today. Iwillbond you. No question. But I also want to make it special.” She lowered her pitch seductively. “I may include sex.”

Rafael choked up a weeny bit. “Then let’s fucking do it now,” he croaked out and guzzled his wine.

“Can we just hang tonight? It’s been a long-ass day.”

“I know, babe. I’m kidding.”

Sage didn’t miss the word “babe.” He’d said it so natural and heartfelt. No doubt Rafael could be her First Warlock, the one who’d rule by her side, her right hand. Her forever warlock.

She moved to sit on her bed and pulled her boots and jacket off, then lay back, bolstering her head on her toss pillows. She patted the bed beside her. “I don’t mind if we get more comfortable and fool around, though.”

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