Page 149 of Castings & Curses

Sage and Rafael tumbled into their comfortable and calm private world. They talked, touched, laughed, and most definitely kissed until the early morning hours when Sage fell asleep wrapped in Rafael’s arms.

*.*.*.*.*

Sage awoke the next morning to find Rafael watching her sleep, a grin morphing his already handsome face into gorgeous territory, more so with his tousled bed-hair.

“Are your eyes stalking me?” She hid a yawn and her fuzzy morning breath behind her hand. For once, she didn’t care that her makeup and hair resembled Beetlejuice.

“Can’t help it. You’re so damn beautiful.” He feathered a kiss across her forehead.

“Good morning to you too.” Her hand accidentally brushed his steely erection hiding in his black briefs—they’d stripped down to their underwear in the early morning hours—and she jerked her hand to her hip. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to tease.”

“Tease all you want.” But he put an inch or two of space between their lower regions. “Last night, this morning—” He choked up. “Is all this real?”

“Magical?” Her eyebrows arched. “I keep pinching myself.”

“Beyond magical.” He nuzzled her neck, sending goosebumps across her skin.

Avoiding his erection, Sage snuggled against Rafael’s firm, muscular body one last moment before crawling out of bed. One more day to adult, then she could take a breather before her future submerged her.

“I’ll grab you a toothbrush.” She slipped on a short, silky robe and escaped the room before Rafael’s body enticed her to remain in bed all day.

She gathered guest toiletries from the hall bathroom and snagged a newish, clean gray T-shirt from the hallway of abandoned clothes. The Wildes always enjoyed overnighter guests and had designated the cabinet a free-for-all of left-behind items.

Hands full, she bumped into a staggering Aspen in the hallway outside her bedroom door. Her hair hung in strings and she wore pasty like a zombie. “Aspen tree. How you feeling?”

“Stop.” Aspen covered her ears. “Don’t screech at me.” Her bleary gaze raked over the toiletries in Sage’s hand, and her head inched up. “Zelda has already claimed Rafael. Don’t start anything with him. We need to let the emotions die down.”

“It’s already started. I can’tnotmake a claim on him.”

“You’re falling for him?”

“Already fallen,” Sage replied.

“Oh my goddess.” Aspen cupped her mouth. “Today’s not gonna be a good day.”

“Not for Zelda.”

“Not foryou.” Aspen brushed past Sage and rushed into the bathroom.

“Not for you either.” Sage snickered and strode to her bedroom, hoping to find Rafael still in bed. She needed another snuggle. What a fantastic, exquisite night.

An empty bed and water spraying in her shower built for at least two met her senses. Did she dare? She stood outside the ajar bathroom door, bit her bottom lip. Decided he was too alluring. If she didn’t make a full-day appearance at the festival, someone would release flying monkeys down upon her. Plus, she had to skate through the warlock lottery and make her sole choice. The heavenly man standing naked in her bathroom.

Averting her gaze from the shower, she dumped the toiletries and T-shirt on the expansive vanity and called downstairs for breakfast. The kitchen staff provided a breakfast spread in the dining room and the witch-house for the overnighters, but she wanted more alone time with Rafael before facing the masses. Not knowing what foods he liked—they hadn’t discussed favorite foods—she ordered multiple items for him.

The shower door clicked open and thunked shut. Sage waited to give him time to dry off before approaching the bathroom.

“Use anything you need,” she said through the crack in the door.

“I was waiting for you to join me,” he tantalized.

“No you weren’t.” She laughed. “But I thought long and hard about it.”

“Don’t use the wordhard, babe. I’m in a state of perpetual hard around you.”

The word “babe” again softened her heart. She jabbed the door open. He stood in front of her vanity, facing the door. His chestnut-dark hair slicked back, water glistening on his bare chest, dripping to the smattering of hair arrowing down to the top of the towel wrapped around his waist, showing clear evidence of hishard.

“You called me ‘babe.’” She touched her palm to his damp chest.

---