Page 247 of Castings & Curses

Heck no.

“No, I don’t,” I told him. “I’m not looking for a quick fling or insincere compliments.”

“What are you looking for?”

I turned to face him as the temperature in the room seemed to spike.

“I don’t know. I mean, I know my strengths and my faults. I’m not perfect, but who is? And I thought I knew where I fit in with this group, this coven we’ve built, but I am starting to wonder.”

“Wonder what, Jade?”

“Well, my friends are important. They have these great destinies, and for some reason, here I am, right in the middle of it. But you’ve been running hot and cold with me since day one, and I’m too tired tonight. I guess I am just trying to ask you—why are you really here, Arlo?”

“That’s easy. I can’t seem to stay away from you, sweet, sweet Jade, and I have been waiting so long for you to notice.”

“Waiting for me?”

“You can’t see it yet. You’re still talking about your friends’ destinies like they have something you don’t. But don’t you get it? You are one of them, Jade. Every bit as powerful. Every bit as special. Even more beautiful to me than all the others combined. To hell with those guys you dated. They didn’t deserve you, Jade. You don’t have to change a damn thing about yourself. Not for anyone. Definitely not for me,” he growled, and cupped his hand behind the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

I gasped, eyes wide, shocked to my very core at the intensity in his voice. My skin tingled from the places we touched. I cursed my towel and his clothes for separating our bodies. I wasn’t a virgin, but I felt like one just then. Need and desire coursed through me, all I could think about was getting my hands on Arlo Glenn and having my earthy way with him.

Sexy, commanding, badass boy.

Hell’s bells.

The man made my knees go weak and my girly bits scream for attention. There was a certain sensuality to practicing earth magic. Right then, I wanted to revel in it—with him.

“Fuck, Jade, you keep looking at me like that and I won’t be held responsible for what might happen if I don’t kiss you right fucking now.”

“Right now?”

“Yes,” he hissed, inching closer, closer, so damn close. “I promised myself I would wait. That I’d give you time to be ready. To learn to trust yourself. But I can’t stop this, Jade. I don’t think anything can.”

“Can’t stop what?” I asked, ready to start begging.

His warm breath tickled my lips, and I was so gone.

To hell with waiting.

I wanted his mouth.

Now.

Right now.

“This,” he replied, and crushed his lips to mine.

Thank. The. Mighty. Goddess.

CHAPTER8

Spendingthe night with Arlo was even better than I’d imagined. The few times I’d fumbled in the dark with boys my age, they’d been just that, boys fumbling in the dark. But with him, everything was different.

Maybe it was the way our magic seemed to mingle as we undressed each other slowly in my dimly lit room. I had fairy lights crisscrossed against the ceiling—not the tiny little copper wired things that normals used, but rather floating little lights created by actual fairies that lent a soft fantasy glow to the room. I’d gotten them ages ago, and the magic was not due to wear out for decades yet. Fairy magic differing from witch magic, of course.

He took longer to undress, seeing as how he was wearing actual clothes. But it was like unwrapping a birthday present, and with every inch of warm, pale skin, I was greedy for more. My needy sex pulsed with a steady desperation I’d never felt.

Knowing most of my friends were all having the best sex of their lives with their mates had made me curious what that must feel like, and while Arlo might not feel that way about me—at least, not that I knew for sure—it was time I admitted it to myself.

---