Page 38 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

CHAPTER 16

Alastair left the room, followed by Aurora, Spring, Knox, and three members of the half-dozen security guards he employed. Brenna perched on the edge of one sofa as Eoin sat across and diagonal from her, at least ten feet apart, on the other. The distance seemed farther than any she’d experienced, especially with him. But maybe it was because, before now, the time she’d spent with Eoin, dreams of happily-ever-after with him were pure fantasy. This week, after the few mind-melting kisses, she’d allowed herself to indulge in what if.

Like Aunt Odessa said, she was a foolish girl!

Unable to meet Eoin’s steady regard and come up with anything else to say, Brenna studied the room around her. The space screamed classy but comfy, and Alastair’s stamp was on everything. Walls a cool gray, the study was tastefully done with matte-black leather club chairs positioned in front of a large hearth with a white-and-gray marble surround. Pictures of who she assumed was his family dotted the mantle, and she recognized Spring as the gap-toothed child on the right in a picture with three other girls. All adorable in their own right.

What might it have been like to grow up with sisters as Spring had done? Would Brenna be more confident and less ofa doormat? Would she have had best friends to confide in when she was at her loneliest?

“Siblings can be a pain in the arse, love.”

Eoin’s comment surprised her enough to turn in his direction.

“How did you know I was wondering what it would be like to have siblings?”

“I’m not sure. It was more of a feeling. Your longing was so poignant, I felt it squeeze my heart.”

She frowned, unable to fathom how he’d guessed her thoughts and experienced her emotions so clearly.

“I already miss touching you.” His voice was pitched for her hearing alone, and it was as if he skimmed his fingers over her skin with each word. Her heart rate increased, and her pulse hammered painfully through her veins. The one constant in her brain was that she wanted to kiss him so badly.

“I want to kiss you, too, love. More, if I’m to be honest.”

Again, he’d guessed her internal dialogue. Not just the gist, but theexactthing she was thinking.

“Can you hear me, Eoin?”she asked within the confines of her mind.

He frowned and shot a glance at the other men, then looked at her again and nodded.“I can hear you,”he replied telepathically.“How the hell are we doing this?”

“I’ve no idea. It occurred to me we might be able to when you guessed what I was thinking—twice.”

“But can you guess what I’m thinking?”His wicked grin curled her toes.

“I don’t need to guess. Your look says it all.”

“But did you hear the words? What I wanted to do to you? Where I wanted to place my mouth…”

She shook her head, perhaps a might happy she couldn’t. If he triggered any more of her hormones, she was going to go up like a bonfire at a beach party.

“Sure, and I suppose that’s a good thing,” he said aloud.

“You’re not mad at me? About all of this?” Swallowing down the thickness in her throat, she said, “I don’t want you to hate me, Eoin.”

He took his time answering, and when he did, she was no closer to feeling better about her current situation. Leaning forward, he picked up his drink and took a fortifying sip. “Look, and I don’t know what you truly are, Brenna, or how I feel about ya. About what you can do.” He shook his head. “A few days ago, you knew nothing about magic like ours. Tonight, you were able to split yourself into two beings, like a bleedin’ amoeba.” With a scowl, he broke his focus on the amber liquid in the glass. “My obsession with you is growing by the minute, and I don’t know if the feelings are my own or if they’ve been enhanced by whatever powers you possess.”

“I’m not purposely trying to lure you in.” Lifting her hands, she stared at her palms. “This is all new to me, too. One minute I was attending a gallery opening, like a thousand times before, and the next, you were whisking me away to Ireland.”

“Maybe your power came from getting away from your aunt,” one of the men suggested kindly. Both Eoin and Brenna turned their attention to him. “I’ve seen a lot in my line of work and in the employ of Mr. Thorne. Bad people always attempt to steal or manipulate magic they don’t have.” The man smiled at her. “I don’t think your intent is to hurt anyone, Ms. Sullivan. But I do think with a rapid influx of abilities as strong as yours, all sorts of strange and startling occurrences are going to take place until you learn to control what you have.”

The desire to jump up and hug the man was real. No one else had quelled her fears so quickly. “Thank you, uh…”

“Martin,” Eoin and Martin answered together.

“Thank you, Martin,” she said with a heartfelt sigh, conveying every ounce of gratitude she possessed. “I needed to hear that.”

“My pleasure, Miss.”

She sent a wary glance Eoin’s way. “I’m sorry I embroiled you in all this. But I’m not sorry it happened.”

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