Page 41 of Untraced Magic
Sodden hair clung to Morgan’s top, and black streaks smudged her eyes, sketching lines down her cheekbones. The rain had done a number on her.
“You need to warm up. The bathroom’s this way,” I said, motioning for her to follow. Gathering a fresh towel, a t-shirt, and some sweats of mine, I handed them to her. “Here, you can change into these.”
Her fingers grazed mine at the exchange.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my brow furrowing in concern.
She looked down to my hand on her forearm, but she didn’t pull away, an uncertainty claiming her usually confident stare. “I just really don’t know what to think right now.”
I hated seeing her like this. Untrusting and guarded.
“Don’t be afraid. You’re safe here,” I insisted.
She nodded, taking the pile of clothing from me before making her way to the bathroom and lightly shutting the door behind her.
Peeling off my soaked top, I grabbed a fresh one slipping it on and headed back to the living room. I slumped into the well-used armchair opposite Wes, grazing my hand over my stubble.
Wes’s glare glued me to the seat, a bemused look on his face. “There had better be a damn good reason she’s inourbathroom and not hers next door.”
He must have left early, before all hell had broken loose, so I quickly gave him a rundown of the night’s events, conveniently leaving a few private details out. Namely, the kiss of all motherfucking kisses. I didn’t need my private life open for judgement.
He stared at me cautiously. “I don’t know, man; I’m not buying it. I mean, I can’t sense her, Ty. If she’s a witch, I should sense her magic easily,” he insisted.
I leaned forward, my elbows edged on my knees. “I know what I saw. I wouldn’t use my gift if I didn’t believe she was like us in some way.”
Wes grazed his knuckles together. “I know. I’m just saying I don’t have a good feeling about this.” He rose to his feet with a shrug. “It’s late, let’s deal with it tomorrow.”
I nodded as he began walking down the hall to his bedroom.
“And Ty?” he said.
I looked up, not expecting him to speak again. “Yeah?”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Roger that,” I mumbled.
Wes stalked off to his bedroom, and I sank back into the armchair, leaning my head against the rest. Morgan promised me. She swore on her life, she was legit.
The creak of the bathroom door pulled me from my thoughts, and a freshly showered Morgan walked out. She somehow made my old tee and sweats look attractive as hell on her, and then my attention dove to her chest. There was clearly nothing between her skin and my tee.
She folded her arms, covering herself, and I cursed under my breath. Real fucking subtle, Ty. Fuck me.
“Are you sure it’s fine if I stay here tonight? It’s no trouble to go home.”
I needed to tread with caution, needed her to know it wasn’t safe but not scare her off either. “No, please stay. We need to talk about what happened tonight.”
She walked cautiously into the lounge before settling down on the couch opposite me.
Fair enough. Morgan was probably wondering what the hell had just gone down. But truth be told, I was almost as afraid of her as she was of me right now as we sat sizing each other up. I didn’t know what she was or how powerful she could be, and if I was honest, it scared the shit out of me as much as it excited me.
Moving closer to her, I opted to sit on the opposite end of the couch from her. There was no subtle way to have the conversation we needed to have.
I came right out with it. “Morgan, are you a witch?”
Her forehead rippled with confusion.
“You really need to be honest here.”
