Page 23 of War's Witch
“Mason. You call me ‘Mason’ when it is just the two of us.”
“You did not government name me.” I stare at him, mouth gaping.
“Oh, but I did. We both felt whatever the fuck it was thatnight— you, my sexy little witch, put a fucking spell on me, and now I crave you.” He inches closer, his manly woodsy scent intoxicating.
“No,” is all I can say, making his grin widen.
He licks his lips, one hand going to the back of the sofa, the other by my hip as he moves closer, and I think he is going to kiss me, but he stops.
“Yes.”
“You lied to me, War.” My voice is a whisper, but it is enough to stop his movements.
He looks at me for a few more seconds before pulling back and sitting back down.
“How did I lie to you, Cleo? Please fucking tell me.” Anger coats his voice, but I also sense confusion.
“You watched me all night, no doubt planning your story. You took me to your room and told me that you were not married. Then you fucked me multiple times.” I can hear the hurt in my voice, and his frown deepens as I keep going, “I fell asleep in your arms,War. Then you dreamed of another woman, your wife or whatever she meant to you. Lillian.”
“Wait— what?” he stammers.
“That is why I left. You called out to Lilian, told her that you loved her and that she would be yours forever.”
He sits there, shock etched across his features, his lips parted but no words coming forth. I can see the bewilderment in his eyes, the way his jaw flexes, as if fighting for something to say, but nothing comes.
The silence stretches between us, not doing my heart rate any good. My palms become sweaty, and I feel self-conscious that I am sitting here in just a silk robe that leaves nothing to the imagination.
I swallow the ache in my throat, and look at him, refusing to let my gaze waver. “I won’t do it, War,” I say quietly, butwith a conviction that surprises even me. “I will not be the reason someone’s heart gets broken.”
My voice barely trembles.
“Whatever happened between us… whatever might have been, it ends here.”
His fingers curl into fists, but still, he says nothing. His nostrils flare and he rolls his lips in frustration.
“I am not fucking married.” I go to speak but he stops me. “Shut the fuck up. I am not married; my wife passed away eight years ago. Her name was Lilian, and she was everything to me, my entire world, then she got snatched away and there was fucking nothing I could do to stop it.” His breaths are heavy, his fingers clenching into tight fists then flexing.
I inch closer to him, taking his hands in mine, making him look at me.
“I’m so sorry, War. That must have been heartbreaking for you.”
He nods. “It was. I lost myself for years, which is why I became a nomad. Staying still was suffocating me, so I left. My folks supported me, but my in-laws hated me for it.”
“They should have supported you in your needed time to grieve.”
“I cut contact with them after two years; it was really fucking with my head, but the open road, helping clubs out when needed gave me a purpose again. Things got better. I am not going to lie and say that I was a fucking saint before I met you because a man has needs.”
“Oh, I know all about men and their needs, but, War, I do not think I can give you what you want. I have my own issues.” I sigh. “What we had was amazing; can’t we leave it at that one night, keep it special?”
“No.” He moves before I can blink.
He has me on my back again, my breath caught in my lungsas his body cages me in, and he slips his hand between my thighs, finding me soaked for him.
“So fucking wet, baby.”
“War.” My voice comes out in a strangled attempt.
Sinking two fingers into me hot and slow, I watch him as he uses his teeth to pull the material of my robe off my chest, revealing my tits to him.
