Page 38 of Touch Of Fate
“Fuck, I hope not.”
I plan to make Mara lose control every chance I get.
Chapter Eight
Mara
I’m still flushed and distracted as I stand behind the counter. Rome is fixing the light, and Lace is impatiently waiting for him to finish. Archer took one look at us as we emerged from the room, shook his head, and settled on the couch in the front. Thankfully, the woman left the store before we emerged from the back. I don’t think I could face her. Not because I feel guilty, but because I’d want to finish punishing her.
I have never felt such rage toward another woman before. Somehow, I knew Rome was uncomfortable, and I had to walkto the back. Seeing her hand on him sent me to another place I didn’t know was possible. He was mine. Leaving the mark on her skin was the least horrible thing I could do to her. The woman has a healthy sex life, and in our brief contact, I felt it all. She wanted that with Rome. My anger surfaces when thinking about the things she wanted to do to him. I can’t imagine what my possessiveness will be like the longer we are together. Will it ease once we complete the soul bond? I want all his attention. My mind demands that I be cautious and not make decisions that could hurt me. My body is urging me to take him home and never leave.
My magic has always been unpredictable, but I can’t keep up with the intensity since meeting Rome. Before last night, I’d never frozen a person, just objects, and I think my amped emotions are expanding my magic. My body was filled with power I’ve never felt before, and it’s hard to know I could have hurt Rome as it became too much. I’m not upset that he had to finish what I started. Seeing Rome do it with ease opened my eyes to what he can do, yet what he hasn’t shared. We’ve hardly had time alone to explore our new reality. Soon we will join his family for a meal, and I don’t know if I’m ready to meet his dad and uncle. I’m sure they are perfectly pleasant, but I never spend this much time with other witches, and especially warlocks. It’s nice yet uncomfortable. I don’t talk to anyone about my powers, so it threw me when Margarete asked about them. Talking openly is odd. None of them would hurt me or Lace, but it’s not easy to open up.
Rome puts me at ease. Being out here with Archer without him makes me tense. There is a customer with an armful of books nearing the front. I dig through the drawer and find a spare set of gloves. Numerous times, I have rubbed my wrists, ready to pull them up. I haven’t gone this long without them for years. It’s a habit to fiddle with the seam.
“Did you find everything?” I ask as the woman places her stack in front of me.
“Too many,” she laughs, and glances over her shoulder. “He’s tall, dark, and handsome,” she whispers.
“Yes.” I smile, seeing the interest in her eyes. I honestly don’t know if Archer dates humans. “He’s taken. I think.” Just to be safe.
“Damn. All the hot ones are,” she sighs. I scan all her books and am surprised she doesn’t acknowledge my gloves.
I finish the transaction and watch her walk slowly to the door, looking at Archer with disappointment. He is quite stunning. Rome is the light while he is the dark.
“Thank you,” he says, and I jerk. He lifts his eyes to mine. “I don’t like humans much.”
“Do you date them?” I ask, and he wrinkles his nose.
“Not if I can help it.” He tilts his head. “Have you?” I cup my hands, pressing them on the counter.
“It’s very difficult to date.” I glance at my gloves.
“That wasn’t a no,” he mutters.
“I don’t anymore,” I say.
“Good. Rome would lose it if he stumbled across a jealous ex-boyfriend,” he says.
“Why do all of you think he has such a temper?” I haven’t seen his anger. He’s been calm.
“Because we know him well.” He throws the book he was reading on the table. “You calm him. He would never hurt you or Lace. Anyone besides his family would feel his rage. He’s protective and possessive. If anyone hurt you, they would be dead in a second. Don’t take his facade for granted.”
“You’re warning me to be good to him.” His words don’t worry me, and I think it’s his way of telling me to treat him well.
“That too,” he smirks, standing. “He doesn’t have relationships outside the family, not true ones. You already mean a great deal to him.”
“Are you happy he found me? I can’t tell.” I study his face as he walks toward me. Archer’s energy is intense.
“Of course I am. I’m the one who found you. He needed the push.” He leans across from me. “He’s been bored and restless. I’m glad he’s found a purpose.”
“Do you want to find your soul bond?” I ask.
“I do, but it’s not my time,” he answers.
“Like it’s not Lace’s time?” They would be cute together.
“Lace is sweet. She isn’t my bond. We would know. I hope to be her friend.” He smiles. “And yours.”
