Page 30 of Midnight Rules
Iven pulled away. He wrapped his arms around Marric. “Shh, honey. I’ve got you.”
Marric didn’t understand why Iven ended the kiss or why he responded by comforting Marric as though he were emotional. And then he realized he was shaking. He wasn’t sure why until he heard himself whimper again. This time, the kiss didn’t muffle the sound, making it echo even more.
Marric took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He thought about things that would make his erection go down. He’d never gotten hard from a kiss before or wanted to climb someone like a tree the way he did Iven. “Sorry.”
“I’m having the same problem.” Iven smiled when Marric met his gaze.
“You’re not shaking and whining for more.” Marric sighed. Saying it aloud made him sound desperate, but he stopped himself from backtracking. Iven was his mate. He could trust him not to make light of it.
Iven kissed Marric’s forehead, which made Marric melt even more. “I want to do a lot more than kiss you, but I’ve met the archivist. She’d be scandalized if she found the sheriff with his pants down.”
Marric chuckled, muffling the sound against Iven’s chest. “She’d think you’re sexy.”
Marric stiffened when he smelled someone behind him. He pulled out of Iven’s arms and turned, growling at whoever approached. He bared his teeth, letting his fangs drop. He’d shift and attack if someone threatened his mate.
The woman wore orthopedic shoes and a skirt so long it nearly covered her ankles. She wore pink glasses. Her gray hair was in a bun. She raised her eyebrows at Marric. When she spoke, it was to Iven. “Are you making out in the stacks, Sheriff?”
Iven blinked and didn’t answer.
Marric relaxed. He bit his lip to keep from laughing.
Iven’s kept an arm around Marric’s waist. “We’re looking for a book on curses.”
She sighed and turned, walking away. “Follow me.”
Iven finally smiled and winked at Marric. “Never admit anything to her. She’ll hold it over your head for life.”
“I heard that, Sheriff.” Her shoes squeaked when she walked. “I still haven’t forgiven you for breaking my lamp.”
Marric raised his eyebrows.
“I was rambunctious in my youth.” Iven winked.
When they finally caught up with her, she tsked. “He played football during my class.”
“With paper. It was an accident.” Iven shrugged.
“I might be a witch, Mr. Palmer, but I have excellent hearing.” She turned toward them. “What sort of curse?”
“Um, a curse that causes sickness. Prolonged fever with unconsciousness. The unconsciousness lasts longer and longer each time,” Marric answered.
“That’s a witch’s curse.”
“What I’d like to know is why someone would use it,” Iven added.
“And if anyone can use it or are we just looking at dark magic users.”
She scanned the shelves. “I can’t say I’ve ever cursed someone before, but I know a bit about them.”
She pulled a book from the shelf and handed it to Marric. “You can check this book out. It’s due back in two weeks.”
“Thank you.”
“A curse like the one you described has to be maintained.”
Iven sucked in a breath. The muscles in his jaw ticked.
Marric looked from her to him and back again. “What does that mean?”
