Page 15 of The Forty-Year-Old Virgin Witch

Six

LUKA

I tried not to gloat that I got to be the one to carry Aggie, but it was easily apparent why. Though she wasn’t a large woman, I dwarfed him easily by several inches, and it would make less sense for someone of Karl's slender build to easily be able to carry my full-figured witch.

She felt good in my arms, like she was made for them. I resisted the urge to nuzzle against her neck, instead opting to murmur in her ear. My nose flared as it caught the sudden scent of arousal, and it sure as hell wasn’t from Karl. It was thick like honey, and it mixed potently with her scent of mountain laurel and sage. Then she yawned again, and her eyes drifted close.

Fuck, my witch was a tease.

The vamp scoffed, then turned his frustration toward the nosy neighbors around us.

“She didn’t sleep much yesterday; you’ll have to forgive her. We will ensure she goes straight to bed—”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed at his flimsy explanation and nearly pissed myself at the scandalized looks on the faces of the villagers. Karl sent them away with a scowl, easily keeping up with the fast pace I set.

“What are youhowling about?”

I adjusted my grip on Aggie and tried to suppress my giggles.

“You don’t get out much, do you vampy?”

He bristled at my ribbing, just like I knew he would. All vamps were the same; they had a wet blanket for a sense of humor. At his worried glance at Aggie, I felt a smidge of pity for him. It wasn’t his fault he was about as fun as a brick to the face.

“You told all those villagers back there that Aggie was up all night. As if you (and by association me as well) were also there, and possibly the reason for her unrest.”

Karl blinked, trying to put the pieces together in his head. Oh come, vamps weren’t this out of touch, were they? Then it clicked, and his eyes nearly bugged out of his head. That only made me laugh again.

“Shut it wolf! You’ll wake her up!”

I glanced down at Aggie, but she was dead to the world. I gave her an experimental shake. Karl looked horrified.

“Don’t do that!”

I scoffed. “Easy vampy. Witches aren’t as tough as us, but they’re built a bit stronger than most.”

He glared. “I served in TWO world wars, before you were even spittle in your father’s—”

“Yeah, and a bear shits in the woods. What’s your point?”

Karl glowered. I sighed. “Lighten up. We’ll get her in and get her taken care of.”

He blew out an angry torrent of air, then kindly opened Aggie's front door for me. I noted the miniscule increase of the wards and frowned.

“I’ve been around witches. It doesn’t make sense that such weak wards require so much effort.”

I laid Aggie down on her bed, smiling slightly at the patchwork blankets and quilts she’d likely sewed herself. The bright colors lit up the room, making it feel more like a home.

“And don’t tell me she’s weak. You were there in the pub; we know she’s powerful.”

I spotted my plushie on the shelf above her sink and shot Karl a self-satisfied grin. He glowered.

“Don’t you have groceries to get? I’m not sure what she prefers.”

He frowned and opened the fridge, which was empty except for a nearly drained ketchup bottle, garlic, and an unidentifiable hunk of meat in the back. I gave the fridge a deep sniff, wincing at the myriad of smells that assaulted me. I took a moment to sort them all, then I shut the fridge. By categorizing each scent, I had a basic idea of what to buy.

“Right. I’ll be back.”

Karl nodded and settled into a chair next to her bed. I thought about teasing him about looking cute in a nurse’s outfit, but decided a line had to be drawn somewhere. I shrugged and made my way to the market.

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