Page 35 of A Touch Enchanted

“This is ridiculous. We can’t stand like this all day.” I straightened my spine, testing my ability to stand on my own. When I didn’t tip over, I took a careful step into the bathroom and breathed out a sigh of relief when I didn’t hit my head on the vanity. “I think I’m okay.”

“I’ll just be here.” Donovan waved a hand around.

Since I managed to brush my teeth and wash my face without hurting myself, I figured I could handle a shower. Steam filled the room and the hot water worked miracles on my sore body. As I washed my hair, the night before replayed in my mind. My nipples tightened with the memory. It had been beyond anything I’d imagined, and I’d imagined a lot over the years.

While he’d been imagining me the same way.

I shook my head. I didn’t want to give in to doubt and regret and ruin what had been a perfect night. He was here with me now. The past was already dead. It didn’t matter anymore.

“Do you have an extra toothbrush?” Donovan opened several drawers on my vanity. “Never mind. Found one.”

“Sure,” I muttered. “Help yourself.”

“Were you saving it for someone else?” His words came out garbled as he was mid-brush. He rinsed and spit. “Because just like that pussy, this toothbrush is also mine.”

“You can’t go around my apartment claiming stuff like you’re a seagull fromFinding Nemo. There is such a thing as asking.”

“Yeah.” He ripped open the shower curtain. “But you like it when I take.”

I was sore, tired, and still basking in the afterglow of the night before, but one heated look from him, and just like that, I was ready to go again. I couldn’t get enough of him, even when I could barely walk. This must’ve been what addiction felt like.

He lifted me against the shower wall and kissed me deeply. I wrapped my legs around his waist, already seeking his thick length. “I think we’re playing with fire.”

“Probably.” His lips trailed down my neck. “But goddamn, is it worth the burn.”

Chapter twelve

Donovan

Ididnotwant to leave Violet’s apartment. In fact, when Wes called me the first time, I told him to fuck off and hung up. It was only when he called back four more times that I figured it might be important. I was still regretting answering.

Before I left, I kissed Violet’s cheek and rubbed a hand down the soft skin of her back, over that luscious ass that still had my handprint. Her eyes were half-closed, her hair was still wet from her shower, and I’d made her come three times that morning.

I’d never been more satisfied in my life.

Fuck Wes for dragging me away from her now. Though I supposed it was for a somewhat serious reason. Dell Forrester, owner of the Cancer Shack, a restaurant that served soft-shell crab sandwiches, had been one of the key business owners we had on board for the shutdown. He called Wes this morning to back out.

To make matters worse, a tourist got attacked by an electric eel down at the beach this morning. His description of it matched the curse’s eel, the one that shorted my scuba equipment. It sounded like he’d swum out a little too close to the cliffs where Violet and I had been, which told me two things: The curse was definitely guarding something over there, and it was willing to attack non-magic users, even when unprovoked.

Thankfully, the tourist survived the attack with only a few electric burns, but if this continued, we wouldn’t have a choice when it came to shutting down. The public would decide for us. And they wouldn’t be as eager to come back once we vanquished the curse.

If we vanquished the curse.

“Did Dell say why he was backing out?” I asked Wes.

“Nope. But I’m pretty sure the mayor is behind it. Slimy son of a bitch.” Wes raised a hand to wave to Sally Jean Everett across the street, but her eyes darted from side to side before she hurried into the grocery store. “That’s the second person who’s avoided saying hello to me today. I think something is going on.”

“Word about us wanting to shut down is probably getting around. I can’t imagine everyone around here is going to be too pleased with us.”

“I think it’s more than that.” Wes frowned as he glanced down the street, like the answer might blow in on a tumbleweed. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s go.”

Wes wanted me to come with him to talk to Dell. The two of us played baseball together in high school, so I guess he thought that made us bros or something. I didn’t have any issues with Dell, but playing a sport with someone didn’t automatically make them a friend. I also played baseball with Lucas Igo and that dude was just begging to get punched in the dick.

We headed around to the back of the restaurant. Dell didn’t open until eleven, but he’d be in the kitchen prepping for the first lunch rush of the day. I knocked on the door while Wes stood off to the side, scowling at the third person who hadn’t returned his wave.

Dell opened the back door and looked at us like we were stray dogs begging for scraps. He wiped his hands on a white towel. “You guys shouldn’t be here.”

“What the hell is going on, man?” Wes crossed his arms, wearing the same expression he often brought into the boardroom during a tough negotiation. “People have been acting weird as fuck all morning, and you were just on board with the shutdown yesterday.”

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