As if he’d read her mind, he patted her hip and leaned his head back against the swing, exhaling a long breath. “We have tonight to finish what we started here.” He peeked open one eye. “Unless…”
“I’m good.” The orgasm he’d given her was enough to cool the jets. Heck, she rarely had an orgasm with Layton and usually only had them when she masturbated. That orgasm had been huge. Besides, it gave her a reason to have him another time. She liked that idea.
Snuggling against him, she was a bit surprised she didn’t feel awkwardness around Zeke. Before Layton, when she had one-night stands, she simply wanted away from the warlocks after and always felt a little ashamed. But she enjoyed being here in Zeke’s arms, as odd as it was, he comforted her.
“Just so you know, that was a first for me,” he murmured.
She jerked up and out of his arms, causing him to lift his head. “You’ve never had a blowjob before?”
“Well no, I’ve received many blowjobs.” His eyes twinkled. “But no one has ever swallowed for me.”
Oh, she loved that. “I’ve never come that hard before, so we’re even.”
With another laugh, he pulled her back into his arms and she rested her head against his chest. Here in his arms, she felt unusually safe, which was peculiar considering he was a demon.
After a long pause, he broke the silence. “Tell me, now that you’ve decided to live here, do you plan on finding a job?”
Good question. What were her plans? “I haven’t really thought about it. I guess I’ll have to find something.” Not for the money, since her bank account had never looked better with the smart investments she’d made, but to be a productive citizen of the town. She liked being useful, having something to wake up to and do every day and feel proud about.
He trailed his finger over her shoulder in a slow sweep. “What type of job interests you?”
Gazing out at her beautiful garden, watching the tulips sway in the wind, she shook her head, ignoring the stab of inadequacy. A normal witch would not be asked such a question. “Not sure. But it has to be something that doesn’t involve magic.”
Zeke scoffed, his hand stilling on her biceps. “But you’re a witch—to deny that and go into some mundane job is ridiculous.”
Ridiculous it may be, but an ugly truth stared her dead in the face. “Yes, well, you’ve seen my magic.” Besides, this lesson had been drilled into her mind for so long, the last thing she wanted was to use her magic in front of others. “It’s better for everyone if I refrain.”
“Nonsense.” He pushed her away from him and gave her a hard look. “From what I’ve seen, you’re not dangerous.” He pressed a finger under her chin, trapping her in his powerful gaze. “Have you ever hurt anyone?”
“No, but why chance it?” This had been the coven’s concern. What if she did injure someone? She’d never forgive herself. “My magic is very unpredictable.”
Zeke regarded her for a long moment. His eyes searched hers until suddenly curiosity filled his expression. He stood, offering his hand to her. “Come on. Get dressed.”
With hesitation, she accepted his hand and once she was on her feet, he added, “I need to see exactly what your thingamajigs are.”
How had this happened? No, she didn’t want to expose herself and let him see her pitiful magic any more than he already had. “But…but…but…”
Reaching down, he picked up her panties and skirt, then thrust them into her hands. His eyebrow arched over very stern eyes. “Bryanna, you should know better. Arguing with a demon is never wise.”
Blessed Be!
Chapter Five
Bryanna appeared worried, Zeke wasn’t nearly so. He’d seen enough black magic, witches and demons alike, to understand the danger they could unleash on the world. Bryanna didn’t have a single flicker of evil in her sexy body. Even if her magic didn’t come out correctly, he doubted she’d be a danger to anyone.
Deep down, he did believe her key to recovery was through her magic. A witch and her magic were one. To deny an instrumental part of herself would eat away at that witch until there was nothing left of her, which was exactly what he expected happened to Bryanna.
He sympathized, because he’d been there once too. He had suffered for years through the cravings to devour a soul. He’d been torn between what others thought he should do and how he wanted to live his life. Bryanna suffered the same fate; she refused her magic because others told her she should. She simply needed to come to the same understanding as him. To live how she wanted and find peace within that choice.
The other complication appeared to be emotional garbage. Once she accepted herself in a way that others hadn’t, the damage done by Layton, her parents and the coven would be meaningless to her.
Or so he hoped.
Now he stood off the main street where an open field lay. He wanted Bryanna comfortable, not embarrassed by anyone who passed by. “All right, little witch, you’re up.” Glancing down at her, he noticed her clenched hands. “You have nothing to fear. You can’t hurt anything or anyone.”
Scanning the area in front of her, she sighed, then turned to him with a tight expression. “You really want me to use my magic…again?”
He gave a firm nod. “Precisely.”