“Yeah, how’s that working for you, so far? Total bust for me. God, you smell good.”
“We can’t keep doing this,” she whispered.
“So let me take you home. We’ll end it now. Tonight.”
A strangled laugh escaped her lips. “Sex won’t end it. It’ll only make things messier. Haven’t you learned anything yet about God’s sense of humor?”
“Not thinking about God. Wondering how you’ll taste when I finally slide my tongue between your thighs.”
She shuddered, teetered on the edge of giving him the win, then fought back. “No. You need to honor the contract. If Hannah wasn’t the right fit, I’ll find you another.”
He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. Temper and lust swirled in an edgy mix of green gold. “Are you that determined to send me to another woman? Ready to take such a risk? I’ll only take so much, and then I’ll go after what you’re offering. Then we both lose.”
She swallowed past the pain, past the knowledge that if she slept with this man, he might take something much more precious than her body. Her heart. Her soul. Her sanity. He’d leave her behind, sated, challenge over, and she’d need to pick up the pieces. Hell, no. Not in this lifetime.
“Or we both win,” she said softly. “You find your mate. I prove my point. Jane finds her happiness. A perfect circle.”
“Fine. We’ll do it your way.”
“Don’t you want to pick the woman?”
“No. You seem to know everything about what I need and want. Prove it. Show me the woman who’ll make me walk away from you without a glance back.”
Her gut lurched at the thought, but she rallied. “Fine. Now can you give me some privacy so I can speak with—”
“He’s gone.”
Kate turned. Bruce chatted up a pert blonde perched on the opposite barstool. Both of them held a beer. Her plans for the night withered. What pissed her off the most was she didn’t even care. She clenched her hands and glared at Slade. “Stop running off my own dates, please. Next time keep it professional and stop stalking me.”
He eased back to charming companion and threw his hands up in surrender. “I was just talking some business and dancing with my sister. Besides, he’s got way too much hidden anger. Arilyn would have a field day with him.”
She gritted her teeth. “Thanks for the opinion.”
“Any time.”
“I’m going to the ladies’ room. Thanks again for the drink.”
Kate quickly moved past his rock-solid figure, weaving her way through the crowd to the restroom. She locked herself into the stall, sat on the toilet, and put her head between her legs. Breathe. No need to get this upset over something that was never yours. Or someone.
He rattled her with just a look. It didn’t bode well for their future working relationship. She might have to step back and force him to deal with Kennedy.
Kate took her time to regain her control. Washed her hands, checked her hair, and strolled out.
It happened so fast she had no time to react.
Someone grabbed her hard, lifted her, and dragged her deeper down the hallway. Into a dark corner by an abandoned coat closet no one used. The smell of wood and must hit her nostrils, along with another familiar scent, calming the instinct to scream.
“Are you crazy?” She shoved against him, but he barely moved. “You scared the hell out of me; I thought you were a rapist.”
“Maybe I need to show you again what you’re trying to give away.”
The warning was all raging male hormones and a sexual claim. Kate fought between the dark thrill and sheer panic, knowing if he kissed her, she’d lose it. “I need to change your intake form. Seems there’s a bit of the dom in you.”
“Funny, lately I’ve been feeling like the slave in this relationship.”
She ignored him, though the image of her on her knees, servicing him in all ways, left her hot and tingly. “We don’t have a relationship. I think you should give Emma a try. You enjoyed her company at the mixer, but she’s a bit different from Hannah, less serious. She’s a college professor, like your sister, so you may have a lot in common. She’s also your perfect physical type.”
Slade actually grinned, reminding her of a really pleased wolf about to show his mate who’s boss. “You drive me crazy. Shut up, Kate.”
His mouth covered hers. She waited for the drive of his tongue, the spark of being completely out of control while he commanded the embrace, but he only ran his lips lightly over hers, his tongue licking lightly at her bottom lip. The teasing gesture played with her sanity. She softened under him, all bark and no bite, but he made sure to punish her well. Never putting the pressure she craved into the kiss, he plucked at her n**ples stabbing out from the delicate lace top and seesawed his thighs between hers.
Kate moaned and reached for more.
He moved back a precious inch and twisted her n**ples.
Red-hot lust shot to her p**sy. She lifted herself up on tiptoes, damned to eternity to be his sex slave, her br**sts swollen and aching. “You have to let me in,” he murmured, nibbling on her bottom lip, keeping barely any contact with their mouths while his hands left her br**sts and slipped behind to cup her rear. He dug his fingers into her ass and rocked his h*ps against hers. “Tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.”
She tried to force him to kiss her without the words, sliding her tongue between his lips, but he refused entry, pressing gentle, nonsatisfying kisses across her jaw, her cheeks, while his hand lifted the back of her skirt, and his finger slid underneath to trace the wet lace of her underwear. Her cl*t throbbed for relief, and she twisted for more, knowing one dip of his finger could bring her off to a shattering release.
He laughed low and dirty, teasing her through the damp material. “Oh, no you don’t. I’m not letting you come this time until you beg. Invite me in so I can remind you what you’re missing by sending me to another woman.”
Rage and frustration mingled and rushed like a choppy tidal wave through her body. “Fuck you and your games, counselor.” He pushed his knee in the center of her p**sy and her legs gave out.
“Oh, I intend to f**k you all right. All day and all night, making you come in so many ways you beg me to stop. But I won’t stop, Kate, I’ll use my dick and my teeth and my tongue to make you scream.”
The shock of his words ripped a shudder from her weak muscles. She cursed him and hated him but gave him the words. “Kiss me. Put your tongue inside my mouth and kiss me properly.”
“About time.”
He ravaged her mouth, his tongue sweeping and licking and conquering every slick corner. He drank in her essence like a vampire draining her soul, and Kate tilted her neck back and gave him everything he wanted. She surrendered to the dark embrace with no thoughts of holding back, his raw male need a complete aphrodisiac to the empty, lonely corner of her soul. Her fingers dug into his scalp and tore at his hair. He ground her against the wall, into that musty corner, and showed her everything she was lacking and everything he intended to give her.
Then stepped back.
Her breath shuddered. A hazy mist of lust clouded her vision. His erection strained the fabric of his pants as he stared at her, jungle eyes wild with desire, a sheen of sweat evident on his forehead.
She opened her mouth to tell him she made a mistake. That she wanted him, would take the chance, but it was too late.
“Set me up with Emma for Friday night. Good night, Kate.”
He walked away.
Kate turned her face to the wall, fighting back tears, and wondered why getting what she wanted was so painful.
HOURS LATER, CUDDLED UP in her favorite chair, she stared at the television droning with infomercials. Robert snored beside her on his orthopedic mat, his doggy grunts and mild moans confirming some heavy dreams. A restlessness nipped endlessly at her nerves, driving her from her spot to her bookshelf. She couldn’t sleep, and needed to get her mind off sex. With Slade.
Kate grabbed a bunch of books she’d purchased from the secondhand store a few weeks ago and brought them back to her recliner. Maybe she’d do some research for Kinnections. She found many books with kernels of information that helped her clients or gave her a fresh direction to explore potential relationships. She skimmed a few, making mental notes, until an electrical shock jolted her fingertips. Kate jerked back, annoyed, and revealed the purple, fabric-colored book.
The Book of Spells.
She remembered discovering it in the stack, and the weird electrical thing had happened before. Strange. It had occurred before only when she met people, never with inanimate objects. A bit wary, she gingerly reached out and opened the cover. A mild tingle traveled up her arm but no pain.
Kate relaxed and flipped through the book. The few illustrations were beautiful, and only one strange spell was contained within the faded pages. An odd scent of incense and smoke drifted to her nostrils, and she shook with a sudden need she couldn’t make sense of. Crap, what if this thing had belonged to a real witch? It held some sort of spooky power. But the spell seemed . . . well . . . pure. Stripped down to the essence of what a woman craved in her lifetime mate. Make a list of all the qualities wanted in a soul mate. Write them down on two pieces of paper. Burn one in a fire and tuck the other under the mattress.
Kate remembered reading about the power of the written word, the unconscious magic of dreams, and an empty craving squeezed her heart. God, she was so tired of being alone. What would it be like to meet someone who actually believed in love and commitment? A man to grow with in this lifetime and beyond? Someone who saw all of her faults and accepted who she was?
Kate sniffed and rubbed her eyes. Ridiculous. She was a big baby. Maybe she’d bring the book to Kennedy and see if one of her clients would believe in it. Sometimes a woman needed a placebo to fight for love. If she thought a love spell could work, she’d be more open to opportunities in the dating world. She closed the book, deciding to bring it to Kinnections in the morning, when the idea crystallized before her.
Complete the spell.
The voice whispered in her ear, a lilting pleasurable rumble that gave her shivers. She huddled under the crocheted blanket and looked around. Very weird. She didn’t believe in that stuff. It would be ridiculous to try a love spell. Right?
She stared at the book and again the overwhelming urge to follow the instructions burned within. Kate hesitated, listening to Robert’s snoring and the urging of the commercial to buy the latest ab equipment to get skinny and turn back the clock.
Complete the spell.
Loneliness swamped her. Maybe she needed her own placebo. Maybe if she did this silly spell, she’d believe in something she lost along the way. Her confidence and belief in true love. Somewhere. Someday.
She moved quickly before she could question her sanity. Kate ripped out two pieces of paper, grabbed a pen, and wrote down all the qualities she dreamed of in a man. Her man. She didn’t think, just let the pen scratch across the paper in a fury, tapping into the well of her unconscious. She folded the papers, trudged to the bedroom, and shoved one under her queen-size mattress.