She doesn’t believe in magic—or love. Until a spirit goes walking on the wild side…
Spells, Secrets and Seductions, Book 2 Maggie O’Neill goes along with her two best friends’ candle-magick spell to summon a lover only because, well, they are her BFFs. She doesn’t really believe in this stuff. Yet the aftermath of the spell leaves her strangely hot and bothered, and then the dreams of a man start—and not just any man. Jed Bearson. Pity, since she’s sworn off men for the foreseeable future. Jed, part-time deputy and painter, doesn’t tell many people that he has the ability to let his spirit travel outside his body. One night, despite his self-imposed rule to never invade anyone’s privacy, he follows an irresistible pull to Maggie’s bedside. He’s astounded to find her crying out his name in private pleasure. After months of giving her space, maybe it’s time to approach her. Maggie and Jed’s first touch is lightning hot—and their passion is a thunderclap of erotic pleasure. But when Jed reveals he’s a spiritwalker, Maggie’s reaction is like a curtain of cold rain descending between them. Leaving him wondering what she’s afraid of. Magic? Him? Or of following her heart?
Warning: This book contains erotic dreams and fantasies, a candle magick spell, spiritwalking, lots of hot, sweaty sex, and a happily ever after that will make you sigh.
eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. Samhain Publishing, Ltd. 577 Mulberry Street, Suite 1520 Macon GA 31201 Dreams of Seduction Copyright © 2011 by N.J. Walters ISBN: 978-1-60928-482-4 Edited by Heidi Moore Cover by Kendra Egert All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: August 2011 www.samhainpublishing.com
Dreams of Seduction N.J. Walters
Dedication
To everyone who believes in dreams.
Chapter One
Maggie O’Neill stepped inside the pitch-black house and shut the door behind her. She didn’t bother to turn on the light. The silence closed in around her, pushing at her, reminding her that she was completely alone. Her father had died when she was just a child, lost at sea in a freak storm. He was little more than a face in a picture to her. She had vague memories of a man who smelled like the sea, someone who would swoop her into his strong arms, spinning her around until she was dizzy. Her mother and stepfather were dead, killed a little more than a year ago in a car accident. Their vehicle had been hit head-on by a pickup truck driven by a man who’d had way too much to drink. They were killed instantly. Then her beloved grandmother, Bride O’Neill, had passed a few months back of heart failure. Neither of her parents had siblings, so there were no aunts or uncles or cousins to ease the loneliness. Dropping her purse on top of the antique oak dresser that sat just beyond the front door, Maggie kicked off her shoes and padded through the living room and into the kitchen. Not pausing, she went to the back door, unlocked it and stepped outside on the small deck. The cool autumn air swirled around her, tugging at her clothing and hair, caressing her skin with its icy fingers. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself and stared up at the moon. Her grandmother would have loved the crisp feeling in the air tonight, would have said there was a touch of magick on the wind. Grammy had always urged her to believe in magick, in possibility. That had been fine when she was a child, but it hadn’t lasted into her teens when she’d been uprooted from Burnt Cove by her mother and new stepfather. They’d moved clear across the country to California. It might as well have been to the moon as far as eleven-year-old Maggie had been concerned. The city had been overwhelming and noisy and just too much. Maggie watched the stars winking in the sky as she thought about those days. It had taken her several years to get used to Los Angeles, but she’d managed. Although in all the years she’d lived there, she’d never really felt as if she’d belonged. Not like she did here. After the fiasco of catching her fiancé and her best friend having sex together just weeks before the wedding, Maggie had dumped her fiancé, quit her job, sold her condo, disposed of most of her belongings and headed home. That was six months ago. She shook her head, marveling at how fast the time slipped
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away. The pain of betrayal had gradually eased, leaving behind an emptiness Maggie was still trying to figure out how to fill. She would always be grateful to her grandmother for leaving her this cottage and a sizeable inheritance. That, coupled with her savings and the proceeds from her condo sale, left her financially stable. But she was lonely. Crossing the deck, she eased down onto a comfortable wooden Adirondack chair and pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs as she stared out at the water. The steady whoosh of the waves as they crashed onto the shore soothed her. She loved the ocean. Always had. Life wasn’t all bad. Since she’d moved back home, she’d made two wonderful female friends. Rhiannon Sparks and Esther Roberts were both down-to-earth, genuinely nice people. She’d met them both at Rhiannon’s store, A Touch of Magick. There had been an instant connection between the three women that had only grown stronger over the past months. They had dinner together at least twice a month. In between, they’d meet for lunch, chat on the phone and maybe go shopping together. Maggie would often head into town and hook up with both women for an afternoon in A Touch of Magick’s coffee shop. There was always some kind of delectable chocolate treat to sample and good company to enjoy. She’d been with her friends tonight. They’d met at Rhiannon’s place this time. It had been a normal evening until her friend had shocked both her and Esther with the pronouncement that what they needed was to get laid. She’d laughed, but Rhiannon had been serious. Furthermore, she’d suggested they cast a spell to bring them all a lover, revealing that she was also a witch. Not Wiccan, but an honest-to-goodness witch, able to cast spells and do heaven only knew what else. Maggie still wasn’t sure how she felt about the whole idea of Rhiannon being a witch. It didn’t change how she felt about Rhiannon as a friend, but she didn’t quite know how to deal with the revelation. Maggie had stopped believing in magick and fairytales a long time ago. Still, she’d gone along with the other two women when they wanted to perform a simple candlemagick ceremony out in Rhiannon’s backyard. They’d anointed red candles with rose oil, both symbolic of passion. Then they’d placed them on a flat stone, lit the wicks and raised their arms in the air with the fingers touching, forming a circle around the flickering candles. Maggie curled her arms closer around her legs, pulling them closer to her chest. She shivered as a gust of wind came off the water, seeping through her clothing. Although she wouldn’t admit it to anyone, she’d felt the change in the air tonight, the thickening and stirring, as Rhiannon had tipped her head back and begun to chant. “Lady Moon in the sky so bright. Lend your power. Lend your might. Bring to us a love that’s true. And one that one day we won’t rue. In this
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time and in this hour, we three ladies ask this of thee. We ask this done and harm to none, what we have wrought here now is begun.” For some unknown reason, Maggie could remember every word of the chant, and she knew that Rhiannon had asked for a love that’s true rather than just a lover. There was a huge difference. Not that she believed in magick, because she didn’t. Really. Closing her eyes, she rested her head on her knees. She could almost hear her grandmother’s voice in her head, scolding her for not believing. Bride O’Neill believed in magick, often telling a much younger Maggie that intent and ritual were everything. Her grandmother had come to America from Ireland as a teenager, making this new land her home but carrying many of her beliefs and superstitions from the country of her birth. Raising her head, Maggie lowered her feet back to the deck and pushed out of the chair. She turned her back on the ocean and went inside, closing the door firmly behind her. She walked back through the dark house and made her way to the front door, checking to make certain it was locked. Not that there was much crime in Burnt Cove, but the times were changing and it paid to be cautious. Besides which, she’d lived in a major city for too long to be able to sleep without having all her doors and windows secured. Almost against her will, she was drawn to her purse. She opened the bag, reached in her hand and touched the smooth wax of the candle. The scent of rose oil tickled her nostrils, reminding her once again of the ritual she and her friends had performed earlier this evening. Maggie had planned to leave her candle at Rhiannon’s, but had been unable to abandon it. She closed her fingers around the candle and held it tight in her left hand as she climbed the stairs. Her right hand slid up the smooth banister, guiding her as she made her way upstairs. She walked across the old oak flooring and into her bedroom, drawing comfort from the familiar creaks in the wood. Flicking on the Tiffany lamp she’d bought at an estate sale, she looked around the room. The furniture had belonged to her grandmother. It was old, handcrafted more than a hundred and fifty years ago out of solid oak. Maggie loved the bed, with its intricately carved headboard and footboard of Celtic knot work. The tall armoire, which sat against one wall, and the pair of nightstands flanking the bed were also adorned with the same carvings. A large, freestanding mirror sat in one corner of the room, roses carved into the heavy frame. Maggie had repainted the room a cheerful yellow and bought gauzy white drapes for the two windows that faced the ocean. The oak floor was softened with an area rug done in a design of yellows, browns and greens. The comforter was also new. It was a profusion of colorful flowers, which made the room cheerful and bright. The room was hers in every way. She’d put her stamp on it, doing it to please no one but herself. Placing the candle on the bedside table, she stared at it for one long moment. “It’s just a candle,” she muttered.
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And truly, that’s all it was. The spell they’d cast was nothing more than words. It had no power, no magick. The wind chose that moment to whip up and beat at the closed window. Maggie shivered, but briskly turned away and began to pull off her clothing. Gathering the discarded garments, she made her way to the bathroom and dumped them into the laundry hamper. It didn’t take her long to wash her face and brush out her waist-length hair. She tossed her brush onto the bathroom vanity and reached for her nightgown that was hanging from a hook on the back of the door. She paused, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Green eyes peered back at her. It wasn’t a bad face, just not an overly beautiful one. Like the rest of her, her face was a bit too rounded. With a smattering of freckles covering her nose and cheeks, she looked more like the girl next door than a sexy siren. She’d always felt so out of place in California among the tall, thin blonds. With her curvy body and her long red hair, she’d always stood out, and not in a good way. Sighing, she slipped the nightgown over her head. The silky fabric slid over her body, leaving goose bumps in its wake. All that talk of sex tonight over at Rhiannon’s had reminded her of how long it had been since she’d had any. Six months since she’d tossed her ring back at her ex-fiancé, and even before that, it had been several months. That should have been her first clue that something wasn’t right in their relationship. She’d been so busy at her job with a large advertising firm and planning the wedding that she hadn’t questioned the lack of passion in her relationship too deeply. Mostly, she hadn’t wanted to see the truth about Mitchell Michaels, the third. She’d settled because she hadn’t wanted to be alone and because she hadn’t thought she’d get another proposal. She’d ignored his veiled hints that she should lose weight and think about dyeing her hair, or at least cutting it. She’d ignored the fact that it didn’t seem to bother either her or Mitchell that they hadn’t slept together in months. She was thirty years old and it was time to get married. God, she’d been so pathetic. But those days were over. It had taken her long, hard months to get past the pain of the betrayal. Not only had Mitchell and Barbara betrayed her, she’d betrayed herself by settling. No more. She’d rather be alone than live with a man who didn’t love her for who she was. And sex. Well, she was quite capable of taking care of her needs herself. Hurrying back to her bedroom, she tugged back the covers and climbed into bed. She turned off the light and lay there listening to the creaks and groans of the house as it settled for the night. Rolling onto her side, she peered out the closest window. The stars twinkled against the inky curtain of the night like her own personal nightlight. A sense of restlessness possessed her. It was all that talk about sex tonight. This was all Rhiannon’s fault.
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Flopping over onto her back, Maggie closed her eyes and sighed. What she needed was a lover. A dream lover. A man who came to her bed at night and loved her until she was breathless and sated. A man whose touch ignited flames under her skin, whose voice made her shiver with longing. An image of a man popped into her head—Jed Bearson. Heat suffused her face, flowing down to her breasts and lower still. Her sex pulsed and she could feel the sensitive flesh swelling slightly as blood rushed to the area. Her breasts ached with the need to be touched. Now there was a man worthy of fantasizing about. He was tall, his legs thick with muscles, his chest broad. Dark black hair fell to his impossibly wide shoulders. He was a self-contained man, but anyone with half a clue could feel the quiet power radiating from him. He was at least six inches taller than she was. Which meant that he was at least six-three. His face wasn’t exactly handsome, not in the classic sense, but rugged, a mixture of rough-hewn features that somehow came together to look completely right on him. His nose was large and slightly hooked, yet it suited him well. His eyebrows were thick slashes of black that sat above his expressive eyes. Thick, dark lashes framed eyes the color of old amber. His cheekbones were high, his lips full. She shivered beneath the covers. What would those lips feel like against hers? What would they feel like brushing against her skin? Maggie groaned and shifted restlessly against the sheets. The bottom of her gown slid upward, pooling around her hips. And those hands. Oh God, he had the most incredible hands. Large and work-roughened, they were the hands of a man who worked hard. Yet she knew he could be gentle too. She knew all too well what those hands felt like. She’d been coming out of the grocery store a few weeks ago when he’d been going in. Paying more attention to him than to where she was going, Maggie had tripped in the doorway where the edge of the door met the pavement of the sidewalk. Jed had caught her before she’d taken a header straight to the ground. His hands had lingered on her hips before sliding around to her stomach and then dropping away. She’d felt an acute sense of loss when he’d released her. “Are you okay?” Goose bumps ran down her arms as she remembered the exact tone of his voice—a low and intimate rumble that seemed to stroke her skin from the inside out. She’d managed to stammer out her reply and then he was gone. Maggie groaned and wrapped her arms around herself, but it did no good. Her breasts were swollen, the tips pushing against the silky fabric of her nightgown, and the notch between her thighs was wet. There was no way to get Jed Bearson out of her brain. She licked her lips and slowly released her arms, letting them slide over her stomach. Curling her fingers around the edge of her gown, she pulled it up until it was bunched around her waist.
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Taking a deep breath, she shoved the fabric higher, exposing her stomach, torso and finally her breasts. She palmed the firm mounds and sucked in a sharp breath. Her nipples stabbed the center of her hands as she teased them. Using her thumbs and forefingers, she lightly pinched the tips, moaning as pleasure shot straight from her breasts to her sex. Her legs fell open and her breathing got faster, shallower. Cream, warm and thick, slipped from her core. Letting her imagination go, she pictured Jed’s hands on her body, Jed’s fingers plying her nipples. A low groan filled the bedroom. His hands were so much larger than hers and would have no trouble covering her ample breasts. Her imagination was so vivid she could easily feel the heat of his hands on her skin as they slid from her breasts. Down her torso, tracing her ribcage. Cradling her hips. Her body was pliant in his hands. She pushed the covers away, not wanting anything between her and her phantom lover. Cool air stroked her, but her flesh quickly warmed as hands caressed her from breasts to hips and back again. Her legs shifted again and she pushed her thighs wide. The slither of bare skin against the sheets mingled with her breathy sighs was like the first notes of an erotic symphony that would only culminate when she climaxed. Fingers slid through her curly pubic hair and still lower, parting her slick folds. Gasping, she pressed her hips upward, searching, seeking. A light brush against the swollen nub of her clitoris had her crying out in ecstasy. Her inner muscles were clutching and relaxing in a never-ending rhythm, as if searching for a hard, thick cock to fill her core. Maggie turned her head to one side, her mouth open on a silent cry as two fingers slipped past the entrance to her passage and pushed deep. The fingers curled upward as they were pulled almost all the way out, finding her sweet spot and making her moan. “More,” she sobbed. Her phantom lover complied, pressing fingers deep once again, this time harder and faster. Maggie undulated her hips, keeping time with the thrust of fingers. A thumb brushed over her clitoris. For a moment, it was as if she could feel the barest touch of warm, moist breath on her sex. Her scalp tightened and her skin tingled. With each press of fingers into her hot sheath, her body soared higher. Her hips were pumping hard now. Sweat dotted her forehead. The bedsprings squeaked, adding another layer to the erotic song her body was singing. Fingers plunged deep. Maggie cried out, “Yes!” Her body exploded, inner muscles contracting hard, clutching against her fingers. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and rolled down her temple, disappearing into her hair.
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Even as her body rocked with pleasure, Maggie felt an acute sense of loneliness fill her. There was no dream lover. No male hands touching her. There was only her own. It was nothing but a cold, empty fantasy. She gave one final moan as cream covered her fingers and seeped from her slit. The final note in her erotic song for one. Jed Bearson was not here. She was alone. Still shuddering with the aftershocks from her climax, Maggie pushed down her nightgown and yanked up the covers. She felt hollow inside in spite of just having come. Ignoring the sensation, she turned on her side and snuggled into her pillow. She sighed as exhaustion overtook her. As she drifted off to sleep, she thought she felt the lightest brush of a hand touching her hair, her cheek and her lips. She murmured Jed’s name and drifted off to sleep.
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Chapter Two
Jed Bearson sprawled naked across his king-sized bed with the covers thrown back. It had been a long day. He usually enjoyed his part-time job with the Burnt Cove sheriff’s office, but today had been extra busy. Thankfully, the crimes he’d had to investigate weren’t overly serious. Unlike major-city crimes of murder, assault and drug-related events, the crime here was relatively minor. With Halloween inching closer, there had been two reports of decorations being stolen from people’s front yards, and one of graffiti being sprayed on an abandoned mill building on the outskirts of town. If a man had to deal with crime at all, then these were the type he didn’t mind. They were annoying, but no one got hurt. He stacked his hands under his head and stared up at the ceiling. He needed to start work on another painting soon. He’d had some ideas floating around in his brain, but hadn’t quite decided on the final subject. Jed had been drawing and painting for as long as he could remember, even taking art classes in high school and college. He’d never thought to make a living from it, painting solely for his own enjoyment. That changed about five years ago when a tourist had seen one of his paintings hanging in the lobby of a local B & B. The tourist had fallen in love with the large oil canvas depicting the nearby forest in the fall. Small animals had hidden among the trees and fallen leaves, peeking out at the unsuspecting bear that lumbered by. Not wanting to go home without the painting, the tourist had offered an exorbitant amount of money. The owner of the B & B had sold the painting and contacted Jed, giving him the bulk of the proceeds. A month later, a gallery owner from New York who’d seen the painting had shown up in Burnt Cove looking for Jed. They’d come to an agreement and the dealer had taken several dozen of his works. Two months later, a huge check arrived in the mail along with a demand for more. All in all, Jed was content with his life. With the proceeds from his paintings he’d paid off his house and was building a nice nest egg for himself. He could have quit his job with the sheriff’s office, but stayed part-time mostly because they needed him, and partly because he enjoyed helping people, making a difference in his community. Mostly, he was on an on-call basis these days, filling in for the occasional shift here and there, but today had been one of those long days.
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It was late, and he should be exhausted after the day he’d had. He needed to sleep because he was back to work tomorrow morning, filling in for a deputy who was off sick. But he wasn’t the least bit tired. He was wired. Alert. His skin felt as though it was pulled tight over his large frame, his muscles tensed in anticipation. In anticipation of what, he wasn’t sure. His cock was fully aroused, pushing up toward his belly button. He was primed and ready for a lover. Problem was, he was alone. Closing his eyes, he allowed his breathing to slow. Taking long, even breaths, he started to relax his overactive brain. His body had a mind of its own and was fully aroused and ready for a night of hot, steamy sex. Separating mind from body, he allowed his thoughts to wander. Whether it was a gift from his Native American father or his Irish mother, Jed didn’t know, but since he was a boy he’d had the ability to leave his body behind and travel to other places. His father called him a spiritwalker. An astral traveler, said his mother. It didn’t matter what they called it, the fact remained that Jed could move beyond the physical confines of his body and seek out the world around him. Usually he drifted in that out-of-body state until something interesting caught his attention. He was cautious during his travels, always making certain not to stray too far or stay too long. With any gift of such magnitude came rules and responsibilities, and both his parents had schooled him well. He never intruded on someone else’s privacy and he always surrounded himself with white light and the protection of his totem animal—the bear—while he traveled in the nether realms. Tonight, he didn’t linger. As soon as he released his essence, his soul, from his physical body, he felt an unmistakable pull. He stood beside his bed, peered down at his physical body and frowned. This was the first time he’d ever felt an invisible force urging him to go in any particular direction. At first he resisted the insistent tug. He didn’t like the idea of someone or something being able to direct him. He thought he heard a whisper of his name. The low voice was distinctly female. Cocking his head to one side, he listened. A breathy moan swept around him, caressing his bare chest like a lover’s hands. His physical body was still, but he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Centering himself, he gave a prayer of thanks to the Great Spirit, asking for guidance and protection. He felt the presence of his animal totem beside him and glanced down. The large brown bear waited by his side, ready to travel wherever Jed chose to go. The compulsion to follow the voice grew with each passing second, and Jed finally relented, giving in to its call. His spirit rose and drifted through the ceiling of his room. As he glanced at his physical form one final time, he satisfied himself that all was well. A thin golden thread connected his spirit to his body. As long as it was unbroken, he would have no trouble returning to his physical self. The air was chilly and a stiff breeze whipped around him, but he felt neither cold nor discomfort as he traveled through the dark. The town was quiet below him, the occasional car passing beneath the streetlights. Burnt Cove had settled down for the night.
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A dog barked when he passed overhead, canine eyes seeing him where human could not. Jed usually enjoyed these moments, the stillness, the sense of being able to see the larger picture, not just of the town, but also of life itself. But tonight, not even the clear sky and bright stars could hold his attention. The tips of his fingers began to tingle, jolting him. He curled his hands into fists as he drifted toward the unknown. Houses thinned as he reached the outskirts of the town. Here, beach houses ranged all up and down the shoreline like colorful rocks on an otherwise barren landscape. Fall in Maine was beautiful in the woods, the trees donning the capes of many colors. But here on the coastline there was a stark, rugged beauty that was as captivating as it was deadly. The Atlantic Ocean pounded the shoreline, waves beating the rocks before receding back to the sea. His gaze was drawn to one house in particular. He knew it well. Bride O’Neill had lived there from the time she was a young married woman until the day she passed six months ago. Now it was occupied by her granddaughter, Maggie. Jed’s body heated as he drew closer. His balls ached and his cock throbbed. Beautiful, elusive Maggie O’Neill had attracted him from the first time he’d set eyes on her. Her waist-length hair was thick, its red color a beacon, drawing him. Jed wanted to wrap his fist around that hair, anchoring her to him as he pounded into her sweet, soft body. Maggie had the kind of curves that made men sweat. Lush and lovely, he wanted to trace every arch, every hollow of her body, mapping each one until he knew it by heart. He wanted to run his tongue over her smooth skin. It looked like fresh cream, but would taste sweet and salty. Her breasts were large and Jed had the deepest desire to know what color her nipples would be. But Maggie was a wounded soul. He’d sensed it the moment they’d met. This was a woman who’d been hurt and needed time to recover. As much as his instincts urged him to get closer to her, to make her see him as a man, he’d refrained. He was patient and knew his time would come. He’d thought of her, night after night in his empty bed. Imagined having her naked, sprawled across his midnight blue sheets with nothing to cover her but his body. His cock jerked, a bead of pearly white liquid seeping from the tip. For whatever reason, he was being drawn to Maggie. Now that he knew where he was going, Jed surged forward, eager to be with her, even if it was only in spirit. He slipped through her closed window and stood in the shadows. Maggie was as he’d pictured her so many times. Naked. Well, almost naked. Her nightgown was pushed over her breasts, leaving her naked from the chest down. Her skin gleamed like a pearl in the light of the moon that seeped through her window. Her legs were sprawled wide and her mouth was open on a low moan of pleasure. Like a man in a daze, Jed stumbled forward until he was standing beside the bed. He swallowed hard, entranced by the sheer eroticism of the moment. It was an invasion of privacy, but he couldn’t make himself leave. She’d
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called him here, somehow reaching beyond the physical world. Her soul had called to his and he’d come. There was no way he was going anywhere. Not yet. Her hands covered her breasts, large pink nipples peeking out from between her fingers. He’d fantasized about her breasts, but the reality was much more than anything he’d imagined. Plump and full, they drew him. Lowering himself to the mattress beside her, he placed his hands over hers. Her fingers jerked, almost as if she felt his touch, but she sighed and circled her palms over her breasts. The slide of silky skin beneath his palms almost made him come right then and there. Her hands drifted away and he took the opportunity to circle her nipples with his thumbs. The nubs puckered even tighter and Maggie arched her hips upward. A flash of an image popped in his head and he knew it had come from Maggie. At first he was stunned. Then satisfaction filled him, deep and abiding. She was thinking of him as she pleasured himself. Jed wanted to tip back his head and howl. He wanted to lower himself onto her body and slip his cock into her heated warmth. Then he wanted to fuck her until she screamed her release. He did none of those things. Instead, he watched as she let her fingers trail over the curved mound of her stomach and lower still. The reddish curls at the notch of her thighs were damp with cream. Jed let his hands follow Maggie’s, trailing them over her warm, willing flesh. He traced the delicate line of her ribcage and cupped her ample hips. His fingers skated inward until they hovered just above her mound. Her legs were spread wide and she dipped her fingers into her core. Jed let out a low moan. His balls tightened and his cock jerked. He knew his body back in bed at home was covered in sweat, his lungs working hard to suck much needed breath into them. He was close to coming. He licked his dry lips, unable to take his eyes off Maggie as her fingers reappeared only to disappear once again. In and out. In and out. She set a slow pace at first, but gradually increased it. Leaning closer, he inhaled the scent of her arousal—musk, tinged with a hint of honey and vanilla. He wanted to eat her up, lick her slick pink folds until she screamed with pleasure. “More,” she sobbed. Frustration filled Jed and he blew on her heated folds, wanting to be able to physically touch her in a way to enhance her pleasure. Her head arched back, her breasts thrust upward. She pumped her hips forward with each thrust. Long red hair flowed over her pillows. Her eyes were open wide, green pools of need and longing. Her mouth parted on a moan and her tongue darted out to touch against her bottom lip. Jed had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life, or a more arousing one. The thought of never having Maggie as his own, never experiencing her passion, was unthinkable. A low growl began low in his chest. This was a sign. Maggie was ready and so was he. The time had come for him to make his move. She planted her feet flat on the mattress and pushed her hips high, thrusting her fingers deep one final time. “Yes!” she cried, her body convulsing with pleasure.
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Dreams of Seduction
Jed tipped back his head and gritted his teeth to keep from yelling. He wasn’t certain if she sensed him here or not and didn’t want to take any chances on frightening her. He felt the warm spurt of liquid on his belly and knew that his physical body had just found release, even as his soul found completion as well. As he watched, a lone tear slid from the corner of her eye and disappeared into her hair. Why was she crying? He wanted to take her in his arms, cradle her next to his body as they both fell asleep. Whatever was bothering her, he wanted to make it better. His heart ached with the need to console her. Jed had never felt this way in his life, never had this kind of connection to another person. Maggie was his other half. Of that, he was certain. And if he’d had any doubts, they’d been dispelled by what had occurred this night. Her soul had called to his and he’d come. If she hadn’t wanted him here on some deep level, he would never have witnessed the beautiful display of her sexuality. Maggie shoved her nightgown over her body and pulled the covers up. Snuggling beneath the blankets, she sighed. Jed leaned close and brushed his hand over her hair, her cheek and her delectable pink lips. She stirred, but didn’t open her eyes. As he stood, she sighed his name. Jed smiled even as he felt the pull of his physical body reminding him he’d been gone long enough. Although he hated to leave her, he turned away and drifted through her window. His spirit guide waited patiently for him. The bear snorted as Jed drifted by. He laughed. “I know, my friend. A man will make a fool of himself over a woman, but if she’s his true mate, then a smart man will do whatever it takes to get her and keep her.” The bear grunted in agreement as the two of them streamed across the night sky. In seconds, Jed was in his bedroom. Floating above his body, he closed his eyes and settled back into his physical form. It was a jolt after being weightless for so long. He thanked his spirit guide and gave thanks to the Great Spirit for a safe journey. Warmth pulsed through him, centering in his heart before dispersing. He let out a long low sigh. Opening his eyes, he stared down at his stomach. Sure enough, the evidence of his orgasm was there for him to see. His skin was damp with sweat in spite of the cool night. His cock was still half-aroused and the echo of his release still vibrated in his balls. The connection had been so great between him and Maggie that his physical body had responded the same as his ethereal body. Rolling up, he turned, threw his legs over the edge of the bed and planted his feet on the cool hardwood floor. He pushed himself up and padded to the bathroom. The wind whipped around outside, pushing at the windows of his home and making them rattle. He smiled as he thought of Maggie snuggled warm in her bed, her thoughts filled with images of him. He brought his fingers to his lips. Although he knew he hadn’t physically touched her, merely grazing her with the energy of his ethereal body, he could almost smell her unique perfume on his skin, almost feel the softness of her flesh.
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Not bothering to turn on the light, Jed ran some warm water in the sink, dipped in a cloth and wrung it out before running it over his arms and chest. Closing his eyes, he imagined it was Maggie touching him. His cock jerked and he swore. Forcing himself to pay attention to the task at hand, he shoved all thoughts of tonight’s adventure out of his mind until he’d finished cleaning himself up. When he was done, he leaned against the bathroom vanity, peering at himself in the mirror. His dark hair hung around his shoulders. His eyes were darkened by a combination of lust and need. The light from the moon revealed his face, a hard mask of determination. He’d stood back, watching patiently from a distance while Maggie had time to heal from whatever wounds she’d had when she’d arrived in Burnt Cove. But the reprieve was now over. Maggie was his woman and he was her man. Now all he had to do was convince her of that. The corner of his mouth kicked up and his eyes practically glowed with remembered pleasure. He certainly knew how to please her physically. After tonight, there was no doubt in his mind that his Maggie was a sensual woman, and he was the man to help her unleash that side of herself. He frowned at the thought of any other man being the recipient of her smiles and her generosity. A low rumble rose from low in his chest. He wouldn’t allow that to happen. Maggie was beginning to reawaken after a long hibernation from life. This was the moment he’d been waiting months for. Pushing away from the counter, he returned to bed and crawled beneath the covers. Jed wished he were in bed with Maggie, her bottom snuggled against his groin, her back to his chest, and her head tucked beneath his chin. The sheets were cool, but he didn’t mind. Settling onto his side, he bunched his pillow under his head and closed his eyes. “Dream of me,” he whispered as he sank into the mattress and slept.
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Chapter Three
Jed rose early the next morning. He’d slept deep, untroubled by dreams. As he showered and dressed for the day, his mind strayed back to the night before. Maggie O’Neill was one hell of a sexy woman. Why she didn’t have a boyfriend or wasn’t already married was a mystery to him. Whatever the reason, he was glad for it. He didn’t plan for her to be alone for long. He hummed beneath his breath as he strode down the hall to the kitchen and stuck two slices of multigrain bread into the toaster. It wasn’t as good as his mother’s bread, but it would have to do until she and his father returned from their month-long trip to Ireland. He’d already worked his way through the two loaves she’d dropped off before she’d left. He smiled as he imagined the two of them visiting with family and tramping around the green hills of Ireland. His father would be content to find a good pub and relax. His mother would drag him into every quaint little antique store and historical site within a one hundred mile radius. And his father would gladly go because it would make his mother happy. In return, his mother would content herself to sit in a pub every night and listen to the local music because she knew that would make his father happy. They were two completely different individuals, but they fit together, their lives melding and becoming richer because of those differences. One thing Jed had never doubted was the love that flowed between his parents. That’s what he wanted for himself, the kind of love and connection that lasted a lifetime. The bread popped up in the toaster. He dropped each piece onto a plate and buttered it. He thought about adding some homemade strawberry jam but decided against it. He was getting low on that too. Better to save it for a morning when he really wanted it. He had to make time to do some grocery shopping soon. The coffeepot had been set on a timer so his coffee was ready. He filled a large mug and carried it and his plate to the table. He made a mental note to run by his parents’ house later today and check his mother’s plants. If he let them die while she was gone, he’d never hear the end of it. The phone rang just as he lifted a piece of toast to his mouth. Sighing, he dropped it back to the plate. He checked his watch as he reached for the cordless. It wasn’t time for his shift yet, but it still might be work. “Bearson.”
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“Good morning, sweetheart. How are you this morning?” He smiled. “Mom. I was just thinking about you.” “I know that. That’s why I’m calling.” She paused and Jed heard a male voice in the background. “Your father says to tell you he might need to hit you up for a loan to be able to afford to fly us home.” His mother’s tone was dry. He could easily imagine her glaring at her husband. For about five seconds. Then she’d laugh. He counted off the seconds and sure enough her laughter followed. “He’s just teasing. I haven’t spent that much. Hardly anything. I’ve been taking hundreds and hundreds of pictures.” “Thousands,” his father’s voice boomed in the background. Jed sipped his coffee as his parents bantered back and forth. Finally his mother returned her attention to him. “Enough about me and your father. How are you?” Her voice grew serious. “I couldn’t get you out of my mind all last night and this morning.” His mother was a little bit fey where her child was concerned. She’d always seemed to know when something was bothering him as a child. That hadn’t changed just because he was a grown man. He couldn’t be annoyed with her because she always meant well and didn’t meddle. “I’m fine.” There was silence on the line. Sighing, Jed ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s nothing, Mom. Really.” No way in hell was he telling his mother about last night’s spirit walk. That was strictly off-limits. “If you say so.” “I do.” What was between him and Maggie was private. If anything came of their relationship, he’d have plenty of time to introduce her to his folks. He checked his watch and swore under his breath. His breakfast was going to have to go in the garbage. He was going to be late if he didn’t get going. “Listen, I’ve got to go to work.” “Okay. You be careful.” “Yes, ma’am.” “We’ll be home in ten days.” “See you then. You and Dad have fun.” He hung up and shoved his chair away from the table. He dumped his toast and transferred his coffee to a large plastic mug, making sure the lid was on tight. After checking to make certain the coffeepot was turned off, he grabbed his keys and jacket and headed out to his SUV. Jed was barely settled into the driver’s seat when a call came in. He took note of the address, answered the dispatcher and backed out of his driveway. He watched the roadside and houses as he headed into town. Most folks were still in bed, but a few were up and about.
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There was no trouble finding a parking spot downtown in front of A Touch of Magick. Even from his vehicle, he could see the graffiti sprayed across the storefront. “Damn,” he muttered as he climbed out. Deputy Ryland Stone was already there and came to meet him. “Morning, Jed.” “Morning, Ry. What have you got for me this morning?” “Graffiti.” He motioned to the paint splattered over the wall in front of them. Jed wondered what made folks do such a thing. If you wanted to paint, then paint. There was no need to deface other people’s property. That was vandalism, pure and simple. “Break and entry?” Ryland shook his head. “No.” “Good enough.” Jed went straight to work, leaving Ryland to deal with Rhiannon Sparks, the owner. He knew her by name and by reputation. His mother loved her shop and had tried to encourage Jed to ask her out. He’d told his mother he could find his own dates if and when he wanted them. She’d given in gracefully, resigned to the fact that her son was as hardheaded as his father. Not that Rhiannon wasn’t a good-looking woman. She was. It was simply that there wasn’t any spark between them. He chuckled at his own pun, shook his head and went to work. He checked the perimeter of the building and the garbage cans searching for possible evidence. So far their graffiti artist had hit abandoned buildings on the outskirts. This was his first foray into town. He was escalating. That was never good. And it was the same artist. They all had a signature style and this one even signed his work. It was too much to hope that he’d find an empty spray can with fingerprints. It wouldn’t help them unless the culprit had been arrested before, but if they managed to come up with a suspect, it would link him, or her, to the crime. It was slow going, but when Jed was satisfied he’d found all the evidence there was to find, which wasn’t a heck of a lot, he went to the front door of the business and knocked. It took a few moments, but Ryland finally answered. “You done yet?” Jed asked. Ryland hesitated and all Jed’s senses went on alert. He studied his friend and colleague, but said nothing. “No. I haven’t had a chance to question her yet. She’s in the bathroom.” Jed nodded. “I’m done outside. Just copy me your report when you’re done with it. I’ll send you what I’ve got.” A woman approached them, offering her hand. “I’m Rhiannon Sparks.” “Jed Bearson.” He stepped forward and took her proffered hand. “Nice place you’ve got here.” And that was nothing less than the truth. He’d shopped here a few times himself, buying things for his mother for her birthday and last Christmas. Rhiannon carried a wide variety of books, giftware and jewelry.
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Pride filled her gaze as she glanced around the shop. “Thanks.” Jed nodded and then turned back to Ryland, noting how his friend was watching the pretty Ms. Sparks. Seemed to Jed that Ry might have more than a professional interest in her. Well, well. That could prove interesting. “I’ll start talking with the neighbors to see if anyone heard or saw anything.” He glanced back at Rhiannon and nodded. “Ms. Sparks.” Turning on his heel, he headed back outside and closed the door behind him. There wasn’t much he could do until the other businesses opened for the day. He climbed in his vehicle and headed to Clancy’s Bakery. They would be open for business by now and he could grab a fresh cup of coffee and a warm blueberry muffin before he took statements.
Maggie rolled out of bed ready to put the night before completely out of her mind. “Candle magick and erotic fantasies. What a combination,” she muttered as she finished loading her cereal bowl into the dishwasher. The cottage might be old, but her grandmother had kept her kitchen updated. Bride O’Neill had loved to cook and bake. Maggie wished she were better at it. “No time like the present.” One thing about living alone was that she’d gotten into the habit of talking to herself. “Maybe I need to get a cat like Rhiannon. Or maybe a dog.” That way she could at least pretend she was talking to them. She rubbed the back of her neck. The movement caused her sweater to rise, brushing over her breasts. She sucked in a breath and ignored how sensitive they were this morning. Last night’s erotic fantasies had left her feeling…horny was the only word for it. All that talk over at Rhiannon’s place last night about needing to get laid had sent her libido into overdrive. “Bake,” she reminded herself. Going over to the hutch in the dining room, she opened the bottom drawer and rummaged around. She wasn’t looking for a cookbook, but her grandmother’s notebook. “Where is it, Gran?” She shoved aside several files filled with recipes torn from long-gone magazines, two mismatched placemats and a yellowed tablecloth before she found what she was searching for. The green-covered notebook was tattered and worn, but to Maggie it was gold. This was where her grandmother kept all the family recipes. “Yes.” Maggie pumped the fist of her free hand and shoved the drawer closed. There was a recipe in here for scones that melted in your mouth. Dropping into one of the kitchen chairs, she carefully opened to the first page. Her grandmother’s perfect writing covered the page. “Oh, Gran,” she whispered.
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Closing her eyes, Maggie took a deep breath. She wouldn’t cry. There was no point and she’d already shed a million of them. Her family was gone and she was the last. She was luckier than most. She had a home and many, many wonderful memories. She opened her eyes and stared at the kitchen counter. The wall color was different now, but the kitchen hadn’t changed much since Maggie was a child. She had many fond memories of standing on a chair next to her grandmother, thrilled at being allowed to stir and measure and help make all sorts of delectable treats. All that had stopped when she was eleven and her mother and new stepfather had whisked her off to California. She hadn’t cooked since. “I can do this.” She was thirty years old. Certainly she could follow a recipe. How hard could it be? Rising from the table, she set to work. It took her a while to find all the utensils she needed. “I really need to go through everything in this house.” Short of removing her grandmother’s clothing and donating it to charity, Maggie hadn’t sorted through any of the papers, books and years of accumulated stuff that filled all the drawers and closets. She turned on the radio, tuning it to a local station as she worked. She hummed along even though she didn’t know the words to the song and sifted and stirred. Flour, butter, sugar, milk and one or two other ingredients were all mixed together. Maggie enjoyed the entire process of taking the raw ingredients and turning them into something ready to bake. With the scones safely in the oven, Maggie decided it was time to start going through some of her grandmother’s things. The hutch in the dining room was as good a place to start as any. Opening the top doors, she stared at all the dishes crammed inside. Her grandmother had loved to yard sale, but she’d had a great eye. Time passed swiftly as Maggie unloaded the hutch, piling all the dishes and serving pieces, everything from Fiestaware to fine china, onto the dining room table. She’d need to get some boxes and pack up what she didn’t want. She could store them in the spare room for now. Maybe she’d list some of the better pieces on eBay or maybe have her own yard sale in the spring. She was admiring a green Depression glass bowl when the smell of smoke tickled her nostrils. “Shit!” She practically tossed the bowl aside and raced into the kitchen. Smoke was seeping from around the oven door. Grabbing oven mitts, she opened it. A billow of smoke surged outward, stinging her eyes and nose. She waved at it for a few seconds and then reached in, yanked the pan out and set it on the stovetop. She stared at the blacken lumps. Maggie jumped when the smoke detector began to blare. Swearing under her breath, she opened the back door to let in some fresh air and waved a dishtowel under the smoke detector. It blasted for a few more moments before going silent.
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She stared around the kitchen. The place was a mess. She had spilt flour, bowls and measuring cups on the counter. The dining table was piled high with dishes. And her blackened scones reigned supreme from their perch on the stove. Maggie stared at it all and her lips began to twitch. Then she began to chuckle. Seconds later it turned to laughter. She hugged her stomach as she laughed so hard tears rolled down her cheeks. She swiped them away. “Oh, Gran. If you could only see me now.” When her laughter eventually subsided, Maggie took the ruined scones and dumped them in the garbage. At the last moment, she rescued two of them and cut away the blackened bits. “Maybe the gulls will eat them.” She walked outside and to the edge of the garden before tossing them away. She’d check later to see if they were gone. In the meantime, she had a mess to clean up. It felt good to laugh, to try something new, to feel as though she was starting to move forward in life. Maybe that love spell they’d cast in Rhiannon’s yard last night was a good thing. It had certainly spiced up bedtime activities last night. Maggie fanned her face with her hand as she went back inside and shut the door behind her. The room still smelled smoky, so she opened a window, letting in more of the cool, salty air. She didn’t have any more time to spend thinking about last night. She had too much to do. It was time to make this house her home. Up until now, she’d been reluctant to change much, keeping it as a shrine to the family she’d lost. But they were gone and she was very much still alive. Plus, she knew her grandmother would want her to turn the cottage into a sanctuary for herself. Clean first. Maybe when that huge chore was done she’d think about painting some of the other rooms. She’d claimed the bedroom as hers. It was past time to do the same thing to the rest of the place.
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Chapter Four
Maggie could hear ringing in the distance. She frowned and tried to ignore it. She wanted to sleep. She’d spent yesterday cleaning and sorting all sorts of stuff and most of last night dreaming. She was exhausted. But the ringing persisted. Shoving the pillow off her head, she stuck out her hand and groped at the bedside table for her cell phone. She thumbed the right button. “’Lo.” “Maggie, wake up. It’s Esther.” “Whaaa?” She squinted at the clock and almost groaned aloud. It was early. “Maggie,” Esther said more sharply. “What?” There was something in Esther’s tone that made her sit up and listen. She shoved the mass of her red hair over her shoulder and yawned, trying to concentrate. “Get up and get dressed. We’re meeting Rhiannon at A Touch of Magick.” “Do you have any idea what time it is?” she demanded. “Unfortunately, I do. But Rhiannon called in a tizzy and it has to do with a man.” “What?” Maggie was definitely wide awake now. “What happened?” Esther relayed some details. Maggie wasn’t quite sure on all of them as she was still half asleep. Something about chocolate and phone sex. “Holy smokes.” Esther laughed. “That about says it all. She needs us and, I don’t know about you, but I need details.” “Do you think that candle spell actually worked?” Maggie had been wondering about that for the past two nights. Not that she believed Rhiannon was really a witch. She was just different, and that was okay by Maggie. Rhiannon was her friend no matter what she believed about herself. “I don’t know.” Esther was silent for a minute. “Listen, I’ll pick you up in about fifteen minutes.” She hung up before Maggie could protest she’d need more time. Pressing the button to disconnect, she tossed her cell phone back on the table. God, she needed some sleep. She was exhausted. Last night had been a sex-filled marathon. Even if it was only a dream, it had been amazing. Wonderful. Incredible. And more than a little disturbing. Groaning, Maggie forced herself out of bed. “You’re losing it,” she muttered as she stumbled toward the bathroom. Whether it was all the talk of sex at Rhiannon’s house the other night or simply the fact it had been months and months and months since she’d had any, her dreams had been filled with sexual fantasies. All featuring Jed Bearson in the role of leading man.
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The night before, he’d starred in her private fantasies as she’d pleasured herself. Maggie grabbed her brush and quickly ran it through her hair. There was no time to wash it now. Gathering it, she twisted it into a bun and anchored it on top of her head. She blinked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were half-closed and dark circles rimmed beneath them. “Great. You look like you haven’t slept.” Turning away, she fumbled with the taps and turned on the shower. When it was hot enough, she stepped beneath the spray, being careful to keep back far enough so her hair didn’t take a direct hit. As she quickly washed, she pondered her dreams. Technically, she’d slept otherwise she wouldn’t be able to dream. But she certainly didn’t feel rested. She felt hot and edgy and unfulfilled. Her soapy hands slowed, skimming over her body. She accidentally brushed her nipples and moaned. God, her dreams had been amazing. She’d had several. They were all pretty much the same in that she and Jed ended up in bed together. It was there the similarities ended. They’d made love in a variety of positions and places. Jed was very inventive. She smiled as one particular memory of the two of them in the shower came back to her full force. Her smile quickly became a groan of pleasure, her core pulsing in remembrance of her incredible orgasm. She’d come more times in the past two nights than she had in the last six months she and her ex had been together. Problem was, last night she’d been alone and asleep. Maggie turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, swearing as she dripped on the floor. She reached out and snagged a clean towel from the open shelving to the right of the vanity and quickly dried off. No time to think about that now. Esther would be here any moment and Rhiannon needed her. Since she was only going to see her friends, she didn’t bother with makeup. Not that she ever bothered with much beyond mascara and lipstick unless she was going somewhere important—another fact Mitchell had complained about. Back in her bedroom, she grabbed a pair of jeans and a fitted cotton blouse in a deep lavender that always made her feel pretty. She stuffed her feet into a pair of canvas sneakers and hurried down the stairs. She could hear a car in the driveway and knew Esther had arrived. Maggie grabbed her coat and purse and hurried out of the house, locking the door behind her. “Sorry if I kept you waiting,” she said as she slid into the passenger seat and buckled up. Esther smiled. “No problem. I don’t know about you, but I need something to get me going. I vote we stop at Clancy’s and pick up something yummy.” “Chocolate.” Maggie’s stomach rumbled. “You’re reading my mind.” Esther laughed as she pulled away from the house and headed into town. It didn’t take long for her to run into Clancy’s and return with a white bakery box. Maggie was finally awake by the time they hit A Touch of Magick. Rhiannon was waiting for them, an anxious expression on her face.
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“Sorry, we took a little longer than I thought.” Esther held up the bakery box as an offering. “I figured Ada wouldn’t be here yet and you sounded like you could use something.” She glanced at Maggie. “Plus it took a bit of work to get Maggie out of bed.” “Hey, Rhiannon.” Maggie yawned, but smiled as she gave her greeting. They were soon settled at a table and she had a mug of Irish Cream Coffee in front of her. The chocolate croissants they’d gotten from Clancy’s were piled on a plate in front of them. Maggie reached for one. “Okay, spill,” Esther ordered. Maggie munched and listened as Rhiannon told them about finding graffiti on her store the morning before. Maggie was appalled when Rhiannon revealed the words that had been written there. Having words like “witch” and “devil” written on her wall had obviously upset her friend. Not that Maggie blamed her. People could be thoughtless and cruel. The only good thing to come out of the situation was that Rhiannon had met a man. A sexy, available man. Deputy Ryland Stone. “You like him.” Maggie picked up her croissant, took a big bite off one end and chewed as she talked. “I know him from when I lived here as a kid. He’s a couple of years older, but he used to do chores for my grandmother during the summer months.” She offered what little she knew about Ryland. Esther sipped her tea and listened while Rhiannon sat with rapt attention. Her friend was obviously more than a little attracted to the deputy. “It was wonderful. It was awful. He took me to The Seaside.” Rhiannon told them about her date with Ryland, finishing with a sigh. Maggie let out a low whistle. “Not cheap. Kudos to him.” Rhiannon laughed, but quickly sobered. “He kissed me in the parking lot before we went in.” She hesitated for a second before plunging onward. “Every car alarm in the lot went off.” Esther stared at her friend. “Surely you don’t think you had anything to do with it.” Rhiannon rubbed her forehead and drank another mouthful of coffee. “Do you remember me telling you I had problems with my magick?” When they both nodded, Rhiannon continued. “My sister called and she thinks my problem is that my magick is trapped inside me.” Her friend seemed embarrassed by her revelation, but she continued. “According to Gwen, I need to have sex with the right man to release it.” Maggie didn’t know what to think. It was obvious Rhiannon believed everything she was saying. She took another bite of her croissant, savoring the chocolate. If Rhiannon really was a witch, had the spell the other night worked?
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Maggie shook her head. They needed to be logical about this. “I haven’t had anyone approach me since the candle ritual.” Dreams didn’t count. She could have had them anyway. It was simply coincidence she’d had them after they’d cast the spell. All the talk about sex had simply put it in her mind. Totally logical explanation. She turned to Esther. “Have you?” “No. Not unless you count Ryan Jamieson, which we can’t because he’s always trying to get me to go out with him.” “Okay then.” Maggie nodded. Ryan Jamieson was a firefighter who had made his attraction to Esther well known. Ryan hitting on Esther wasn’t due to any magick spell they’d cast, but to everyday, ordinary lust. “That settles it. It’s coincidence that you met and fell into lust with Ryland. Enjoy it. If it helps you get over your problem with your magick, you won’t need to form a therapy group or start a twelve-step program to get past the obstacle that has haunted you for most of your life. Right?” They spent the rest of their visit trying to reassure Rhiannon. Personally, Maggie thought her friend was making too much of it. She’d met a man she liked. They’d gone on a date. If they ended up having sex there was nothing to worry about. They were both adults. By the time they left, Rhiannon was feeling better and Maggie had a caffeine and chocolate buzz. She shouldn’t have eaten that second croissant, but it had been too good to pass up. “What do you think?” Esther asked Maggie as they climbed into Esther’s car. “I think she should go for it. Have some hot sex and enjoy herself.” Esther put the keys in the ignition and started the car. Checking for traffic, which was still light this early in the morning, she pulled out and started toward Maggie’s house. “Really?” “Yes. Why is it okay for a guy to have sex simply because he wants it, but not a woman?” Maggie crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the window, trying not to let her bitterness show. That had certainly been Mitchell’s excuse. He was a guy. He had needs. She was cold in bed. She still got angry when she thought about it. What about her needs? He hadn’t cared enough to try to fulfill them. But she really wasn’t angry with Mitchell. Not any longer. No, she was mad at herself for putting up with such a dysfunctional relationship for so long. All the signs had been there, but she’d ignored them. The cheating had been the final straw. Maggie forced her attention back to the conversation at hand as Esther replied. “Do you really think it has anything to do with that candle spell? Be honest. Rhiannon’s not here.” Maggie nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m not sure. The practical side of me says hell no, but I just don’t know. It’s an awful coincidence coming so close to when we did the spell.” She shook her head, refusing to believe a few words spoken in a backyard could hold any kind of influence or power. “It has to be a coincidence. There is no such thing as magick or the paranormal.” That was her story and she was sticking to it. If she believed in magick then maybe her dreams had some deeper significance. And that just wasn’t possible. They were dreams. Nothing more. Nothing less.
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She kept her thoughts to herself as she climbed out of Esther’s car and watched her drive away. Crossing her arms over her chest, she breathed deep. The salt air was crisp and invigorating. She should go for a walk. Instead, she trudged up the walkway and let herself into her home. The silence was deafening. Shutting the door, she dumped her coat and purse and walked up the stairs. Her bed was unmade, the sheets tangled. She should make the bed and do some chores. There were still several closets to explore and three huge bookshelves to sort through. She should get started. She should do a lot of things. But right now she didn’t want to do any of them. Kicking off her sneakers, she curled up on the bed, pulled the covers over her and drifted off to sleep.
Jed rolled his shoulders, working the stiff muscles. He was tired, but invigorated at the same time. Painting did that to him. He stepped back from the canvas he was currently working on. It was a large piece, measuring three feet by five feet. It was also very different from anything he’d ever done before. Up until now, he’d focused primarily on nature. The woods, the animals and how they interacted. The painting before him was very different. It was a woman. And not just any woman, but the one who’d been haunting him for months. Most of her face was obscured as she lay across a bed, her pale arm extended to her unseen lover. The phantom man was little more than an outline, but the tortured expression on his face was all too visible. He was calling it “Dreams”. This painting would never be sold. Was for his private viewing only. After spiritwalking to Maggie’s bed the other night, he’d had to force himself not to invade her privacy again. But that hadn’t stopped the dreams. Dipping his brush into the cerulean blue on his palette, he added some to the deepening shadows in the painting. He closed his eyes, trying to remember every detail from Maggie’s bedroom—the furniture, the bedclothes, but most of all, the woman herself. Her brilliant red hair rippled like waves on the pillow. Her lush curves were hinted at as the sheet skimmed her body. “Fuck.” Jed tossed the palette down on the table and dumped his brush in cleaning solution. He was done for now. He had to stop torturing himself like this. His cock was like a steel spike. Walking around with a perpetual hard-on wasn’t fun. Last night’s dreams had given him some relief. And didn’t that make him feel like a horny teenager again. But they did nothing to relieve the ache in his soul.
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“Maggie.” He said her name aloud, tasting it on his lips and tongue. He raked his fingers through his hair and turned, stomping out of the room. He shut the door to his studio behind him. “If you were anyone else, I’d arrest you for being a stalker,” he muttered as he made his way to the kitchen. But he knew better. There was nothing unhealthy about his attraction to Maggie. Plus, he knew whatever happened, he’d back off and leave her alone if that was what she truly wanted. Above all else, he wanted her happiness. His heart ached and he rubbed his chest. He prayed she’d give him a chance, wouldn’t walk away from what they might have between them. He’d waited, sensing she was hurt, wounded when she’d moved back here. It hadn’t been easy, but he’d given her time to recover from the tragedies that seemed to envelop her, not wanting to frighten her off. The other night had changed everything. Somehow, she’d called to him, pulling his spirit to her. That had to mean something. He had to believe it was the universe telling him it was time for him to approach her. Jed held tight to that thought as he entered the kitchen. The coffee pot had been set to go off at six this morning, but that was two hours ago. He’d been painting for about four hours now. He’d awakened early, unable to sleep, and had decided that painting was the best way to try to work Maggie out of his system. It hadn’t worked. Usually, he could lose himself in his work. And he supposed he had. Problem was, all his thoughts were of Maggie. He dumped the cold coffee down the drain and ran cold water into the pot. He pondered his next move as he measured out fresh coffee and set a new pot to perking. The new day called to him and he unlocked the back door and strolled out onto the deck. The air was cool on his bare chest, but he welcomed it. When he’d rolled out of bed this morning, he’d barely taken the time to haul on a pair of jeans, needing to paint. He rolled his shoulders, trying to release the tense muscles. Taking a deep breath, he slowly released it. A crow landed on a fence post and cawed twice before flying off again. Jed raised his head to the morning sun and closed his eyes. He could sense the pulse of the world waking to another day. Was Maggie up yet or was she still warm and cozy in bed? His dick jerked and Jed let out a pained laugh. His body wasn’t going to give him any rest. Turning, he went back inside and poured up a mug of coffee. He needed the jolt to kick start his day. He knew he’d have to approach Maggie and soon. He couldn’t go on like this much longer. Taking a sip of the fragrant, mellow brew, he headed to the bathroom. It was time to shower and officially start his day.
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Chapter Five
Maggie yawned, her jaw opening so wide that it gave a loud crack. She covered her mouth with her hand and tried to will some energy into her body. She’d thought a morning walk might help dispel some of the grogginess that seemed to be her constant companion these days. So far, it wasn’t working. She hadn’t slept well at all. Not that it was different from the night before or the night before that. Ever since the night they’d cast that candle-magick spell at Rhiannon’s house, she’d tossed and turned. She paused and thought for a second, counting off the nights. Four in total now. When she slept at all, she dreamed. Long, hot, sexual dreams featuring one sexy Jed Bearson. “That’s what you get for using a fantasy of him to get yourself off,” she muttered. The dreams were amazing and so realistic it was uncanny. Her body ached in unfamiliar places and she was usually naked when she woke in the morning, having discarded her nightgown sometime during the night. Shoving her hands in the pockets of her fleece jacket, she lengthened her stride. It was the perfect fall day with the sun shining down on her and a bite in the air. She figured the walk would give her time to think, and not about her dreams. Maggie needed to decide what she was going to do with the rest of her life. The past six months had been spent recovering from the emotional shock of her grandmother’s death, plus the discovery that her ex-fiancé had cheated on her with her former best friend. But it was time to leave that in the past and put it behind her. And she’d been doing just that the past few days. She’d worked like a demon, gutting closets, unloading bookshelves and digging through drawers. She had sent several bags of garbage to the dump, had more than a dozen boxes filled with stuff for a yard sale and about a half-dozen pieces of furniture she wanted to get rid of. She had to decide soon if she was going to go for a late sale before winter set in or wait until spring. The best of the dishes had been listed online for sale and there was already quite a bit of interest in them. Maybe she should feel bad for selling some of her grandmother’s things, but she didn’t think the other woman would mind. In fact, she’d probably encourage Maggie to fill the home with things that made her happy. Maybe she’d stop at the hardware store and peruse the paint chips. She’d moped long enough. These past few days she felt as though she was moving forward.
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For one thing, she no longer thought about her ex. No, thoughts of Jed now filled both her waking and sleeping hours. “Stop it,” she commanded herself. She kicked at the loose gravel with the toe of her sneaker as she walked down the side of the road. A robin flew past her, gliding on the breeze before landing on the grassy bank off to her right. Maggie stopped and smiled as she watched the bird peck at the ground for worms. That’s what she needed. A purpose. She’d worked with an advertising agency back in California, but she didn’t want to go the corporate routine again. Plus, that would mean she’d have to move. There were no large advertising companies in Burnt Cove. Maggie didn’t want to leave. She liked it here. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed the place until she’d moved back. It had been like coming home. She could still remember the moment she’d pulled up in front of her grandmother’s cottage, well, her cottage now. Tears had filled her eyes and the knot in her stomach had eased as a sense of peace enveloped her. No, Burnt Cove was home, and fortunately for Maggie, she had the money to stay here whether she ever worked another day in her life or not. She owned her home, owned her car and had a sizeable chunk of money invested wisely, thanks to the money she’d inherited from her grandmother and her parents. When added to the money from the sale of her condo in California, Maggie was doing all right. Then there were the good friends she’d made. Both Rhiannon and Esther were the best friends she’d ever had. There was nothing phony about either of them. They were real and genuine and giving. Which brought her thoughts around to breakfast yesterday morning. Rhiannon had called early and invited both her and Esther to her place. After the three of them had enjoyed pancakes and bacon, Rhiannon had spilled the latest news in the ongoing saga between her and Ryland. Maggie wasn’t certain the great sex was worth all the drama and heartache. But that was Rhiannon’s choice to make. She gazed out at the ocean, watching several small vessels make their way out to sea. A shiver raced down her spine and she wrapped her arms around herself. After what she’d seen yesterday morning, she could no longer discount the idea that Rhiannon really was a witch. That made her uneasy. Because if she really was a witch, then the candle-magick spell might have worked. Of course, neither she nor Esther were inundated with would-be lovers. So there was probably nothing to worry about. She shook herself out of her pensive mood. It was time for her to change her life. She’d started with the house, but it was now time to work on herself. Not that she regretted the lost time. She’d needed those months to heal from all the heartbreak and tragedy she’d been through in the past year.
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But life went on, and she wasn’t used to doing nothing all day long. She didn’t have a family or kids, nor did she have a job. Heck, she didn’t even have a hobby. She took it as a sign she was feeling much better that she was starting to think about such things. Maggie was ready to really start living again. As she resumed walking, she mulled over the things that she used to do when she was younger. Drawing was the obvious one. Working for an advertising agency had allowed her to indulge her artistic pursuits somewhat, but they’d always been reined in by the needs of the client. Maybe she’d buy some art supplies and let herself go wild. She’d always wanted to learn how to bake as well. She grinned as she remembered her attempt at scones. The blackened biscuits had been hard even with the crust cut away and nowhere near edible. Not even the gulls would eat them and they’d eat anything. She’d been forced to toss the two she’d set out for the birds into the garbage. Her grandmother had plenty of old cookbooks in the kitchen, along with her handwritten notebook. Maybe she’d have another go at it. Only this time she’d set the timer on the oven. A car horn blew and Maggie waved before she even recognized the driver. This was Burnt Cove. Chances were she knew who it was. Sure enough, as the truck rolled past her, Amos Peters shot her a toothless grin. The man was ninety if he was a day and continued to live independently in his cottage just beyond hers. Traffic was getting thicker the closer she got to the center of town. Not that it ever got anywhere near the traffic in California. A traffic jam in Burnt Cove was four cars reaching a four-way stop at the same time. Grinning, Maggie dodged across the road and headed straight for Clancy’s Bakery. What she needed was a cup of coffee and something sinfully delicious to go with it.
Jed saw her coming in the distance. Her red jacket was a splash of color matching the cloak of the maple trees as she walked up the side of the road. It should have clashed with her hair, but somehow it looked right on Maggie. Her red hair was braided, the long, thick tail falling over her shoulder and almost touching her waist. She was wearing jeans and sneakers and looked young and carefree as she crossed the road. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She continued to haunt his dreams night after night. Her ample breasts filling his hands, her lush curves pressed against his hard body. Her long, shapely legs twined around his hips as he pumped into her, both of them sweaty as he pushed them higher and higher until they came. His cock stirred, pressing against the zipper of his jeans. “Down boy,” he muttered. He hadn’t purposely traveled outside his body since that first night, but that hadn’t stopped Maggie from invading his dreams.
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He’d done a lot of thinking about those dreams and he was almost certain that she was sharing them with him. There was a sense of connection, of actuality, that was too real to be denied. Somehow, someway, they were sharing these hot, erotic nighttime escapades. Jed awoke after each, mentally and physically spent, the evidence of the encounter spewed across his stomach. The loss of control should have been embarrassing, but because it was Maggie in the dreams, it just felt right. It would feel even better when it happened in reality. If it happened. He watched her go into Clancy’s and decided he needed a coffee to start his day. He planned to spend the day working on several new paintings he had in various stages of completion, but first he needed to make his first real connection to Maggie. His long legs ate up the sidewalk as he zeroed in on his destination. He said hello and nodded to several folks who passed him, but he didn’t stop. His entire being was focused on reaching Maggie.
Maggie ordered a large French roast coffee and a blueberry muffin. Clancy himself was manning the counter this morning and he chatted about the weather and the upcoming Halloween celebration as he served her. Clancy was six-foot-six and built like a linebacker, an unlikely candidate to run a bakery. But the man had a golden touch in the kitchen. She paid for her breakfast and carried it to one of the small café tables. She dumped her purse on the empty chair and settled into her seat by the window. Rubbing her hands together, she picked up her knife and cut her muffin in half before slathering creamy butter over the golden brown sides. It melted immediately over the warm muffin. This was going to be good. She reached for her coffee to have that all-important first sip of the day. “Morning, Clancy.” Maggie froze with her cup an inch from her mouth. She knew that voice. Heard it in her sleep on a nightly basis. It couldn’t be. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The scent of the rich coffee filled her nostrils, teasing her senses. She opened her eyes and took a quick glance toward the counter. It was him. Jed Bearson leaned against the counter, his hip resting on it as he chatted with Clancy. She glanced away and tried to catch her breath. Her heart pounded and her hand shook. Slowly, she lowered her cup back to the table before she spilled her coffee over everything. Okay. Just relax. There is nothing to worry about. Just pretend he’s not there. Easier said than done. She grabbed her purse and yanked open the zipper. Rummaging around, she dug out a notepad and pen. She’d pretend she was working on something, that way she didn’t have to look at him. “This seat taken?”
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He couldn’t be talking to her. He couldn’t. But she knew he was. Notepad and pen clutched in her hands, she turned and came face-to-face with a silver belt buckle. And, whoa, a very impressive bulge just below it. Maggie swallowed hard. “Maggie?” His voice had lowered to an intimate whisper. Oh God, he’d seen her staring at his crotch. Heat crept up her cheeks and Maggie didn’t need a mirror to know that her face was as red as her hair. “Maggie? You okay?” Her head shot up and she could see the concern in his amber-colored eyes. He was even more magnificent in person than he was in her dreams. The sharp angles and planes of his face made him look hard and tough, not the kind of man you wanted to piss off. The seams of a crisp white shirt strained at his shoulders, the color making his bronzed skin appear even darker. His wide chest tapered down to a narrow waist. And his legs…his legs were long with thick thigh muscles outlined by the faded denim jeans he wore. She was acting like an idiot and all because of a few dreams. What had he said? “I’m fine.” Her hands began to ache and she glanced down at them. Her knuckles were white where they clenched the pen and the pad of paper. She loosened her hold and carefully set both on the table. “May I?” Not waiting for a reply, Jed pulled out the chair across from hers and sat down, placing his coffee cup on the table beside hers. You can do this. You can talk to him. He doesn’t know about the dreams. “What brings you to Clancy’s this morning?” That was lame, but she was honestly pleased she could put an entire sentence together. This wasn’t like her at all. In her former job she’d dealt with all manner of handsome men, models, athletes and superstars, and not once had she been this tongue-tied. Of course, she hadn’t spent the past few nights naked with any of them in her dreams either, so she decided to cut herself some slack. Jed raised his cup and took a sip. “I needed a cup of coffee to get my day started.” Maggie picked up her cup, grateful that her hand was no longer shaking, and managed a mouthful. Thankfully, it was no longer steaming hot as she gulped it down. She needed the caffeine rush to get her brain firing on all cylinders. “How are you settling in?” Jed wrapped his fingers lightly around the large paper cup. Maggie couldn’t stop staring at them. His fingers were long and thick, the skin slightly calloused. They’d grazed every inch of her body in her dreams, rubbing the tips of her nipples until they were sharp points of desire. Her breasts swelled and her nipples rubbed against the cups of her bra. Maggie was profoundly thankful that she was wearing her fleece jacket over her plain white T-shirt. Wouldn’t that have been embarrassing? The man sits down to share her table and her nipples pop out to greet him.
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“I’m settling in fine.” There. She managed another sentence. Granted, it was only four words long, but it was something. She glanced around the room and realized there were several empty tables. Why had he sat down with her? “That’s good. It must feel strange to be home again?” Home. There was that word again. He’d said the same thing that she’d been thinking on her walk here this morning. “Yes, it is good to be home again. Jed?” She picked at her muffin, no longer hungry. “Why are you sitting here with me? Not that I mind,” she added. “I’m going to shut up now before I make even more of an idiot of myself.” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “I said that last bit out loud, didn’t I?” she mumbled. The corners of Jed’s mouth tipped upward and his entire face changed as he smiled. His eyes warmed, the amber tone deepening as he nodded. “You did.” Maggie buried her face in her hands and groaned. “You’ll have to forgive me. I haven’t been sleeping very well the past few nights.” “I know what you mean.” His voice, low and intimate, sent shivers racing along every nerve ending in her body. Her breasts tingled and a deep throbbing began between her thighs. She was so focused on her physical responses it took her a second to comprehend what he’d said. Her head jerked back up and her eyes met his. Surely he didn’t mean the same thing she did. Of course not. There was no way he could know about her dreams. She cleared her throat. “You’re not sleeping well?” Feigning a nonchalance she didn’t feel, she tore off a corner of her muffin, popped it into her mouth and began to chew. “Dreams.” It was only one word, but he said it just as she started to swallow. Maggie coughed as she began to choke. Jed reached over and patted her back. The light contact sent heat rocketing through her limbs. Cream seeped from her core, dampening her panties. Waving him away, she grabbed her coffee and took a sip. “I’m fine,” she gasped. “Just went down the wrong way.” “You sure?” Jed was still way too close for comfort, his large body hovering close to hers. “Positive.” She sat back in her chair, putting more distance between them. She let out a sigh of relief when he leaned back in his chair. That relief only lasted as long as his next words. “You sure it wasn’t something I said?” Once again, she felt her cheeks heating, along with the rest of her body. “I’m sure.” He nodded, although a smile played along the corners of his mouth. He looked like a man with a secret. “To answer your first question, I’m here with you because I want to be.” He leaned forward again and rested his hand on the table alongside hers, not quite touching it, but she could feel the heat radiating
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from it. “Now that you’ve had time to settle into your home, I was wondering if you’d have dinner with me.” Maggie was glad she didn’t have a mouthful of coffee or muffin or she’d have spewed it everywhere. Jed Bearson, hunk extraordinaire, subject of her sexual fantasies and star of her erotic dreams the past few nights, was asking her out. Maggie shook her head. She had to have misheard. He was sexy as all get out and could probably have any single woman in town, and some of the married ones too if he wanted them. And he was asking her out. Her. Maggie O’Neill, who was perpetually about twenty pounds overweight, was too tall, had flaming red hair and, at the moment, a blotchy red face as well. She was wearing her oldest jeans, a red fleece, which would nicely match her red face, and she wasn’t wearing a lick of makeup. Was this some kind of a joke? Or was it magick? Her mind was spinning. This couldn’t have anything to do with the spell she’d cast alongside Rhiannon and Esther. It couldn’t. Maggie didn’t believe in magick. But what other explanation could there be? Her mouth fell open and she tried to speak, but nothing would come out. She closed her mouth, swallowed hard and tried again. “You want to go out with me?” Maybe she’d misheard him. “Yes.” He covered her hand with his. It was a simple touch, yet it seemed intimate. They were sitting in a coffee shop surrounded by at least six other people, yet it was as if they were the only two people in the room. It was a cliché, but it was true nonetheless. “Go out with me.” “I’ll make dinner.” Ohmigod! What had she said? She’d meant to say no, but “I’ll make dinner” had popped out instead. Jed’s smile deepened. “I’d like that.” His fingers squeezed hers. “A lot.” Maggie was surprised that she was still sitting in her chair and hadn’t sunk through the floor of the shop. It was as if she was under some kind of spell she couldn’t break. Magick? No, she refused to believe it. “What time and when?” Her mind whirled. Since she couldn’t rescind her offer, it was probably better to get it over with quickly. “How about tonight around half past six or so?” “That’s perfect.” He released her hand and stood. Maggie tried to ignore how much she missed the touch of his hand against hers. “I’ll see you then.” She was proud of the even tone of her voice, like it was no big deal and she had men over to supper every night of the week. “You certainly will.” He grabbed his paper cup and sauntered out of the shop. Maggie watched him leave, unable to keep from admiring his mouthwatering butt.
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Reality descended with a resounding thud when the door closed behind him. What had she done? She hadn’t had a date in too long to talk about. Certainly not since she’d broken up with her ex. And she’d promised to cook dinner too. What was she going to cook? She needed to grocery shop. Heck, she needed to figure out what to wear. What had possessed her to offer him an invitation to dinner? She needed to talk to Rhiannon and she needed to do it now. Grabbing the pen and paper off the table, she shoved them back into her purse. She pushed back her chair and gave her uneaten muffin a final glance. It looked delicious, but her appetite had totally disappeared. Grabbing her large coffee, she hooked her purse over her shoulder and headed out the door. The muffin she could leave, but her coffee she needed. Maggie glanced at her watch as she stepped out onto the sidewalk. It was just past ten. Rhiannon would be just opening her store, A Touch of Magick. She started down the sidewalk at a fast clip. What had she gotten herself into?
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Chapter Six
The bell tinkled merrily as Maggie pushed open the door and entered A Touch of Magick. “I’ll be right with you,” a voice called out from the back. She sighed with relief. Rhiannon was here. It had only occurred to her on the way here that this might be her friend’s day off from work. If she hadn’t been here, her next stop would have been Rhiannon’s house. Maggie was beginning to wish she hadn’t walked this morning. She’d already been halfway around town and still had to hit the grocery store before she walked home. On the plus side, at least she was getting a lot of exercise. “Maggie, what are you doing here this morning?” Rhiannon strode across the store with her arms wide open. “We didn’t have a coffee date, did we?” Maggie was always shocked by how tiny Rhiannon was each time she saw her. An inch or two over five feet in height, her friend projected a much larger image. Her short pixie haircut suited her delicate features and made her violet-blue eyes appear even larger. With her long, flowing gypsy skirt, her arm load of bangles and the trio of hoops winking in both ears, Rhiannon looked like the witch she purported herself to be. Maggie still wasn’t certain how she felt about the whole witch thing, but what she did know was that regardless of what Rhiannon was, she was a loyal friend with a huge heart. Maggie found herself enveloped in a hug before she had a chance to reply. That was another thing about Rhiannon. She was a physical person, always hugging and giving little touches. Maggie envied her, wishing she found it as easy to be as demonstrative. But she was getting better at it and returned her friend’s embrace. “No, we didn’t have a coffee date or you wouldn’t be carrying a cup from Clancy’s.” Rhiannon released her and stepped back as she answered her own question. “But something is on your mind.” Maggie sighed and pushed her braid over her shoulder. “You could say that.” She looked around and was grateful that she was the only customer at the moment, although Rhiannon’s assistant, Amy, was probably around somewhere. “It’s about the other night.” In spite of the fact they seemed to be alone, Maggie found herself whispering. Rhiannon frowned. “What about it?” “You know.” Maggie nibbled at her bottom lip. “The candle thing.” “You mean the spell we cast to bring us a lover?” Rhiannon replied matter-of-fact.
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She nodded. “Yes, that. Did it work?” A brilliant smile flashed across her friend’s face, giving Maggie pause. Now that she thought about it, Rhiannon looked different. Happier. “What happened?” Rhiannon burst out laughing, her bangles jingling as she covered her mouth. Tapping her foot impatiently, Maggie waited for her friend to get control of herself. “Don’t just stand there laughing like a loon. I need details.” Waving her toward the coffee bar tucked away in a nook off the main shop, Rhiannon just smiled but didn’t offer anything more. Amy, Rhiannon’s assistant, was just finishing setting out the baked goods in the display case and smiled her greeting. “Good morning, Maggie.” “Hi, Amy.” She liked Amy, really she did, but this morning she wished the younger woman was somewhere else. Anywhere else. “I’ll watch the coffee counter for now, Amy. Can you keep an eye on the store?” Rhiannon went behind the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Sure thing, boss.” Dusting her hands on a towel, Amy removed her apron and laid it aside before heading out to the main part of the store. Maggie sipped her coffee and made a face. It was cold. Rhiannon laughed and placed a fresh cup on the table in front of her, along with a warm apple turnover. “You look like you could use something extra this morning.” “You have no idea.” Maggie didn’t even know where to begin, so she focused on her friend. “So what happened?” “Ryland came over last night.” “And?” Rhiannon practically glowed with happiness. “We talked.” She wasn’t buying it. “You obviously did more than that.” That set Rhiannon off again and she threw back her head and laughed. Maggie took a bite of apple turnover while she waited for her friend to gain some control. Honestly, if she didn’t like Rhiannon so much she’d be jealous of her happiness. “I’m sorry, Maggie. Really.” She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a napkin so as to not smudge her mascara. Rhiannon always looked so put together, so stylish. It reminded Maggie of what she was wearing and she slumped slightly in her chair. Rhiannon frowned. “But you didn’t come here this morning to hear about Ryland and me making up.” Maggie’s head was spinning. Things had certainly happened fast between those two. They’d gone from meeting to having sex to fighting to making up again. She couldn’t keep it all straight. “Do you think it’s the spell that attracted him to you?” She needed to know. Especially now. Rhiannon shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Not now.” “Of course it matters.” Maggie could hear the strain in her voice.
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Her friend frowned. “What’s wrong, Maggie? You were upset when you got here.” “I’ll tell you what’s wrong.” She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling chilled to the bone. “I’ve been having erotic dreams for the past few nights and the star of them just asked me out. And what did I do? I didn’t say no. Instead, I told him I’d cook dinner.” “That’s wonderful.” Rhiannon nibbled on her bottom lip. “Isn’t it?” “No.” She shook her head vehemently. “Not if it’s the result of magick. But why else would he ask me out?” She was talking more to herself, but Rhiannon answered her. “Maybe because you’re a beautiful, generous woman and any man would be lucky to go out with you.” “Oh, Rhiannon,” she sighed. “I’m not like you. You’re petite and gorgeous and always look great. I’m a tall redhead with pale skin, freckles and wide curves. I’d rather be alone than with people, present company excluded of course.” “Of course.” Her friend’s lips twitched, but she didn’t smile. “I’m just…” Maggie let out a long breath. “I don’t know what I am. Anxious, scared, excited.” “What about the dreams? And who is it?” “Jed Bearson. And the dreams…” Maggie grabbed a napkin from the table and started fanning herself. “Let’s just say that they’re very realistic and leave it at that.” Rhiannon shook her head and reached across the table. Her hand covered Maggie’s. “Magick can’t make someone love you or ask you out. It can only clear the pathway and allow it to happen. Do you see the difference? There is always free will. If Jed didn’t want to ask you out, he wouldn’t. It’s that simple. Doing the spell was your way of telling the universe you were ready if a man did want to ask you.” She paused. “Besides, you don’t believe in magick, so why are you worried?” Maggie didn’t want to hurt her friend. “It’s not that I don’t believe,” she began. And that was the truth. She was beginning to believe. How could she not? “It’s okay.” Rhiannon released her hand and sat back. “You don’t have to. It just is.” She grinned. “Jed Bearson, you say? I met him the other morning when he and Ryland investigated the vandalism on the store. I’ve seen him around town plenty of times. He’s quite handsome if you go for the tall, quiet type.” Maggie guessed she did, because just the mere mention of his name had her body reacting. Images flowed through her brain like a motion picture—their bodies entwined as they made love, again and again, their bodies coming together in a tangle of heat, passion and limbs. “Maggie?” Rhiannon was waving her hand in front of Maggie’s face. “Earth to Maggie.” She blinked and the images disappeared, for now. They were never far from the surface these past few days. Maybe she just needed to have sex for real instead of just in her dreams. Maybe that would make the dreams disappear. Pushing back her chair, she jumped up from the table. “I have to go.”
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Rhiannon looked slightly worried. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk some more about this?” “Yes. No.” She grabbed her purse and looked regretfully at her second cup of coffee, which only had a mouthful gone from it. “I have to go grocery shopping and figure out what I’m going to cook. Then I have to clean the house and decide what I’m going to wear. I haven’t been on a date in so long, I’m not quite sure what to do anymore.” Rhiannon eased out of her chair, her face wreathed in concern. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll be at the store all day.” On impulse, Maggie wrapped her arms around Rhiannon and hugged her tight. “I will. And thanks. For everything.” “You’re welcome.” “What about you and Ryland? Is it serious?” It suddenly occurred to Maggie that she didn’t know. She’d gone on and on about her own problems without finding out more details. Rhiannon tugged at one of the hoops in her ear and nodded. “It’s serious. It’s very serious.” She smiled and her entire face seemed to light from within. “He’s the one.” “How does he feel about…” She broke off, not quite knowing how to phrase it. “Me being a witch? Does he accept that I’m different? Yes, he does.” Rhiannon’s smile faded and her manner became serious. “I am what I am and he is what he is. That’s what love is all about. Accepting the other person for who they are, not what you’d like them to be.” A lump formed in Maggie’s throat. She envied her friend. “I’m happy for you.” “Me too.” Walking to the counter, Rhiannon grabbed a paper cup and filled it with coffee before snapping a lid on top. “Here take this. You look as if you could use it.” Maggie took the coffee, her fingers clinging tightly to the warm cup. “Thanks.” “Remember, if you need anything just call.” “I will.” She walked to the door in a daze. Rhiannon’s life had changed drastically in the past few days. Maggie didn’t expect to find a lasting relationship, but maybe that was okay. Her last relationship hadn’t worked out so well. This time she’d just enjoy herself. She was a grown woman. If she wanted to have a purely sexual affair with a single, handsome man, that was her business. Butterflies beat at her stomach. That was fine in theory, but she still had to figure out what to make for dinner. And she had no idea what she was going to wear.
Hours later, Maggie was still wondering what the heck she’d gotten herself into. A garden salad sat in the refrigerator waiting to be served. Fresh multigrain rolls were wrapped in foil waiting to be heated and a pot of homemade vegetable beef stew sat on the stovetop. Dinner was ready, but she wasn’t.
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Staring at her closet for the tenth time, she debated what to wear. A dress was too dressy. She didn’t want to come across as too needy. Jeans too casual. Slacks made her feel like she was going to work. She pulled out a calf-length linen skirt in a deep chocolate brown. Sighing, she shoved it back in the closet. She glanced at the clock. She had about twenty minutes until Jed arrived. Thankfully, she’d already had a bath, shaved her legs and rubbed cream all over her body. Not that she planned on anything happening between them. It was just dinner after all. But she wanted to be prepared. Just in case. That was the reason she’d vacuumed the bedroom and changed the sheets on the bed. Fresh cut lavender sat in a crystal vase on the bedside table, perfuming the air, and several beeswax pillar candles had been strategically placed around the room. Slumping on the bed, she buried her face in her hands. Who was she trying to kid? She’d cleaned and primped and buffed just in case things got physical. Her core began to ache, a sharp reminder of what her body really wanted. “Don’t think about it.” Easier said than done. Her cream-colored panties were already damp and the matching bra felt confining. At this rate, she’d be answering the door in her underwear. “This is stupid,” she muttered. Angry with herself for caring so much, she grabbed a pair of jeans. They were new and stylish. She tugged them on and then reached for a silk blouse. The green matched her eyes and soft material felt good against her skin. She buttoned it and stared at herself in the antique mirror that stood in the corner of the room. “Not bad. Not bad at all.” She turned one way and then another. The material draped nicely over her breasts and the neckline dipped into a deep vee, showing a hint of cleavage. She added a pair of emerald studs to her ears, liking the way they picked up the light. They were a gift from her grandmother and she only wore them on special occasions. Not bothering with socks or stockings, she slid her feet into a pair of leather flats. Casual, yet dressy at the same time. Her hair was the largest problem. She’d debated leaving it down, but in the end had put it in the usual braid. A touch of mascara, eyeliner and lipstick finished off her look. She looked natural but polished, and not like a woman who’d spent the better part of an afternoon getting ready for a simple dinner date. The doorbell rang. Her heart jumped and her palms began to sweat. “You can do this. It’s just dinner.” Rubbing her hands over her jean-clad thighs, she gave herself one final look in the mirror before turning away. She shoved the closet door shut on the way along and hurried down the hallway. She was breathless by the time she made her way down the stairs and reached the front door. The bell rang again. Taking a deep breath, she slowly released it. Putting a welcoming smile on her face, she pulled open the door.
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All the blood rushed from her head. Jed stood on her front porch, his shoulder-length black hair gleaming in the porch light. His eyes seemed to darken as he ran them down her body from her face to her toes and then slowly back up again. He was wearing jeans that hugged his thighs to perfection. An amber-colored shirt was open at the throat to reveal the strong column of his neck. It also complemented the bronze tone of his skin. Atop it he wore a dark gray sports jacket. Maggie didn’t know how long they just stood there, and she didn’t care. Her skin tingled and goose bumps raced down her arms. Her nipples puckered, pressing against her bra. She didn’t dare look down for fear they were outlined against the thin silk of her blouse. What had she been thinking to wear it? She should have opted for thick fleece instead. Or at least a sweater. “You look beautiful.” His voice was rough and deep, startling her out of her musings. “So do you.” She felt like sinking into the floor. What was it about Jed that made her mouth run away? She didn’t seem to have that problem with anyone but him. One side of his mouth tipped up and she held her breath, hoping he’d smile. The man was sexy just standing there, but when he smiled, he was devastating. The smile reached his eyes before his lips. “Thank you,” he murmured. “May I come in?” Heat suffused her cheeks and she stepped back. “Of course. Come in.” She tried not to notice how his arm brushed against her body when he entered. Tried not to notice how yummy he smelled—a combination of fresh air, musk and a clean woodsy scent that made all the hormones in her body stand up and sing a hallelujah chorus. “This is for you.” He handed her a bottle of red wine. “I wasn’t certain what you’d be serving for dinner, but this is good with just about anything.” “Thank you.” Their fingers touched when she took the bottle. Tiny flickers of heat shot through her fingers and up her arms. The hair at her nape fluttered. “Come on back.” She was very aware of him walking just behind her with every step she took toward the kitchen. She could feel his heat, his very presence, even without looking at him. Placing the wine on the countertop, she pulled out a drawer and rummaged around for a corkscrew. “Will you open it?” He took the corkscrew and went to work on the bottle while she took two wine glasses out of the cupboard. A short length of counter separated the kitchen and dining area, and Maggie glanced over at the table, satisfied everything was in order. Fresh flowers sat in an antique Depression glass vase. Candles sat in silver holders waiting to be lit. Her grandmother’s good dishes sat atop linen placemats, waiting to be filled with food. It was a good thing she’d gone through her grandmother’s things over the past few days or she wouldn’t have been able to pull everything together so quickly.
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A low pop made her turn back to Jed. The bottle was open and he was already pouring the wine into the two glasses she’d laid out. When each glass was half full, he set aside the bottle, picked up both of them and handed her one. “To a wonderful evening.” “A wonderful evening,” she echoed. Bringing the crystal to her lips, she sipped the full-bodied wine. It was slightly sweet. She liked it. Jed placed his glass on the counter beside the stove. Nerves jumping, Maggie took another quick sip of the wine. “I’ll just finish getting dinner ready if you want to have a seat.” He took her glass from her and set it next to his. Her eyes flew to his and she licked her lips, which were suddenly dry. “I’d rather have this.” Leaning down, he brushed his mouth against hers. Molten pleasure erupted, spreading from her lips to every cell of her body. Oh, she’d imagined this, fantasized about it, even dreamed it, but nothing compared to the reality of Jed’s kiss. His lips were soft yet firm as they moved over hers. Leisurely, he nibbled and tasted her top lip and then the bottom one. Her mouth parted on a sigh and he slid his tongue just barely inside before retreating. Maggie gave a cry of disappointment and lifted up on her toes, wanting to get closer. He tasted like fresh mint and man, hot and inviting. Not waiting for him this time, she slipped her tongue past his lips and into the waiting cavern. His tongue stroked hers, enticing it to play. His large hands cupped the back of her head, holding her in place for his kiss. He tilted it to the side, deepening the caress. Maggie grabbed his shoulders for support, digging her nails into the fine wool fabric of his sports coat. This was unlike anything she’d ever experienced in her life. Jed tore his mouth from hers, his breathing harsh. She leaned closer, her hips canting inward, and felt the telltale bulge at the front of his jeans. He was as aroused as she was. He rested his forehead against hers and his hands slid down to cup her neck. “Maggie.” He kissed her nose, her cheeks, her jawline. “My sweet, Maggie.” He leaned away from her, pushing their lower halves closer together. Her mound was snug against his erection. It took every ounce of willpower she had not to rub herself against him. He groaned and cupped her hips, holding her steady. “If you don’t want this, say so now.” She knew what he was telling her. If this continued, they’d end up making love and the hell with supper. Was this what she wanted? Yes! Her body and soul both knew that Jed was what she wanted. Whether this was the result of magick or pure chance, she no longer cared. Her concerns melted beneath his serious gaze. No matter what happened after tonight, she wanted this man, right here, right now. He started to pull away, but she grabbed him by the waist, holding him to her. “I want this.” Her voice was a low, sultry whisper. His eyes narrowed, but he stopped trying to move away from her. “Are you sure?”
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She smiled at him. “Absolutely.”
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Chapter Seven
Jed stared down at the siren’s smile on Maggie’s face. His cock was as hard as a rock and had been since the moment Maggie had opened the front door. The silky blouse she was wearing skimmed over her breasts like a second skin and her jeans accentuated the curve of her hips. She might as well have answered the door naked. The effect on his body would have been the same. She tasted so damned sweet, like the wine she’d sipped, mixed with her natural flavor—honey and a touch of spice. He’d never wanted a woman more. Even though he’d had her in his dreams, nothing compared to the reality of the moment. With the soft weight of her breasts pillowed against his chest and the warmth of her mound pressed against his crotch, he was as close to heaven as he’d ever been. Dinner was forgotten as other hungers sprang to life. Lifting his hand, Jed cupped the side of her face. She turned her head and pressed a kiss in the center of his palm. The tiny caress made his balls clench. He gripped her by the hips, turned her and walked her backward until she hit the countertop. Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t protest the move. If anything she seemed curious as to what he was going to do next. Touching her cheeks with his fingers, he let them slide over her soft skin, and down the curve of her neck. “You are so damned soft.” He could spend hours exploring every inch of her skin. And he promised himself that he would. Just not now. With his cock throbbing like a toothache, he knew he didn’t have the luxury of time. He followed the line of her collar as it dipped low, inserting a finger into her cleavage. Her skin was even warmer here. Almost hot. As he leaned down to kiss her collarbone, a gentle waft of her vanilla-scented soap reached him. Or maybe it was lotion. No matter how it had come to be on her skin, it had mixed with her natural scent, creating an entirely new one that he would always associate with Maggie. One button at a time, he slipped the round disks free until her blouse hung open to her waist. He gave a low growl of approval when her bra came into view, followed by a strip of pale flesh. “Pretty.” He traced his finger over the curve of her bra, following the natural contours of her breast. She sucked in a breath and clutched at his shoulders for support. He could feel the heat of her hands through his sports coat and shirt. It wasn’t enough. He had to feel her hands on his bare flesh. “Take off my jacket.”
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She licked her lips and nodded. Slipping her hands beneath his coat, she pushed it over his shoulders and down. He caught it in one hand and tossed it over the far end of the counter. “Now my shirt.” Maggie leaned inward and brushed her lips across the taut edge of his jaw. She walked her fingers across his chest before coming to stop at the buttons. Jed concentrated on breathing. It was a form of torture to just stand here and wait for her to open his shirt when all he wanted to do was rip it off. She took pity on him and her fingers were nimble. In no time at all, his shirt was wide open. Flattening both hands on his chest, she stroked him. “You’re so warm.” He could hear the wonder in her voice, feel the moist heat of her breath just a second before her tongue rasped over one of his nipples. “Maggie.” He wasn’t sure if he wanted her to stop or to continue. She nuzzled the flat brown disk and sucked lightly on it, teasing it with her tongue. Every muscle in his body was primed for action. All he could see was the top of her head as she worked her way across his chest to the other nipple. “Enough.” He pulled away, clamped his hands over her hips and lifted her in one motion. She gave a squeak of surprise as he plopped her butt on the edge of the counter. Before she had time to recover, he leaned down and captured one of the hard nubs pressing against the silky fabric of her bra. Maggie jerked in his arms and then gave a long, breathy moan that had his balls clenching. “I can’t wait,” he muttered as he nuzzled aside the fabric of her bra and lapped at a large, dusky-pink nipple. “Not this time.” “Then don’t.” Her hands went to the buckle of his belt and began to unfasten it. “Don’t wait.” Like a man possessed, Jed shoved her blouse down her arms and tossed it aside. Her bra quickly followed. He paused then, spellbound by the sheer bounty before him. Maggie’s breasts were large and firm, certainly more than a handful. And he had very large hands. She hadn’t been idle while he’d been staring at her. His belt was open and so was the front of his jeans. Carefully, she worked the zipper over his straining erection. He groaned as her fingers pressed against his boxer shorts and wrapped around his hard length. “Maggie,” he gasped. “That feels so damn good, but you have to stop.” He belied his words by pushing his cock deeper into her hand. He could feel moisture seeping from the tip and knew he was too close to be playing with fire. He jerked his hips back, lowered his head and nuzzled her neck. He nipped at the sensitive skin at the curve where her neck met her shoulder, savoring her moan of pleasure. He palmed her breasts, loving the weight of them in his hands. His thumbs rolled over her nipples and they puckered into tempting little red buds. “Jed.” His name was little more than a gasp, but he loved the sound of it as it fell from her lips. “Say my name again.” Standing back, he let his hands slide down her ribcage and come to rest at her waist.
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“Jed.” She reached between them, shoved his boxers out of the way and took him into her hand and squeezed gently. He gritted his teeth. The pleasure was so intense he thought he might come there and then. “Again,” he demanded. He popped the snap of her jeans and yanked down the zipper. “Jed.” This time her tone was more insistent and he knew she was getting as impatient as he was. “Support yourself with your hands and lift your butt.” When she did as he directed he skimmed her jeans and her panties down her hips and over her legs. He didn’t stop, but pushed her shoes off before pulling the rest of her garments off. She was totally naked. Jed felt the heat inside him ratchet up another notch. Her skin was creamy white and smooth. Her curves intoxicating. The thatch of hair at the apex of her thighs was a shade darker than the color of the hair on her head. And it was damp with her growing need. Reaching into his back pocket, he grabbed one of several condoms he’d stashed there just in case. He hadn’t been expecting anything, but he’d prayed he might get lucky. He tore open the packet and smoothed the latex over his erection. Lifting one of Maggie’s feet, he placed it on the edge of the counter. Then he did the same with her other foot. It opened her wide, allowing him full access to her. “Your pussy is so pink and wet.” He stroked his finger over the slick folds, circling the nub at the top. Her hips jerked toward him. “You’re hot for me, aren’t you, sweetheart? You want this as much as I do, don’t you?” He needed her to say the words. “Yes.” She clawed at his shoulders, trying to pull him closer. “Yes, what?” He shifted closer, rubbing the length of his cock over her folds, stroking her clit at the same time. She let out a long, low cry. “Yes, I want you.” “Now?” he asked, teasing her slit with the head of his cock without actually entering her. “Now,” she yelled. Jed positioned himself at her opening and thrust, burying himself right to his balls. Maggie cried out, her head tipping back even as she clung to him. A light coating of perspiration covered his chest and he was finding it hard to breathe. He struggled for control, not wanting this to be over before it started. Her inner muscles were like a silk glove squeezing him. Her pussy rippled as she struggled to accommodate his length and girth. The sensations were incredible. Then Maggie dropped her feet from the counter and wrapped her legs around him and he was lost. “Maggie,” he cried, banding his arms around her. He thrust heavily, over and over again. He couldn’t get deep enough. Burying his face in the curve of her shoulder, he fucked her, holding nothing back. She met him stroke for stroke, her hips flexing against his, her ankles locked at the small of his back and her hands clutching at his back and shoulders. “Harder,” she urged.
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He lifted her in his arms. The motion pushed him deeper. Groaning, he took the few steps necessary to reach the wall and shoved her back against it. Holding her securely, he hammered his hips against hers. His fingers dug into her lush ass, holding her captive for his thrusts. “Jed!” she screamed, and he felt the ripple of her inner muscles, the heat of her surrounding him, and the hot rush of her cream gliding over him. He thrust several more times. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer. He’d dreamed of this moment, but it was even better than anything he’d been able to imagine. Maggie was no phantom in the night, but a real flesh and blood woman. His woman. His balls drew up tight and the beginning of his orgasm shot up his shaft. It erupted from him and he threw back his head and yelled her name. When he came back to his senses his heart was still pounding. Maggie’s feet had slipped from around his waist and were flat on the floor. His hands were still cupping her ass and he gave it a final squeeze before releasing her. She shuddered and he groaned when her inner muscles rippled around him. Bracing one hand against the wall, he pulled out of Maggie’s warmth. She sucked in a sharp breath and swayed, digging her fingers into his shoulders. Jed glanced down at her. Eyes closed, hair tousled and lips wet, she looked totally debauched. “You okay?” A lock of hair had worked free of her braid and he hooked it behind her ear. She licked her lips and nodded. “Maggie.” When he said her name, she opened her eyes. They were a darker and deeper green than normal. “I’m going to move away for a second. Can you stand on your own?” He didn’t want her to end up on the floor when he went to dispose of the condom. “Yeah.” She shifted, leaning more heavily against the wall. Taking her at her word, Jed went to the kitchen garbage and disposed of the condom. Hitching his boxers and jeans back around his hips, he zipped them, but didn’t bother with the button. His shirt still hung on his shoulders. He was barely undressed and she was naked. The more primitive side of his nature liked that. She watched him as he prowled back to her side. Without a word, he scooped her into his arms. “That was the appetizer. Now I’m ready for the main course.”
Maggie wrapped her arms around Jed’s neck as he carried her out of the kitchen. Normally, she’d be self-conscious about him carrying her. She was anything but a lightweight. But he handled her as if she weighed nothing at all. She should be embarrassed by how easily she’d given in to him. Good Lord, they hadn’t even eaten and she’d had sex with him in her kitchen. A tiny smile played around the corners of her mouth. And what sex it was. She’d never experienced anything like it in her life. Jed was assertive and demanding and she’d loved it.
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He carried her up the stairs and into her bedroom, finding it easily. Now that the heat of the moment was fading, nerves were kicking in. She was totally naked and he was still almost fully dressed. She hadn’t had time to worry about her appearance before, but now all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and pull the covers over herself. Jed stopped in front of the ornate freestanding mirror that sat in the corner of her room. She couldn’t see much because the room was dark and that suited her just fine. He released her legs and her feet touched the floor. Then he was gone. A second later her bedside lamp clicked on, the muted light pushing the shadows back. Maggie didn’t hesitate, but headed straight for the bed. Jed caught her before she was halfway there. “Where are you going?” “I thought that was obvious.” She crossed one arm over her breasts and pressed the other one against her stomach. He caught both of her hands in his and gently pulled them away from her body. “Why so shy? You weren’t before?” “I didn’t have time to think before,” she muttered. And that was his fault. He’d overwhelmed her so she couldn’t think straight. He smiled. “I’m glad. But I’m not done yet.” “The bed is right there.” She pointed toward it as best she could with him still holding both her hands. “But the mirror is this way.” He released her hands and wrapped his arm around her waist, turning her so she faced the mirror. “I want to look at you. I want you to look at you. To look at me.” He picked up the end of her braid, slipped the elastic off the end and began to unbraid her hair. “To look at us.” “Jed,” she began. How did you make a man as hard and gorgeous as he was understand her insecurities? “I’m fat.” He stilled for a second, and then continued with his work, not stopping or speaking until her hair was free. “I love your hair.” He sifted his fingers through it and it spread over her back like a cape. “It’s so vibrant and alive. Just like you.” Stepping away, he shrugged out of his shirt and tossed it aside. His eyes never left her as he toed off his boots and unzipped his jeans. He shoved them down and off, taking his socks with him, leaving him clad only in a pair of sexy blue boxers. Maggie shifted her weight from one foot to another, getting angrier with each passing second. She pulled her hair forward. It wasn’t much, but it did give her some covering. “Did you hear me?” He stepped behind her, placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her toward him until her back was resting against his chest. He towered over her, his shoulders visible in spite of the fact she was standing in front of him. It was a stark reminder of how much larger than her he was. “I heard you. I just disagree with you.”
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Gently, he gathered her hair in one of his large hands and lifted it over her shoulder. Every inch of the front of her body was revealed in the mirror before them—her rounded face, ample breasts, wide hips and plump thighs. Maggie did not match the fashion industry’s ideal of beauty. She’d always been about twenty pounds too heavy, but that was where her body naturally settled. Dieting didn’t work and she was healthy so she tried not to worry about it. And usually she didn’t. But this wasn’t a usual situation. He cupped her breasts in his hands and rolled his thumbs over the tight nubs. “Just look at yourself. Your breasts more than fill my hands. The weight of them feels perfect in my palms.” Breathing was suddenly much harder as he lightly pinched her nipples. She whimpered as the sweet sensation shot straight to her core. She was still damp from her first orgasm and was quickly getting wetter. “Your waist skims inward, just as it should.” His hands followed his words, slipping down her ribcage and flaring outward to her sides. His skin was so much darker than hers and it was very erotic to watch him touching her. “And your hips.” He groaned and gripped her hips, pulling her back against him. She could feel his erection pressing into the crease of her behind. Even though he’d just come he was still hard. “Your hips are perfect for a man my size, holding me so sweetly while I fuck you.” The last words came out as a low growl. There was no mistaking the sincerity of his words. Her self-consciousness began to slip away as the passion mounted between them. There was no hiding the fact that the man was turned-on by her body. Maggie straightened slightly, feeling prouder of her body than she had in a long while. It was only then that she realized what a job her ex had done on her self-esteem with his constant knocks against her weight and the hints that she should go on a diet. “Then there are your thighs.” Jed rubbed his hands over the front of her thighs. “They’re rounded and womanly and they make me hot.” He pressed his palms between her thighs and she automatically parted them for him. “That’s perfect. See the way your thighs part for my touch.” He slipped one hand in the notch at her legs and stroked her intimately. Her hips undulated forward, seeking his fingers. Maggie wasn’t sure what it was about Jed that made her so hot so fast. Maybe it was the fact that she’d dreamed about them making love the past few nights. It felt as if they were already lovers even though tonight was the first time they’d ever been together. “You know what I’d like even more?” he whispered in her ear. “No, what?” Her mouth was suddenly dry as she waited with anticipation. She was quivering from head to toe, her body vibrating in readiness. He captured her earlobe and nipped at it. The sensual bite sent shivers down her spine. “I want to see you on your knees in front of me with your sexy lips wrapped around my cock. I want to watch you take
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me into your mouth. I want to see it in the mirror and I want you to watch it too.” He shoved his cock harder against her ass. “It makes me want to come just thinking about it.” Maggie forgot to breathe. Her breasts ached and her core throbbed. She’d never liked oral sex before, but she wanted to experience it with Jed. Somehow she knew it would be different. Before, she felt like it was something she should do. With him, it was something she wanted to do. He trailed his tongue over the inner curve of her ear, winding in and out of each whorl before nipping her earlobe again. “But only if you want to.” Maggie pushed away from him and stood so she was side on to the mirror. She cocked her eyebrow at Jed and he smiled as he shoved his boxers off and kicked them away. She hadn’t had much of an opportunity to look at him in the kitchen. Their coming together had been so hard and fast. She took her time studying him now. His cock was long and thick. The crown was wide and wet as it jerked toward her. He shifted so he was standing in front of her. Both of them were side on to the mirror. Maggie glanced toward the looking glass. Jed stood with his feet planted on the floor, his hands fisted at his side. His shaft was ready and willing. And her. Well, she was surprised by how she looked. Her red hair gleamed in the dim light, her breasts appeared heavier, fuller, and her body was a mix of shadows and light. But it was the expression on her face that startled her the most. It was the look of a woman well pleased with herself. It was one of anticipation and of carnal intent. Maggie slowly sank to her knees in front of Jed. Her hair glided sensually over her shoulder, the carpet was rough against her skin, her pulse was pounding and she felt lightheaded thinking about what she was about to do. Reaching out, she cupped the heavy sac beneath his shaft. It was full. Heavy. She slowly massaged the twin spheres inside. He groaned and his hands sank into her hair, fisting it in his fingers. With her free hand, she captured his shaft at the base, holding him firmly. Leaning forward, she nuzzled his balls. He smelled musky and felt warm against her cheek. Jed groaned her name. She turned her head so she could see him in the mirror. His gaze captured hers. His amber eyes fairly glowed, radiating a sexual heat that brushed across her skin like a physical caress. The harsh angles and planes of his face made him look almost cruel in the dim light, but Maggie was anything but afraid. Turning away, she opened her mouth and swirled her tongue around the head of his cock. A guttural sound escaped him. His fingers tangled in her hair, guiding her closer. Maggie laughed and blew on the wide crown and then traced the ridge at the base. Jed swore and a bead of pearly fluid seeped from the tip. Maggie swiped at it with her tongue. It was warm and salty. “Maggie,” he groaned.
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Taking pity on him, she closed her mouth over him and took him deep. “Damn, that feels incredible.” Jed began to slowly pump his hips back and forth, using his hold on her hair to guide her. Again, she glanced toward the mirror and watched enthralled as his hard length disappeared in her mouth only to reappear seconds later, glistening wet. Maggie concentrated on trying to take him as deep as possible. She gagged a few times and Jed started to pull away. She tightened her grip on his shaft and balls and he subsided, letting her have her way. His excitement fed her own. Cream slipped from her core and trickled down the inside of her thighs. Her breasts ached for his touch. She could feel his balls pulling closer to his body. Feel the pressure building at the base of his cock. Jed tugged on her hair, pulling her away. She released him with a wet pop. “Stop,” he gasped. “I want to be inside you when I come.” Maggie let her hand glide up and down his shaft one final time and gave his testicles one last squeeze before she released him. He gave a groan. “You’re going to pay for that.” “Promises. Promises,” she all but purred. She felt sexually powerful and all woman. Sexual. Proud. Alive. Reaching down, he tugged her to her feet, picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. He stood at the side of the mattress and gripped her legs, tugging her so that her butt was resting on the edge. Going down on his hands and knees before her, he held her open with his hands and leaned forward. Maggie cried out as his tongue pierced her. He flicked it around her slit, pushing inside before swirling over her slick folds. Like a man possessed, Jed devoured her, eating at her core until she couldn’t think, couldn’t talk, couldn’t do anything but feel. “I told you I was hungry,” he growled, flicking her clit with his clever tongue. “You’re the appetizer, the main course and dessert.” Maggie wasn’t sure she’d survive, but what a way to go. Jed continued to tease her clit and sank two thick fingers into her sheath. She could feel him stretching her in a deliciously erotic fashion. She gasped when he widened his fingers and slowly withdrew them. He shifted closer, pushing his arms under her thighs and reaching for her breasts. The change in position opened her legs wider. He teased her nipples with his fingers. Between her thighs, he continued to stoke the fires of her arousal with his tongue and mouth. This was beyond her imagination. She felt alive. Burning up with barely suppressed desires. Maggie flattened her feet on the edge of the mattress and pushed her hips closer. She needed more. Needed him deeper. Harder. Her inner muscles quivered. Jed pinched her nipples at the same moment he wrapped his lips around her clit and sucked hard. Maggie came undone. Every nerve ending exploded. She cried out, hips jerking and body shaking.
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She’d barely started to come down from her orgasm when Jed released her. Surging to his feet, he reached down and grabbed his jeans. He dug a condom out of the pocket. Maggie vaguely wondered how many of those he had tucked away in there. She hoped he had at least one more. She almost laughed out loud. She’d gone from being self-conscious about her body to being a sex fiend. His fingers were fast and sure and in seconds flat had himself sheathed. His erection was long and thick and she couldn’t wait to get it back inside her. Jed prowled toward her like some great big animal on the hunt. She licked her lips and stared at his straining erection. He pounced, flipping her over so she was on her stomach. He climbed onto the mattress behind her and kneeled between her legs. “Come up on your hands and knees.” Maggie knew what he wanted and was aroused by the thought of him taking her from behind. She supported herself on her hands and rose. She knew he could see every inch of her sex. Her sheath rippled in anticipation of what was to come. She was panting for air when he used his knees to spread hers wider. The blunt tip of his cock burrowed against her tight opening and then he pressed deep. Maggie arched her back and panted as he filled her one slow inch at a time until he was buried balls deep. In this position he stretched her. Her inner muscles rippled, relaxing and contracting as her body struggled to accommodate him. It felt so good. But it wasn’t enough. Her pussy clenched hard, gripping his shaft, squeezing it. Jed groaned, his hands flexing around her hips. He leaned down and nipped at the nape of her neck, drawing another gasp of pleasure from her. “Hold me tight,” he commanded. He released her hips and slid his hands over her stomach, up her ribcage, finally slipping them over her breasts. Her pussy spasmed, more than ready for another orgasm. Even though she’d come twice, she was close to climaxing again. Jed drew back his hips and surged forward. The sensation of him sliding out and forging inward again was incredible. Maggie wanted more and pushed her hips back to meet this next thrust. The muscles in her arms quivered. Perspiration coated her skin. Her long hair clung to her scalp and shoulders. The smell of sex teased her nostrils. The scent of hot male mixed with the spicy heat of her cream to create an aphrodisiac that was intoxicating. The wet slap of their skin was erotic music to accompany their act of joining. The harsh gasps of their breath grew louder. Maggie closed her eyes and savored each sound, every touch. Jed’s movements grew faster, more frantic as he pounded into her. His hips slapped against her bottom. His balls brushed against her clit. She arched back to meet each thrust, unable to believe how close to coming she was again.
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“Almost there,” he groaned and quickened his pace. He released her breasts, grabbed her hips and held on tight. He slammed into her over and over, driving deep. It felt so good. Impossibly good. Maggie knew it couldn’t last. A second later she felt her entire core clench around his cock. She screamed as her orgasm slammed into her. Jed yelled. She felt his shaft spasm inside her and knew he was coming. Maggie lost herself in the heat, the hard clutch of her body, the rhythmic pulls and releases. She shuddered and collapsed facedown on the bed. Jed managed to pull out of her before falling next to her, his face a scant inch from hers. Gasping for breath, Maggie closed her eyes. Jed’s arm wrapped around her, tugging her into the curve of his body. She was sweaty and sticky, and knew she had to get cleaned up. And she would. Just as soon as she caught her breath.
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Chapter Eight
Maggie shivered. Cool air brushed her skin, sending goose bumps skating over her arms. Had she fallen asleep with the window open? A muscular arm held her against an equally hard chest. Memory returned with a rush and Maggie’s eyes shot open. She was lying naked on top of her bed. She and Jed had just had the most amazing sex and she’d come—she had to stop and count—three times. Incredible. The corners of her mouth turned up as satisfaction filled her. Her ex had always complained because she’d had a hard time actually having an orgasm during intercourse. She hadn’t had any problems with Jed. It seemed all it took was the right man. Another shiver went through her. The right man. What was she thinking? This was sex, not a relationship. She was adult enough that she could enjoy a sexual encounter without turning it into something it wasn’t. She opened her eyes, blinking as she looked at the bedside lamp. The red candle sat there, taunting her. The spell they’d cast in Rhiannon’s garden had originally been planned for a lover, but at the last second her friend had changed it to a true love. How had it gone again? Lady Moon in the sky so bright. Lend your power. Lend your might. Bring to us a love that’s true. And one that one day we won’t rue. In this time and in this hour, we three ladies ask this of thee. We ask this done and harm to none, what we have wrought here now is begun. The words popped back into her head. She could feel the cool air in the garden, hear the low sound of Rhiannon’s voice growing stronger as she chanted. The swirl of the wind as it whipped around their clothing, the light from the moon. “Are you okay?” Jed propped himself up on one arm and leaned over her. She nodded, not wanting to talk about magick. All she wanted to do right now was to recapture the warm glow of moments before. “I’m okay.” She reached up and touched the side of his face, feeling the light stubble on his jaw. “I’m better than okay.” Jed smiled slowly and his golden eyes warmed. “You certainly are.” His hand settled on her waist and then slid down to cup her hip. Her eyes widened. “Again?” The word popped out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Jed laughed, the sound warm and intimate. “I’d like that, but you’re probably feeling a bit sore.”
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Maggie began to notice the twinges in her body. And not only the minor aches and pains, but the fact that she was sweaty and sticky too. “I need a shower.” “Care to share?” He traced a finger between her breasts before veering off to the right and slowly circling one puckered areola. Words deserted her and she licked her suddenly dry lips. She’d never showered with a man before. “I thought you said…” She broke off, not quite knowing how to phrase it. “We won’t make love.” His clever fingers stroked from one nipple over to the other. Maggie’s breath caught in her throat. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t make you feel good.” “That…that doesn’t seem fair.” His eyes darkened as he picked up a lock of her hair and used the ends to tease her breasts. “More than fair.” Jed leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I want to soap my hands and touch every inch of your body.” Put like that, how could she deny him? “Okay.” Her voice was breathless, but she couldn’t help it. Just thinking about what he wanted to do was turning her on. Jed moved suddenly, rolling out of bed and standing beside it. He held out his hand and she slid her fingers against his, letting him help her up. Standing naked beside him, she felt none of her earlier selfconsciousness. She smiled and led the way to the bathroom. Not wanting to lose the ambiance, Maggie lit all three pillar candles that sat on the vanity in the bathroom. Their light flickered over the walls and their sweet lavender scent released into the air. “Nice.” Jed moved past her and turned on the water. When it was the right temperature, he stepped into the shower. He ducked beneath the spray and the water beat down on his head and shoulders, soaking him from head to toe in seconds. Maggie’s toes curled against the cool tile floor as she watched. His wet skin was as sexy as all get out. He raised his arm to shove his hair out of his eyes and his biceps rippled. His chest looked like it was carved from stone, hard and chiseled. “Coming in?” Jed held the curtain back and reached out his hand. Taking it, Maggie stepped in beside him. “What about your hair?” Damn, she’d forgotten about it. Stepping back out of the shower, she gathered her hair and wound it around her head. Grabbing a three-pronged clip from the counter, she jammed it into the knot, anchoring it in place. Satisfied, she turned and gingerly stepped back into the shower. Jed had been busy while she’d dealt with her hair. Soap sluiced down his arms and torso, pooling at his feet. He picked up the bar of soap from the ledge and rubbed it between his palms. Bubbles and lather quickly filled his hands. He tossed the bar of soap back into the holder and reached for her.
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Starting at her neck, he worked his way downward. His hands were gentle but thorough as he soaped her collarbone, her arms and even between her fingers. The slide of his fingers through hers was incredibly stimulating. A ripple shot through her pussy. She glanced down and, sure enough, her nipples were puckered again. Maggie was beginning to think that was going to be a permanent condition whenever Jed was around. He cupped the soft mounds of her breasts and massaged them, but didn’t touch the hard nubs. The lack of attention made them tighten even more. But Jed ignored them and worked his way down her ribcage, around her waist and over her hips. Light, frothy bubbles covered her skin. “You’re so soft and womanly.” Jed went down on one knee in front of her. He worked his hands over her thighs and calves before sliding them up inside her legs. Maggie shifted her feet, widening her stance as he moved closer to her sex. Strong, sure fingers sifted through her pubic hair before gliding over her slick folds. “Your taste is like your hair color—spicy, like cinnamon.” He leaned closer and tongued her clit as he slid two fingers deep into her sheath. Just like that, Maggie’s orgasm struck hard and fast. Her inner muscles clutched at his fingers. He continued to tongue the hard nub of nerves at the apex of her thighs. It wasn’t quite as strong as her earlier climax, but was softer and deeper. “Jed,” she moaned between gasps of air. Her legs trembled and her knees threatened to give out. She groped for the wall, lending support to her shaky body. “Damn.” Jed stood and gathered her into his arms. “That was incredible.” His erection pressed hard against her belly, a stark reminder that she’d come and he hadn’t. She reached for him, but he caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “Later.” He sucked one of her fingers into his mouth, making her moan. Her core pulsed, a vivid reminder of what had just occurred. “We need to eat first. Keep up our strength.” Her stomach chose that minute to growl. She felt her cheeks heating even as Jed chuckled. “See, your stomach agrees with me.” He planted a hard, quick kiss on her mouth before turning back to the spray, which was rapidly cooling. It didn’t take them long to rinse off, but it took much longer for them to get dried off. Jed rubbed the white fluffy towel over her skin, paying extra special attention to her breasts, her bottom and her pussy. In return, she dried him off, taking care to make certain his chest, his prime butt and his erection were completely free of water. Jed sucked in a breath as she drew the cotton towel over his shaft and massaged his balls. His eyes gleamed, but he said nothing, made no move to make love to her again. Maggie hung the wet towels to dry and he blew out the candles. Taking her hand in his, Jed led her back to the bedroom. He found his jeans on the floor and tugged them on, zipping but not buttoning them.
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He was sexy as all get out wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. Jed’s body was every woman’s fantasy—hard and leanly muscled. But it was the man himself who made her heart pound and her skin flush. Jed was a good man, hard working and honest. The kind of man who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty or do what needed to be done. Being a deputy wasn’t an easy job. In the six months since she’d been back she’d heard plenty about Jed from friends and neighbors, and he had a reputation for being tough but fair. She hadn’t really known him when they were kids. He’d been ahead of her in school. But even then he’d seemed kind. Pulling her gaze away, Maggie went to the closet to pull out a robe. Jed touched her shoulder and shook his head. “Let me.” He picked up his shirt off the floor, shook it and held it out. Unable to resist, she slid her arms into the openings and let him tug the fabric around her. He did up four of the buttons before stepping back and surveying his work. “Perfect. I like you in my clothes.” She liked it too, although she wouldn’t admit it. Giving him a sassy grin, she sashayed down the stairs to the kitchen with him right behind her. It didn’t take her long to reheat the stew and brown the rolls in the oven. While they were waiting for the main course, they helped themselves to the salad that Maggie had made earlier. Their conversation was sparse while they ate, each of them locked in their own thoughts. Maggie was still trying to process what had happened. For a woman who’d never thought of herself as an overly sexual being, tonight had been a complete eye-opener. As they moved on to the main course, they chatted about mutual acquaintances and town news. He ate with a gusto that pleased her on an elemental level, but Maggie barely tasted the stew. It took everything in her to follow their conversation. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the memories of what he’d done to her body. “That was delicious.” Jed pushed back his empty bowl and sat back in his chair. His hands rested on his belly, bringing her attention to the rope-like muscles in his abdomen. “What are you thinking?” His praise warmed her. She didn’t cook a lot, but she knew she made a great beef stew. It was her grandmother’s recipe and never failed to please. Maggie pushed back her partially eaten bowl of stew and the half roll that sat on her plate. She cocked her head to one side and contemplated the man sitting across from her and decided to tell him the truth. “I’m thinking how unusual this is. That I don’t jump into bed with a man I barely know.” Jed’s shoulders tensed, but he remained quiet. “But it doesn’t feel as if I barely know you. It feels as if we’ve already been lovers.” There, she’d said it. As silly as it sounded, it was true. If anything the tension in the room grew even more palpable. Jed straightened and rested his hands palm down on the table. They were large hands, strong yet gentle. “Maggie,” he began. He stopped and shoved a hand through his hair. The silky, straight strands fell back into place.
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“Don’t worry,” she hurried to reassure him. “I’m not going to make this into more than it is.” “What exactly do you think it is?” He sounded almost angry as he stared at her, his eyes narrowing. She was beginning to wish she’d kept her mouth shut or said something light and flip instead of being truthful. Obviously something she’d said had upset him. Maggie shrugged and picked at the button on his shirt, wishing for the first time that she’d worn something a little more substantial. What had been sexy only moments before now left her feeling vulnerable, especially considering she was naked beneath the soft cotton. “Sex. Great sex between two healthy adults.” Realizing she was fidgeting, she dropped her hand to her lap. “It’s a hell of a lot more than that.” Jed stood and pulled his chair around until it was beside her. He dropped back onto it and reached for her hand. “Maggie, there’s something I need to tell you.” Oh damn, he was going to tell her this was just a one-night stand. She pulled her hand away and wrapped her arms around her waist. “What?” She could get through this. She was strong. Jed dropped his hand back into his lap and fisted it. “We have been lovers.” His voice was cold, the words clipped. He didn’t sound happy about the fact. She waited for a few seconds, wondering what the heck he was talking about. They hadn’t been lovers before tonight. Unless you counted her dreams, which she most certainly didn’t. She definitely would have remembered that. Sex with Jed had been hot and overwhelming. An incredible experience she’d never forget. Jed continued to simply stare at her. “Yes, we had sex tonight.” She couldn’t bring herself to call it making love when there was no love on his part. Deep in the pit of her stomach, Maggie knew she had feelings for Jed. Otherwise she’d never have let him into her bed. It was those darn dreams and fantasies. “No.” Jed pushed back his chair and stood, staring down at her. “It’s more than that.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, drawing her attention to the bulge in the front of his jeans. “We’ve made love before.” He paused and pinned her with his amber gaze. “In our dreams.” Maggie froze. He couldn’t mean what she thought he did. As if he were reading her thoughts, he nodded. “That’s right, Maggie. I’ve been dreaming of you for the past few nights. I’ve made love to you over and over again, until you’ve screamed your release.” He paused. “And somehow I know you’ve had the same dreams.” “That’s impossible.” She wrapped her arms tighter around her body. She shook her head as if to deny his words. What he was saying just wasn’t possible. There was no way they’d had the same dreams. “Not impossible.” Jed took several steps, turned and paced back. He stopped and held his hands out by his sides. “I’m a spiritwalker.”
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Maggie was beginning to feel like she’d entered an alternate dimension. Her life was boring and predictable and didn’t include mind-blowing sex with a man she barely knew and shared erotic dreams. Yet that was exactly what he was suggesting. “What exactly does that mean?” The food she’d eaten settled like a stone in her stomach. “It means that I can astral travel. I can leave my body and go other places.” Jed paused and prowled closer. He hunkered down beside her, but didn’t touch her. “You called to me the other night. Your spirit drew mine here. I watched you pleasure yourself in your bed. I heard you whisper my name after you came.” He rested his hand on her bare leg and her cold skin absorbed the heat. “Since that night, even though I haven’t allowed myself to spiritwalk, you’ve been in my dreams.” Maggie went hot and then cold. Her vision dimmed and, for a moment, she feared she’d black out. There was no way he could know about the other night. Not unless… “You sonofabitch.” Her hand snapped out and connected to the side of his face. The sound was sharp, his flesh firm beneath her hand. “You were spying on me.” Jed’s mouth firmed, his eyes narrowed. “I did, but not in the way you think. I wasn’t sitting outside your window, Maggie. My spirit was inside the room with you even though my physical body was back in my bedroom at home. No one has ever compelled my spirit to come before. Not until that night. I couldn’t resist your call.” “You expect me to believe that.” It was too much for her to take in. He’d watched her pleasure herself. Watched her orgasm as she’d groaned his name. No wonder he’d asked her out. After that display, he rightly figured she was a sure thing. Heat burned her cheeks. She felt violated, their time together tainted. Jed stood and stared down at her. He turned away, but not before she saw a flash of pain and hurt in his eyes. She didn’t want to hurt him, but did he really expect her to believe what he was saying? Spiritwalking? He had to have been spying on her. There was no other way. Was there? She thought about Rhiannon and her claims of being a witch. Her friend was different. Special. Was it possible Jed was telling the truth? Her brain couldn’t sort through everything, not with her heart aching. “You’ll believe what you want to believe, but I’m telling you the truth. It was never my intention to spy on you or invade your privacy. For that, I’m sorry.” He was as still as stone as he looked back at her. “But I had nothing to do with the dreams. They came to me without my asking.” “This is crazy. It’s like me believing the candle ceremony that I did with Rhiannon and Esther the other night compelled you to come here,” she blurted out. Jed blinked slowly, his amber eyes seemed to glow brighter. “What kind of ceremony?” Maggie shrugged. Her hand stung where she’d hit Jed and she curled her fingers into her palm. She couldn’t believe she’d struck him. She’d never hit another person in her entire life.
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“It was a silly ceremony with candles. It was supposed to bring a lover into our lives, but at the last second Rhiannon asked for a true love instead.” She straightened her shoulders. “It didn’t mean anything.” “Didn’t mean anything,” he repeated. “I guess that tells me everything I need to know.” Jed disappeared from the kitchen. She heard his footsteps on the stairs but couldn’t make herself move. Tears pricked her eyes, but she held them back with sheer force of will. He couldn’t really expect her to believe the whole spiritwalker thing or that they’d shared dreams. It couldn’t be true. It was crazy to even think it might be. She didn’t know what to believe. A shiver skated down her spine and Maggie trembled. Drawing her legs up to her chest, she pulled the tails of Jed’s shirt around her chilled limbs. Burying her face against her knees, she took a deep breath to try to steady herself. Footsteps sounded on the stairs and she felt Jed’s presence before she looked up and saw him standing in the doorway. He was dressed, except for his shirt. Ignoring her, he grabbed his jacket and slipped it on over his bare chest. “I’m sorry I hit you.” She had to say it. His cheek was still red, but already the mark was beginning to fade. “I’m sorry too.” Maggie knew from the tone of his voice he wasn’t talking about the fact that she hit him, but the fact that she didn’t believe him. “Jed,” she began, not quite knowing what she wanted to say. He shook his head. “Don’t. It’s real and if you’re honest with yourself, you know it. I think that the magick you performed with Rhiannon drew my spirit to yours when I went spiritwalking. We’ve shared dreams. That I can’t explain. Maybe it’s because we’re connected on more than a physical plane. I’m not sure. All I know is that tonight felt right. Being with you felt right.” “I—” He cut her off. “No! Let me finish. This is as real as it gets. I want to be with you, but you have to believe in me and in yourself. I am a spiritwalker. It’s part of who I am. That’s never going to change. If you can’t accept that, I need to know now before my heart gets any more tangled up than it already is.” Jed reached out and brushed his hand over her hair. “Such fire, yet you’re so filled with fear, refusing to believe in what you know to be true. Refusing to trust yourself. You reached out to my spirit, Maggie. Don’t be afraid to take what you want.” Dropping his hand back down by his side, he stepped away. “It’s up to you.” He turned and walked away without a backward glance. Maggie’s stomach churned and her skin grew cold. She jumped up from her chair and hurried after him, but it was too late. The door closed, the sound harsh and final. Maggie leaned against the panel and listened to the purr of an engine as he started his vehicle and drove away.
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Like an automaton, she returned to the kitchen and cleaned up from dinner. The dishes went into the dishwasher, the leftovers in the refrigerator. Turning off the light, she dragged herself up the stairs to her room. Maggie paused just inside the door. The sheets of her bed were tangled and the scent of Jed, of sex, lingered in the air. A tear rolled down her cheek and she swiped it away. “It’s not real. It can’t be.” She crawled into bed and pulled a pillow into her arms. It smelled like Jed. She buried her face in it and breathed deep. Her body responded immediately. Thrusting the pillow away, she glared at the candle that sat on her bedside table. “Magick isn’t real. Spiritwalking isn’t real. It can’t be.” She turned off the bedside lamp and let the darkness envelop her. Chilled to the bone, she pulled blankets tighter around her and burrowed into Jed’s shirt. It was almost like having his arms around her. Almost. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Giving up the fight, she grabbed Jed’s pillow and buried her face in it. What if it was real? Maggie cried until she had no tears left. What was she going to do?
Jed was careful on the drive home. With his emotions so volatile it would be easy for him not to pay proper attention to the road. And the last thing he needed was to be in or cause an accident. He smacked the flat of his hand against the steering wheel, ignoring the sharp pain that shot up his arm. Anger and frustration filled him, but overriding it all was a sense of loss. Maggie. She was the woman for him. The other half of his soul. He knew it even if she didn’t. She didn’t believe in magick or in the possibility that there was more to the world than what could be seen with the naked eye. His gut clenched. He couldn’t change who he was. Not for anyone. Not even for Maggie. It was too much a part of his identity. He parked the truck, walked up the dark pathway and let himself into the house. Usually his home gave him a sense of peace, of security. Tonight it felt cold and empty. Like his life. What if Maggie didn’t change her mind? He fisted his hands by his sides as he made his way to his bedroom. No. He couldn’t think that way. Her spirit had reached out to him. She’d done it once. He had to believe she would do it again. Time. He had to give her time. He’d shocked her tonight. That, combined with the mind-blowing sex they’d had, was probably more than he could have expected her to handle. He stripped off his clothes, tossed them aside and climbed into bed. His arms were empty. His soul felt cold. He wished he were back in Maggie’s bed with her snuggled up next to him, her butt tucked next to his groin, her back against his chest.
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Sighing, he rolled over and stared out the window. He’d had a healthy sex life over the years, but he’d never come close to experiencing anything like what he’d felt with Maggie. The sex had been phenomenal. Maggie responded to his every touch, every caress as though she’d been made for him. She’d held nothing back, letting him have every cry, every gasp. The pulse-pounding orgasms had been off the charts. Yet he’d been content to pleasure her in the shower. Her happiness was more important than him finding release. But it went even deeper. The connection between them was more than physical. It was spiritual. Emotional. He’d hoped when she mentioned magick that she would be open to the idea of spiritwalking. Maybe he should have waited to say anything. Maybe he shouldn’t have told her so soon. But he hadn’t wanted to start their relationship with a lie. He felt bad enough about intruding on her privacy the other night. Taking a deep breath, he tried to relax. Time. It would take time, but he was patient. Like his totem animal, the bear, he was a methodical hunter. He could wait. Maggie was worth it and a life without her was something he wasn’t even willing to contemplate.
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Chapter Nine
Maggie pried open her eyes and stared at the clock on her nightstand. Seven. It was too early to get up, but there was no point in her staying in bed any longer. She’d tossed and turned the whole night through, just as she had every night since she and Jed had made love. That was five long nights ago. Sighing, Maggie shoved back the covers and sat up. The collar of Jed’s shirt slipped over her shoulder and she shoved it back up. She’d worn it to bed every night, unable to make herself wash it, store it away or return it to him. It was cowardly, but she didn’t care. She’d been avoiding everyone for the past few days. Even Rhiannon and Esther. Their messages were piling up on her machine, their pleas turning to demands. But Maggie just wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened with Jed. She knew if she didn’t contact them soon, they’d come looking for her. On the upside, she was painting again. This past week, she’d started the most ambitious project she’d ever undertaken. After years of not practicing her skill, she’d expected to be rusty. But the sketches had flowed and she’d known almost from the start what she was going to paint. Sitting on the side of the bed, she stared at the canvas propped up against the wall. She’d finished it last night. The painting was about four feet wide and three feet high. The forest was deep with shadows, the sunlight barely penetrating the thick foliage. Autumn leaves dotted the trees, brightening the various shades of green. A man stood in the center, his arms raised to the heavens. He was shirtless, his black hair hanging around his shoulders. His jeans were faded, his boots scuffed. A mist surrounded his body, drifting away from his fingertips. Behind him, hidden in the trees, was a bear, the outline barely visible, more ghostly than real. There was no denying the man was Jed. That’s how she pictured him. Elemental. Powerful. All male. One with nature. What was she going to do about Jed? Sitting on the side of the bed, she stared at the painting. Even she knew this was the best work she’d ever done. As if guided by unseen hands, she’d been driven to paint. Everything she felt for Jed was there in the painting, in every loving line she’d drawn, in every choice of color, which she’d struggled to find the exact perfect shade. Sighing, she glanced away, unable to look at it any longer.
Dreams of Seduction
Spiritwalking. Astral travel. She’d done some research over the past few days and was shocked by how much she’d found out about the subject. Many people, including some scientists, believed that this could really be done. That a person could leave their physical body and visit other places and people. A chill crept up her legs. Maggie pushed herself off the bed and headed for the shower. It was the fastest shower on record. She didn’t linger in there. Not anymore. Not since that night. Memories of what Jed had done to her, what she’d done to him and what they’d done together, haunted her every waking and sleeping moment. Every time she closed her eyes, she was inundated with scenes of their naked bodies, limbs entwined as they made love. She might not have laid eyes on him since the night they’d made love, but he was always in her thoughts. Making love. She’d been forced to reevaluate that night. No matter how she tried to convince herself otherwise, she knew she’d made love to him, with him. It wasn’t just sex between two adults. There was a connection, something tangible between them that went a lot deeper than merely physical pleasure. She pulled on a pair of well-worn jeans and a long-sleeved cotton shirt in a hunter green over her underwear and added a pair of thick socks. Grabbing her tennis shoes, she slipped them on and tied the laces. She needed to get out of the house. At the last second, she grabbed the red candle from the bedside table. Hurrying downstairs, she pulled on her jacket and shoved the candle into her pocket before she snagged her purse and keys. The sun was peeking over the trees in the distance, announcing the start of another day. And not just any day. Halloween—the day when the veil between the world and the supernatural was thinnest. That is if you believed in that sort of thing. She closed and locked the door behind her, taking a deep breath of the fresh ocean air as she went down the walkway. The sky was a clear blue and thick, fluffy clouds dotted the horizon. She kicked a rock out of her way as she strode down the side of the road, heading toward town. What did she believe? She was no longer certain. She’d been over and over what Jed had said to her that night a hundred times, if not more. There was no way he could have watched her pleasuring herself. Once she’d had some time to really think clearly about it, she’d logically assessed the situation. There was no tree outside her window for him to climb and it was impossible to see in her window otherwise. Plus, she just couldn’t picture Jed skulking around outside her house trying to see into her room. It was totally out of character. So what did that leave her with? A lucky guess? Or was his claim of being a spiritwalker true? If it was true, how did she feel about it? Maggie shoved her hands into her coat pocket and picked up her stride. She could almost hear her grandmother scolding her for not believing. Bride O’Neill might have lived in America most of her life, but she’d brought her beliefs and superstitions with her from Ireland. She had believed in spirits and magick and things that went bump in the night.
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A crow swooped out of the woods and dipped in front of her before disappearing into the thick brush on the opposite side of the road. Its loud caw broke the silence of the morning. The low-lying mist was dissipating as the sun rose higher in the sky. Dew covered the grass and plants along the side of the road, making them glisten in the light. Maggie stopped and closed her eyes, absorbing the calm of the morning. She could feel the heat of the sun on her cheeks as it rose higher in the sky, the light autumn breeze as it tugged at her jacket. The morning was alive with the buzz of insects, the sway of the tree branches and the sound of the ocean crashing against the shoreline in the distance. A sense of peace descended on her. This was magick—the earth beneath her feet and the air that swirled around her. Did it really matter if Jed could do as he claimed? Did it change the heart of the man he was? No. Her friend Rhiannon claimed to be a witch. Maggie had felt the breeze she’d conjured indoors and witnessed the power she’d raised during the candle magick. There was no denying what she’d seen and felt with her own senses. Why was it easier to accept Rhiannon’s claims and not Jed’s? Because she wasn’t in love with Rhiannon. Maggie’s eyes snapped open. The world around her was the same, but she wasn’t. She loved Jed Bearson. Impossible as it seemed, she loved him. It had been attraction at first sight that had only deepened over time. The fantasies, the dreams and the reality had only strengthened those feelings. She had to talk to someone. Hurrying down the side of the road, she headed to A Touch of Magick. Rhiannon was probably there by now. Maggie knew her friend liked to get an early start on the day. Besides which, she’d be leaving work early to go home to give out treats to the mini ghosts and goblins. Rhiannon had been looking forward to this night for weeks. Traffic was sparse, but there were folks out and about. A school bus rumbled by and several children waved as it passed. She waved back, smiling at their excited, happy faces. No doubt they were looking forward to tonight, daydreaming about all the candy they’d collect. Her footsteps got faster the closer she got to A Touch of Magick. The lights were on inside. That was a good sign. She ignored the brightly decorated stores as she passed them. The entire town was festooned with pumpkins and bundles of hay. Ghosts and goblins hung from windows and railings, tossed about in the breeze. What would people do if they knew that there was more to the world than they could see with their own two eyes? Maybe many of them already knew. Maggie knocked on the door of the shop. Shading her eyes with her hand, she peered into A Touch of Magick searching for Rhiannon. Her friend appeared a moment later, a frown on her face. It changed to a smile the moment Rhiannon saw her.
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Sighing with relief, Maggie waited as Rhiannon unlocked the door. Rhiannon’s smile faded when her friend took a good look at her. “Come in and tell me what’s wrong.” Maggie stepped inside and closed her eyes, absorbing the comfort that seemed to emanate from the very walls of the shop. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the inviting atmosphere that Rhiannon had created here or if it was something more. Magick. Either way, she was grateful for it. “Maggie?” She could hear the concern in Rhiannon’s voice. Her friend touched her arm. “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll pour you a coffee.” Opening her eyes, she let Rhiannon lead her to the coffee shop area and seat her at a table. Keeping one eye on her, Rhiannon poured up two mugs of freshly brewed coffee and carried them back to the table. Sitting across the tiny café-style table, her friend pushed the mug toward her. “Talk.” Maggie opened her mouth and closed it again, shaking her head. She wasn’t quite sure where to begin. Rhiannon frowned, her brows wrinkling. “Don’t tell me it’s nothing. You look like hell. You obviously haven’t been sleeping and you look like you’ve lost weight.” “Do you believe in astral travel or spiritwalking?” Rhiannon tilted her head to one side, obviously taken aback by the subject. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment and then nodded. “You know I’m a witch.” Maggie nodded as she wrapped her hands around the thick pottery mug and breathed in the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. “That’s a skill I haven’t been able to master, but my grandmother could astral travel and so can my father. Why?” “Because Jed claims that he came to my home, to my bedroom one night. The same night we did the candle magick in your backyard.” Picking up the mug, she took a large mouthful and swallowed, praying the caffeine would kick in and give her a much needed jolt of energy. “He said that he felt pulled toward me and that he’d never felt anything like it before in his life.” “Jed is a traveler.” Rhiannon tapped her fingers against the tabletop, making her bracelets jingle. “I wondered about him. He exudes a quiet power that I couldn’t quite place.” She reached out and covered Maggie’s hand with hers. “The question is how do you feel about it?” That was the question she’d been asking herself for days now. “At first I was angry. I thought he was lying, that he’d been spying on me.” Tugging her hand away, she gripped her mug securely, letting the warmth soak into her palms. “He knew what I’d been doing that night in my room.” She felt her cheeks getting hotter and knew she was blushing. “He watched.”
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“Oh?” Rhiannon stared at her for a long moment. Then as if a light bulb went off in her head, comprehension set in and her eyes widened. “Ooh. I see.” A tiny smile made her lips turn upward. “Well, that’s awkward.” “It’s humiliating.” Maggie fought the urge to bury her hands in her face. “He watched and he knew I whispered his name at the end.” Rhiannon propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands. “How did you find out?” “I ran into him at Clancy’s a few days after the candle ceremony. One thing led to another and somehow he ended up coming to dinner at my house.” Maggie felt her breasts growing heavier at the memory. “We were all over one another before we even sat down to eat.” “Oh, my.” Rhiannon leaned closer. “That’s…” She paused, searching for the right words. “That’s unusual for you.” Maggie snorted. “That’s being kind. We both know that I have no sex life. Had no sex life,” she corrected. “How was it?” Maggie closed her eyes and let the memory of that night wash over her. Her panties dampened as her core wept with need. She swallowed hard and opened her eyes again. Rhiannon was leaning back in her chair, staring. “Incredible. It was incredible.” Wrapping her arms around her stomach, she held on tight. She felt she was on the verge of coming undone again and that just wouldn’t do. “I can see that. Maggie,” she began, her voice soft. “What happened? It’s obvious that you care for Jed. You’re not the kind of woman to have a one-night stand.” “After—” she shrugged, “—you know. After. We had supper and then he told me about being a spiritwalker. That he’d watched me that night. That his spirit was drawn to mine.” Maggie released her desperate grip on herself and took another mouthful of coffee. “Then he mentioned the dreams.” “Dreams,” Rhiannon prompted when she hesitated. Pulling her braid over her shoulder, she played with the red tail. “Yeah. I’d been having these incredible dreams. Erotic fantasies that all featured Jed. Seems he’d been having dreams too.” “That’s unusual.” Rhiannon thought for a moment. “Do you believe him?” Maggie shrugged. “Not at first. I actually smacked him in the face.” That action still shamed her. “I was so angry. Felt manipulated. Vulnerable.” “I can understand that.” Rhiannon kept her voice low and calm. “No. It was wrong of me.” She could still see the look of pain in Jed’s eyes as he turned away from her, and it had nothing to do with the slap she’d given him and everything to do with what she’d said. “It’s been days since I’ve seen him.” “Has he called you?”
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Maggie shook her head. “He said it was up to me. That he was who he was and couldn’t change, but he felt a connection to me that went deeper than the physical.” “How do you feel?” Rhiannon’s soft-spoken question made her heart ache. She’d known for days, but had only allowed herself to actually articulate it this morning on the walk into town. “I think I love him. But love can’t happen that soon.” “Can’t it?” Rhiannon raked her hand through her short hair, causing her bracelets to jingle once again. It was a sound that Maggie would always associate with her friend. It was easy to accept the fact that Rhiannon was a real witch with real powers. Now that she knew it for a fact, she could see the signs everywhere. You only had to look into her friend’s eyes to see the power and wisdom. Jed was the same. “Love happens whether we want it to or not, whether we’re ready or not. I wasn’t ready for Ryland, but I love him with all my heart. He’s already moved in and we’re talking about getting married.” Maggie knew her jaw had dropped. “I knew you were seeing him, but marriage?” “When it’s right, it’s right.” Rhiannon placed her hand over her heart. “And I know it’s right. In here where it matters the most.” “What about the candle-magick ceremony?” Maggie still wasn’t certain that their ceremony hadn’t caused Jed to seek her out. If it had, then was what she felt for him real? Was what he felt for her real? “Ah, I think I understand now. You don’t trust your feelings or his.” Maggie shrugged. Her friend had hit the nail right on the head. “Yes. No. I don’t know.” “Do you still have the candle?” “I brought it with me.” Reaching into her coat pocket, she pulled out the red votive candle. It looked so harmless. It was just a clump of wax, but it held such power. She laid it on the table, glad she’d followed the urge to bring it. “Stand up,” Rhiannon ordered. Shoving her chair back, Maggie stood. The candlewick smoldered and then a flame surged to life. Maggie jumped back, shocked. Rhiannon hadn’t been able to light a flame the night they’d done the ceremony. Obviously more than just Rhiannon’s sex life had changed in the past week. “Raise your hands into the air and close your eyes. Concentrate on that night, on how you felt. Sense the power surging through your body.” Maggie did as her friend commanded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She could almost feel the autumn breeze sweeping around her, which was impossible because they were inside. No, she corrected herself. Maybe not impossible. She was quickly learning that many things were possible. “Now, repeat after me. Lady in the moon so bright. Lend your power. Lend your might. Reverse the spell I cast that night. Take it back with all your might. Lovers come and lovers go. The spell I cast has come to woe. Free him from any lingering magick. A love not given free can only end tragic.”
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The fine hairs on the back of Maggie’s neck rose and her skin tingled as she dutifully repeated the words. She felt electric. Her skin prickled with power. If she opened her eyes, she’d expect to see sparks shooting from her fingertips. The surge of energy died as suddenly as it began, leaving her feeling empty and bereft. Maggie lowered her arms back by her side and opened her eyes. “It’s done?” “It’s done.” Rhiannon crossed her arms over her chest. “If it’s any comfort, I did the same thing. After I told Ryland I was a witch, he was less than thrilled. So I countered the spell and set him free. Now both you and Jed are free. What you do now is totally up to you.” She stood there not quite certain what to do next. There was no big revelation, no sign from the universe, just a confused woman who was in love with a man who had special powers. “I’m not sure what to do?” she admitted. Rhiannon smiled. “Listen to your heart. It will never lead you astray.” She opened her arms and Maggie walked into them, hugging her friend as she was hugged in return. “Thank you. For everything.” “You’re very welcome.” She leaned back and smiled up at Maggie. “That’s what friends are for.” “Speaking of friends, have you heard from Esther? I admit, I’ve been ducking all calls this past week.” Rhiannon laughed as she released Maggie. “Esther’s got man problems of her own.” Like a lightning bolt flashing in front of her, Maggie suddenly knew. “Not Ryan Jamieson?” “Ryan Jamieson. Only time will tell what happens there.” “Man, that was some spell we cast that night in your garden.” Rhiannon sobered. “Yes, it was. Do you regret it?” She thought about it for a moment. That night had changed her perception of her friend and, ultimately, the shared experience had brought them closer together. Plus, who knows what would have happened between her and Jed if she hadn’t been part of the ceremony that night. “No, I don’t regret it.” The entire experience that night with her women friends and the incredible night of lovemaking with Jed had changed her. No longer was she locked in her cocoon of misery. Like a butterfly, she was breaking free to finally become the woman she was always meant to be. Maggie closed her eyes and did what she’d been afraid to do for a long time. She listened to her heart. A few moments later, she opened her eyes and smiled. She knew what she had to do.
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Chapter Ten
Jed closed the door on the last of the ghosts and goblins begging for treats. It was just past eight, but it was dark just beyond the glow of the porch light. Night came early this time of year. The stars winked in the clear night sky. A perfect evening for the kids. He was glad he wasn’t working tonight. His fellow deputies would be answering all sorts of vandalism calls. Mostly minor stuff, toilet paper in trees, smashed pumpkins and the like. He only hoped their graffiti artist took the night off. Shoving his hair out of his face, Jed rolled his shoulders to release some of the tension he’d been carrying around for days. He sighed and finally admitted he needed to change tactics. Waiting for Maggie to contact him wasn’t working. He’d given her some time, hoping she’d come to grips with things on her own. Maybe it had been a mistake to leave her alone for so long. She’d had a lot of time to build her defenses. He’d taken her off-guard that night. After making love to her for hours, he should have kept his mouth shut and carried her back to bed. He should have solidified their physical relationship first. But no. He had to be stupid and tell her everything. He slumped down on the large leather sofa in his living room, his legs sprawled wide and his hands linked across his belly. He’d wanted her to accept him, all of him. And that meant she had to know about his ability as a spiritwalker. Not many people knew about his unusual talent outside his family. It wasn’t something a guy needed to advertise, especially not a man in his position. He could just imagine how good folks of Burnt Cove would view him as a part-time deputy if they knew he could watch them any time of the day or night. His life was complicated enough without adding to it. Funny, but he never questioned that his secret was safe with Maggie. He trusted her not to spread it around town. But that didn’t help him. She had accused him of spying on her. On some level she was right, but he’d been drawn to her for a reason. When she’d breathed his name while she’d pleasured herself, he’d known his spirit had led him to the woman who was meant to be his other half. Tilting his head back against the cushion, he closed his eyes and sent up a silent prayer to the heavens, asking for the wisdom and strength to find a way to make Maggie give them another chance.
N.J. Walters
The doorbell rang, demanding attention. Jed almost ignored it. But in the end, he pushed himself off the sofa and padded in his stocking feet to the front door. He couldn’t bear to disappoint a kid. He’d turn out the porch light after he handed out treats to this group. He was done for the night. All he wanted to do was to strip out of his clothes, stretch out on his bed and think about Maggie. His cock stirred, but he ignored it. His thoughts never strayed too far from her, and he’d gone through most of the past week with a partial erection. He swung the door open, a fake smile on his face. Wouldn’t help to frighten the neighborhood kids with a scowl. As if he’d conjured her out of thin air, Maggie stood on his doorstep. “Trick or treat.” Her low, husky voice skittered over his nerve-endings and his erection thickened and grew, pressing against the zipper of his jeans. “Maggie.” He blinked, certain he was imagining things. Then the sweet scent of lavender, tinged with vanilla, touched his nostrils and he knew she was real. She looked amazingly good to him with her long red hair loose around her shoulders. “Um…can I come in?” She tugged on the edge of her shirt and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Of course.” He stood back and swept his hand out, inviting her into his home. For whatever reason, she’d come to him. Jed only hoped it wasn’t because she’d decided she never wanted to see him again. Bending down, Maggie carefully lifted a large package from the porch and carried it inside. “Let me take that for you.” He reached for the parcel, but she pulled it just out of his reach. “No, that’s okay. I’ve got it.” She carried it past him and went straight into the living room. A primal flare of pleasure rocked him as he watched her. Maggie was in his home. She’d come to him. Cautioning himself not to get cocky, he waited. He had no idea why she was here. Propping the flat rectangular package against the side of a chair, she rubbed her hands over the front of her jeans and faced him. Now that she was inside, he got his first good look at her. He frowned, not liking what he was seeing. Maggie looked pale, her face thinner, as if she’d been sick or not eating properly. Dark circles rimmed her cheekbones just beneath her eyes, and her freckles stood out against her pale skin. His frown deepened. “Are you okay? Can I get you anything?” Damn, he sounded like an idiot, but he wasn’t quite certain what to say. A part of him was thrilled that she was here with him, another part of him dreaded the reason she’d come. This was it. Deep in his gut, he knew that this moment would define the rest of his life. The rest of their lives. This was a crossroad. Decisions made now would reverberate forever, shaping the long years to come. Maggie seemed to sway and he moved toward her, stopping when she took a step back. Her legs bumped the parcel. Swearing under her breath, she steadied it.
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Jed shoved down the hurt threatening to swamp him. She obviously didn’t want him to touch her. That wasn’t a good sign. Despite the ache in his heart, he was worried about her. He motioned to the chair. “Would you like to sit down?” Maggie shook her head. “I’ll stand, but could you sit down.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Please.” His entire body tensed when her white teeth scraped across her full bottom lip. Swallowing back a groan, he managed to get to the sofa and sink onto the cushions. The leather creaked under his weight. He tried to settle himself, but his balls ached and his erection was too big and hard for comfort. It was all he could do to keep from grabbing Maggie and kissing her. He wanted her mouth under his, the full mounds of her breasts pressing against his chest and her hips cradling his. Jed wanted to strip her naked and roll her beneath him, pressing his thick length into her until she’d taken every inch of him. Then he wanted to fuck her until they both screamed with pleasure. Instead, he rested his arms across the back of the sofa and tried to ignore the throbbing in his dick. Sweat beaded on his temples and his heart pounded out a fast, hard tempo. Her hands rested over the back of the chair, her knuckles white. She looked even paler than when she’d first walked in and that was saying something because she was as white as some of the ghosts that had knocked on his door this evening. “It’s okay.” The words were out before he had a chance to check them. Every instinct he possessed was urging him to comfort her, to reassure her everything was going to be all right. Which was a lie. He had no idea what was going to happen. She nodded and took a deep breath. The action brought his attention to her chest. Maggie wasn’t wearing a jacket, just a long-sleeved shirt. Her breasts were outlined against the thin fabric, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of their perfection. His already snug jeans got even tighter. He clamped his hands over the top cushions of the sofa, clinging to them to keep from jumping her bones and kissing her senseless. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this week.” This was it. He straightened, dropping his arms back by his sides. His jaw hardened. He reminded himself that it wasn’t likely that Maggie had accepted who and what he was. That was asking a lot of any woman, but particularly Maggie. Telling her he’d watched her pleasure herself in bed probably hadn’t been the smartest thing he’d ever done, but it had been the right thing. “I’ve also done a lot of research,” she continued. Her hands clutched the top of the chair, her fingers opening and closing around the fabric. “Astral travel is more prevalent than I imagined.” “Maggie,” he began. He hated to see her so distressed. She held up her hand. “No. Hear me out.” The look she gave him asked for his patience. He sighed and nodded. “It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around this, you know?”
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“I understand.” And he did. He’d had his entire life to get used to it and it still surprised him some days. “I did a lot of thinking about my life, about how closed it’s become, especially in the last year or so. So much has gone wrong in my life. First it was the death of my mother and stepfather, then my grandmother, and then I found my fiancé cheating on me with my best friend. I just sort of closed in on myself and gave up.” His heart ached for Maggie. She’d had so much pain in her life. So much loss. “But being in Burnt Cove, being home, has helped. I’ve made some really good friends in Esther and Rhiannon.” Maggie released her grip on the chair and walked over to the sofa, standing beside him. “I realized how closed off I’d become after you left. I couldn’t see what was right in front of my face. This past week has been…” She swallowed hard. “This week has been difficult. I’ve faced a lot about myself and not all of it was pretty.” He hated to see her so upset, but knew this was something she needed to talk about. Although it was hard, he kept silent and waited for her to continue. “I lost myself somewhere along the way. I lost the girl I used to be and the woman I wanted to become. All those years ago, I wanted to be an artist, but it was easier just to go to work for an advertising firm, especially since I got an offer right out of school. More secure. More in line with what my parents wanted for me. “I also wanted a man who loved me for who I was, but settled for a man who would marry me.” She shook her head. “It was supposed to be the perfect life. And on the outside, I suppose it was.” Maggie’s eyes grew darker as if she was lost in her memories. “But on the inside, I felt so lost and alone. I thought any relationship was better than none. I was wrong.” Unable to keep from touching her, comforting her, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around her hand. It was cold and he longed to warm her. “It’s easy to do. I think most of us lose ourselves at some point in our life.” “Even you?” she asked. He could hear the surprise in her voice. “Oh, yeah.” He laced his fingers through hers, binding them together. “Being different isn’t always such a great thing, especially when I was younger. But with the help of my parents and time, I came to accept that all of us are different or special in some way. I am what I am. I can’t change that.” He waited to see how she would respond. She gave him a sad smile. “I would never ask you to change.” His heart skipped a beat before resuming its pounding rhythm. “But can you accept it?” That was the question that needed answering. Time seemed to stop as he waited. She nodded. “I think so. I want to.” Maggie squeezed his hand. “I’ve missed you.”
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Jed tugged on her hand and pulled her down onto his lap. She gave a glad cry and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face against his shoulder. Arms wrapped securely around her, he held her, savoring the weight of her against him. Her hip pressed against his erection. The soft curve of her breast pushed against his chest. Maggie was where she belonged. In his arms.
Maggie could barely breathe Jed was holding her so close. She didn’t care. Being with him felt right. She had to accept he was different, had to trust that their relationship meant something to him, or she would lose him. And Maggie was through with being a coward and taking the easy path. Life was hard sometimes, but there were rewards if you were willing to reach out, to fight for what you wanted. She and Jed had only been together one night, but it had changed her and how she viewed relationships. She and her ex had been together much longer, but she knew Jed, the heart of him, much better. There was a connection between her and Jed. And she no longer questioned how and why it existed. It just was. She’d been worried at first. After revoking the spell with Rhiannon, she’d been half-afraid that Jed wouldn’t want her any more. She wiggled to get closer to him and felt the hard thrust of his erection against her hip. Obviously that wasn’t something she needed to be concerned about. “Maggie.” He breathed her name as he combed his fingers through her hair and held on tight. Tugging her head back, he swooped down and took her mouth. The kiss sent shivers down her spine. Heat burned through her body. She felt alive with sensation. Her core was already damp as need built deep inside. And not just a need for sex. But a need for this man, for Jed. His tongue tangled with hers, twisting and twining. He tilted her head to one side and deepened the caress. She tasted the mint of his toothpaste, mixed with the heady taste of man—hot and inviting. Cupping his cheek with her hand, she felt the scratch of stubble against her palm. When he’d first opened the door, she’d been struck by just how gorgeous he was, how elemental. With his hair loose around his shoulders and his golden-brown eyes, he was hot enough to make a woman’s insides melt. She let her hand slip down his neck to his shoulder. He was so warm. So vitally alive. Maggie rubbed her body against him, loving the way the hard planes of his chest felt against her breast. Jed shifted without warning. Maggie suddenly found herself flat on her back with him poised above her. Parting her legs, she made room for him in the cradle of her thighs. He stared down at her for one long second before swooping down again. His lips were firm and warm against hers, but he didn’t linger. His hands burrowed beneath her top, shoving it up. Raising her arms, she helped him peel it off. Her bra quickly followed. Jed groaned and buried his face between her breasts. Cupping both mounds in his hands, he kissed every inch of them, thumbing her nipples before taking them into his mouth and suckling, first one, then the other.
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Maggie grabbed his shirt and pulled. She needed to feel his skin beneath her hands. The material gave way and a loud rip followed. Jed jerked his head up and yanked the shirt over his head. Perfection, she thought. Absolute perfection. His shoulders were solid, his chest broad bands of muscle. Maggie stroked his bronzed skin, savoring Jed’s innate strength. He sucked in a breath when her fingers teased his flat nipples, but he didn’t stop her. His eyes seemed to glow as her hand slipped lower. A silky tuft of hair circled his navel before disappearing beneath the waistband of his jeans. Jed supported himself on his forearms, holding himself slightly above her. The in and out motion of his chest was the only movement he made, but his gaze never left her face. She cupped him through his jeans, feeling the hard length against her palm. Jed hissed out a long breath, closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He looked like a man in pain. Or one on the verge of coming. Maggie flicked open the button on his jeans. Jed’s hand caught hers. “Be sure, Maggie. There’s no going back.” Fear fluttered in her mind, an echo that was quickly squelched by the sheer rightness of being with Jed. “I don’t want to.” He reared back and grabbed her foot, shoving off one canvas sneaker and sock. Then he did the same with the other. He had her jeans and panties off before she could blink. The man was incredibly quick when he wanted to be. He stripped himself in three seconds flat, taking jeans, underwear and socks off in one smooth motion. Reaching down, he grabbed his jeans and fished out his wallet. Digging inside, he pulled out a condom. Maggie couldn’t take her eyes off him. Jed seemed even bigger than before. Every muscle stood out in stark relief on his body. His arms were thick and corded, his chest wide, his thighs rock solid. But it was what was jutting up from his groin that had all her attention. His erection was thick and hard. The bulbous head wept with need. He rolled the latex over the tip and quickly down the shaft. Maggie’s hips surged upward, wanting him buried in her moist heat, taking her hard and fast. She opened her arms, but he shook his head. “Up you go.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her up and off the sofa. His motions were strong and sure as he positioned her. “Lean down and hold on.” She could feel him behind her—big and hot and solid. Bending forward, she planted her palms on the back of the sofa. Her hair fell around her face like a curtain, blocking everything from her view. Touch was her primary sense. She could feel the heat of him behind her and his thick erection as it brushed against the curve of her behind. “Spread your legs wide. I want you open to me, accepting me as I fuck you from behind.”
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His words sent a fresh burst of cream sliding from her core. She’d never had another man talk to her this way, so frank and sexual. She liked it. It made her even hotter. Her breasts ached to be touched. “Do it,” he urged. His hands covered her behind, massaging the twin mounds. “Spread your legs and show me your pussy. Give yourself to me.” Trust me. She heard the underlying plea. Maggie pushed her legs apart and planted her feet. Leaning down farther, she raised her ass toward him, knowing he needed her acceptance. “Perfect.” Jed let his hands slide down the backs of her thighs before coming up on the inside. Her thighs quivered and her breathing quickened. His fingers stroked her swollen labia. Maggie felt lightheaded, a mass of heat and need. “Jed.” She cried out his name as two thick fingers sank into her sheath. She pushed back, wanting more. “Damn, you’re hot. So hot and wet. And it’s all mine.” He pulled his fingers all the way out before plunging them back inside. “Yes,” she gasped, going up on her toes. “I’m going to fuck you now. I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll scream with pleasure. You’ll come so hard you won’t know where you end and I begin.” Her inner muscles gripped his fingers as they surged inward. “Yes,” she hissed, unable to say anything else. She wanted him hard and fast and deep. They’d made love before, but this went even beyond that. Maggie felt wild and out of control. “Do it.” Jed swore and gripped her hips in his hands. Holding her steady, he positioned the head of his cock at her opening. The thick tip pushed past the tight muscles. He stilled for one long second before plunging deep in one long stroke. “Jed!” Her body struggled to accommodate him. At this angle, he felt bigger and went deeper. It felt almost painful, but it also felt incredibly good. “Take me. Take all of me.” Rearing back, he drove home again and again. Maggie adjusted to his rhythm, gripping the top of the sofa for support as his thrusts got harder and faster. His balls smacked against her sensitive folds, brushing her clit with each stroke. He released her hips and cupped her breasts. His fingers teased her nipples, rolling them lightly before tugging gently. Their mating was hard and fast and furious. She didn’t want it to end, but didn’t know how much more she could take. Her lungs ached as she sucked in a deep breath. He fondled one of her breasts and thrust his free hand between her thighs and fingered her clit. Maggie screamed. Her body clenched and exploded at the same time. She shook, her limbs out of her control. Her vision dimmed and she struggled to breathe. Heat shot from her core, bathing her entire body in warmth.
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She would have collapsed if Jed hadn’t been holding her upright. He thrust several more times, short and fast. He yelled and his hips jerked against her. One of his hands came to rest alongside hers, clutching the leather cushion for support. She could feel his heart pounding against her back and hear his rough breathing in her ear. They both groaned when he pulled out of her. Maggie slumped against the back of the sofa. “Come here.” Jed wrapped his arm around her waist and dragged them both to the front of the sofa. Collapsing onto it, he rolled her so that she was surrounded. The cool leather was at her back and Jed covered her front. Snuggling closer, she shivered. Jed reached out and snagged a quilt from the back of the sofa. He covered them, pulling her even closer. His deep sigh ruffled her hair. She rubbed her nose across his chest. She felt totally relaxed and at ease. She felt as if she’d finally come home.
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Epilogue
Maggie stirred a short while later when Jed shoved aside the quilt and padded out of the room. She heard the familiar flush a short while later and knew he’d gone to dispose of the condom. Shoving her fingers through her hair, she pushed it away from her face. She sat and thought about getting dressed. Her clothing was scattered all around the room. Even though there was no sound, she knew the second Jed returned. She swiveled around and smiled at him. “Hi.” Totally unconcerned by his nudity, he crossed the room and sat beside her. “Hi back.” He picked up a long lock of her hair and let it sift through his fingers. Maggie shivered and her nipples puckered. She knew if she sat here much longer, they’d be making love again. “I brought you something.” “Did you?” His hand stroked her neck, dipping lower. She stood, pulling the quilt more securely around her and tucking in the ends at her breasts so it stayed up on its own. If she didn’t stop him now, they’d end up in bed, or on the sofa or the floor. She knew she wouldn’t care where they were as long as he was inside her. Not that that was such a bad thing, but she wanted to finish talking first. She’d planned to do that before anything happened, but it hadn’t quite worked out that way. Walking to the canvas she’d carefully wrapped earlier, she lifted it from the side of the chair where it rested and carried it back to the sofa. Maggie stopped in front of Jed and began to carefully unwrap the painting she’d finished. Now that she was actually going to give it to him, her stomach was in knots. She steeled herself and kept going. This was the right thing to do. Forcing herself to continue, she peeled away the wrapping. “This is what I’ve been doing all week. I’ve started painting again.” “I didn’t know you painted.” Jed sat forward but didn’t move to help. It was as if he understood that she needed to do it on her own. “Yeah. I haven’t done much drawing or painting in years. My work was more commercial and computer generated.” Her fingers shook as she pulled away the last of the covering. “I decided I wanted to get back to my first love. Art.” “I’m glad.” Two small words but filled with such sincerity they brought tears to her eyes. She blinked them back.
N.J. Walters
The canvas was turned away from him, but she could see it perfectly. “I want you to have it.” Not stopping to think about it any longer, she turned the canvas around and waited. And waited. Jed stared at it, his eyes moving over every inch of the painting. His body was still, but she saw the occasional muscle twitch. Her palms were damp and she wanted to wipe her hands on the quilt, but she had to hold the canvas upright. “Well?” She couldn’t take the suspense any longer. “What do you think?” His amber eyes were luminous as his gaze locked with hers. “The bear is my totem animal.” “Really.” A ribbon of heat began to unwind within her and her tense muscles relaxed. Jed nodded. Reaching out, he took the canvas, rose and carried it to the mantelpiece. Lifting it, he perched it on top, making sure it was stable against the wall before he stepped back. “It’s…” He swallowed hard. “It’s amazing. You captured my spirit perfectly.” Pleasure suffused her. He understood her painting. Knew what it meant without her having to explain it. And it wasn’t the first time. He seemed to understand her almost better than she did herself. Another sign of their connection. It would have made her uncomfortable, except she was able to do the same thing with him. Like when he was making love with her. She’d known he’d needed her acceptance as a sign of trust. He walked to her side and cupped her face in his hands. “Thank you.” Leaning down, he brushed a light kiss across her lips. “Thank you for the present, but thank you for accepting me.” Maggie rested her hands on his waist. “It wasn’t easy.” She tensed, not quite sure he’d like this part, but she had to be totally honest with him. “I talked to someone about you, about us.” She felt the muscles beneath her hands bunch and felt the sudden tension thrum through him. “Rhiannon won’t tell anyone about your abilities.” She stared at his chest, unwilling to look at his face. She didn’t want to see disappointment, or worse, anger. Jed put two fingers beneath her chin and tilted it upward. “It’s okay, Maggie. I trust you.” Relief flooded through her. He didn’t look upset. He looked…amorous. His eyes had that glow that she was beginning to recognize. “This is for good. You know that, don’t you? I want us to build a relationship, a life together.” Her heart stuttered, but she didn’t give in to the panic. “I want that too. But it’s not easy for me.” The memories of the past were beaten back, but they were still there. “As long as you’re willing to try, that’s all I ask. But you have to understand I’m in this for the long haul.” Jed picked her up in his arms. She felt safe and warm and loved. “I love you.” She blurted it out before she stopped herself. Butterflies beat at her belly and her skin felt clammy. She couldn’t believe she’d actually said the words.
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Dreams of Seduction
Jed stopped in his tracks. A slow smile covered his face as he continued on, carrying her down the hallway and into his bedroom. He laid her on the bed and sat down beside her. “You’ve sealed your fate now, Maggie.” Taking his time, he arranged her hair across his pillows. “Looks just as I imagined.” He brushed his thumb over the curve of her cheek. “I have something to show you, Maggie. Maybe I should give it to you as a present, but I couldn’t bear to part with it.” He strode out of the room. She heard his bare feet slapping against the hardwood floor. Curious, she sat and propped herself up against the headboard. It was only a matter of seconds before she heard him returning. He came through the door with a large canvas in his hands. Her heart jumped as he turned the painting so she could see it. It was an extremely sensual picture. A woman, obviously waiting for her lover, lay sprawled across the bed. The sheets obscured most of her face and body, but her red hair spilled over the pillows. It was her. And she looked beautiful. Sexy. Maggie swallowed hard. Without even realizing she was moving, she found herself sitting on the edge of the bed so she could examine the painting better. The light from the hallway wasn’t enough so she snapped on the bedside lamp. She angled her head and caught her first glimpse of the faded figure of the man on the canvas. He was watching the woman, unable to be seen by her, unable to touch her. There was no mistaking the shoulderlength black hair or the harshly featured face. Jed. He’d painted himself into the picture. “I call it ‘Dreams’.” His voice was low. Intimate. Her gaze flew to his face. His eyes were dark with remembered pain. “I never meant to invade your privacy, Maggie. I was drawn to you. Unable to touch you that first night.” He set the painting aside, propping it against a dresser. “After that, I didn’t spiritwalk. But I dreamed of you and I know you dreamed of me. I don’t know why it happened and I don’t care. I’m only glad it did.” He sat beside her, large and naked and powerful, and cupped her face in his hands. “I love you too, Maggie.” Joy surged through her body, followed by a blast of heat. She felt as if a light had been lit within her and was burning bright. Like the candle, she thought. Then Jed bent his head and kissed her and all else was forgotten. Life was uncertain, but one thing she knew for sure was that she and Jed were meant to be together.
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Jed kissed Maggie with everything he had. He wanted her to feel how much he loved her. It was quick. Some people might say too quick, but he knew better. His gift had brought Maggie to him and he was smart enough to keep her. Together they’d work on any problems that arose and build a life that would last. She wrapped her arms around him and all else faded. Nothing mattered but loving Maggie. A long while later, they both lay spent in his bed with the covers pulled up over them. It was a cozy, intimate feeling. One Jed knew he’d never tire of as long as he lived. He sifted his fingers through several locks of Maggie’s magnificent hair. It gleamed like fire against his skin. “My parents are going to love you.” She tensed and then gave a high-pitched squeak. “Parents?” Jed chuckled, tightening his grip on her when she started to bolt. “Of course, parents. Did you think I was hatched?” “I didn’t even think about family.” Jed’s heart ached. Maggie had no one. “I’m sorry, honey.” He rocked her in his arms. “I know it has to be hard for you. But I have plenty of family.” “How big exactly?” He could hear the caution in her voice and it made him smile. He hugged her gently. “Only my parents live in Burnt Cove. They’ve been on holiday in Ireland but are due back soon. I’ve got plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins over there. Now my father’s side is also fairly prolific. I’ve got three aunts and uncles and a dozen or so cousins spread out between North Dakota, Tennessee, Kentucky and California.” “That’s a lot.” Jed shifted so he could see Maggie’s face. She was frowning and several deep lines creased her forehead. He bent down and kissed the spot between her eyebrows. “My parents will love you. My mother is Irish. She’ll be pleased you’re from good Irish stock.” Maggie raised an eyebrow. “And what about your father?” Jed grinned. “He’ll be happy I finally found a woman who’d have me.” She burst out laughing. He loved the sound and savored it. Maggie tapped her fingers against his chest. “Liar. You could have any woman you wanted.” “Ah, Maggie.” His voice thickened with need. With love. “There’s only one woman I want. And that’s the one who haunted my dreams. You, Maggie.” “Jed.” She placed her hand on the side of his face. “You filled my dreams and my mind. I love you.” He kissed her then, unable to do anything else. He and Maggie were destined to be together. Now and forever.
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About the Author
N.J. Walters has always been a voracious reader of romance novels and decided one day that she could write one as well. The contemporary story, Discovering Dani, was the very first novel she wrote while living in a little town much like the one Dani O’Rourke lives in, though all other similarities to Dani’s life pretty much end there. Then she wrote another one that followed up on Dani’s friends and neighbors. But she didn’t consider herself a “real” writer yet. Just a few years later N. J. had a mid-life crisis at a fairly young age, gave notice after ten years at her job on a Friday and received a tentative acceptance for her first published novel (an erotic romance) from a publisher on the following Sunday. Happily married for over eighteen years to the love of her life, with his encouragement and support she gave up the job of selling books for the more pleasurable job of writing them. She now spends her days writing, reading and reviewing books. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to do it. And some days she actually feels like a “real” writer. N.J. enjoys hearing from readers, and she can be reached at
[email protected]. You can check out her web site at www.njwalters.com.
Look for these titles by N.J. Walters
Now Available: Jamesville Discovering Dani The Way Home The Return of Patrick O’Rourke The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke A Legal Affair By the Book Past Promises Legacy Alexandra’s Legacy Isaiah’s Haven Legacy Found Spells, Secrets and Seduction A Touch of Magic
Coming Soon: Love in Flames
If you go casting love spells, be careful what you wish for.
A Touch of Magick © 2010 N.J. Walters Spells, Secrets and Seductions, Book 1 Rhiannon Sparks admits she’s not a very good witch—she can’t even light a candle without a match—but she keeps trying. At least her talent for business has made her magick shop a huge success. Now if only there was even the faintest flicker in her nonexistent love life. During a night of eating and drinking, she and her girlfriends cast a candle-magick spell for hot sex. All in good fun, of course. Except Rhiannon accidentally mixes up the words. Instead of a lover, she asks for true love. Deputy Ryland Stone’s past keeps him firmly rooted in reality. Then he meets Rhiannon and sparks literally fly. One date leads to another, and then they’re practically setting the bedroom on fire…until she reveals the deal breaker. Though love and magick have found Rhiannon at last, getting a handle on her newly unleashed power is the least of her problems. Unless Ryland accepts that magick exists, he will never accept her for who and what she is. Warning: This book contains a simple candle-magick spell, which you use at your own risk, a disastrous date, phone sex, and enough sizzle to practically set the sheets on fire.
Enjoy the following excerpt for A Touch of Magick: She stepped back and looked at the two women she loved liked sisters. “I still think we all need to get laid.” They both laughed, as she’d hoped, and the atmosphere was lightened once again. “What do you propose?” Esther appeared intrigued by the idea. “Something simple. Like I said, I’m not a very good witch. I’ve got issues.” Maggie giggled. “You need a self-help group or something.” Rhiannon laughed in spite of herself. It wasn’t a topic she usually found funny, but she supposed it did sound a bit ridiculous. Esther shrugged. “I’m in. What can it hurt?” Both of them looked at Maggie, who held up her hands in mock defeat. “Okay. I don’t think it will work, but I’m game.” Pleased that her friends were willing to try her experiment, Rhiannon went over to the large oak cabinet dominating almost one entire wall of the dining area, and pulled open one of the drawers. This was where she kept all her magickal supplies. It only took her a moment to collect what they’d need.
“Let’s go outside. The moon is almost full and will add power to our spell.” She headed out the back door with her friends tight at her heels. Abigail slipped out with them and raced ahead, down the steps and into the secluded yard. The long cotton skirt she wore fluttered in the light breeze. The air was crisp, but it wasn’t too cold. The moon hung like an orb in the sky, illuminating the garden. Rhiannon loved this time of year. There was so much magick in the air you could almost touch it. An owl hooted in the distance. The large yard was one reason she’d bought this house. With mature trees and no close neighbors, it gave her the privacy to practice any rituals or spells she chose. Plus, she enjoyed the feeling of being alone in her garden. “So what do we do?” Esther was on her right side trying to see what she was carrying. Rhiannon could hear the slightest bit of nervousness in Esther’s voice. Maggie walked silently on her other side. They reached the center of the garden and she stopped and handed both women a red votive candle. “First, we’ll anoint the red candles with rose oil. Both are representative of passion. Start in the middle of the candle and stroke down to the bottom. When you’re finished, go back to the middle and then stroke the oil up to the top of the candle.” She handed off the oil and they all began to rub the fragrant scent into the candles. The night was cool but not overly cold. Maybe it was the remnants of the wine keeping her warm. Or perhaps it was the thought of having sex sometime in the near future that heated her blood. “As you do this, think about the kind of man you’d want to have sex with. Be specific without naming a person.” “Why?” Maggie stopped what she was doing. “Because you should never try to manipulate anyone with magick. That’s bad and will rebound on you in ways you won’t like. What you want to do is draw someone with the characteristics you want. They’ll only come if they’re willing.” “Okay.” Maggie went back to her task. Rhiannon noticed Esther was concentrating fiercely on her candle. Rhiannon focused her attention on the candle in her hand. It warmed as she ran her fingers up and down its length. Her bangles tinkled with each stroke she made, like wind chimes blowing in the breeze. She pushed them high on her arm, wanting to be able to concentrate solely on what she was doing. Closing her eyes, she thought about the kind of man she wanted. She wanted a man who was honest and loyal, one who had morals without being self-righteous. He’d be strong, with wide shoulders and piercing blue eyes. His fingers would be calloused, but they’d be gentle as they stroked over her body. A shiver skated down her spine. Her breasts felt heavy and a low pulse of desire began to throb deep in her belly. Her eyes popped open and she sucked in a breath of the cool evening air. The breeze caressed her skin like a phantom lover, teasing and touching her everywhere. In spite of the chill, a bead of sweat rolled
down the length of her spine. She shuddered and wrapped her hand around the small votive candle, envisioning all her sexual frustration flowing from her and into the wax. Thankfully, both of her friends were focusing so hard on their candles, they hadn’t noticed anything amiss. When they were all done, Rhiannon placed her votive candle on the patio stone that sat in the middle of her garden for this very purpose. She motioned to her friends and they did the same. The three red candles now sat in the middle of the stone, the scent of rose perfume surrounding them. “If I was doing a big ritual, I’d cast a circle and do more elaborate preparations, but this is simple candle magick.” She stepped forward and lit her candle, then handed off the matches to Esther so she could light hers. Esther then passed the matches to Maggie. The flames leapt into the air, diffusing the scent of the rose oil into the air. Rhiannon stepped up close to the candles and raised her hands in the air. The other two women did the same, and they all touched their fingers together, forming a circle around the burning flames. Tipping her head back, Rhiannon stared at the moon, drawing its energy down to her. “Lady Moon in the sky so bright. Lend your power. Lend your might. Bring to us a love that’s true. And one that one day we won’t rue. In this time and in this hour, we three ladies ask this of thee. We ask this done and harm to none, what we have wrought here now is begun.” A breeze came up suddenly, whipping around them, but not extinguishing the flames. Rhiannon could sense the power building in the center of their circle, spiraling upward and outward. Her fingers tingled and her entire body vibrated. Tension stretched her nerves to the breaking point. The energy shot upward and outward, flinging itself toward the heavens. The breeze subsided and the candles flickered and died. The women slowly lowered their hands back to their sides. “Did it work?” Maggie glanced nervously around the yard. “Only time will tell.” Rhiannon didn’t want to tell the women of the huge amount of power she’d felt welling up between them. She nibbled her bottom lip. Maybe it wouldn’t work at all. Maybe it would work too well. She had no idea what had possessed her to ask for a true love instead of a lover. She shook her head. What was done was done. Her magick tended to not work that well anyway, so there was really no need to worry.
The truth will set her free…or get her killed.
Alexandra’s Legacy © 2009 N.J. Walters Alexandra Riley’s day starts out like any other in her normal, predictable world. Then a tall, dark stranger bursts into her father’s garage and shatters the illusion. In one shocking moment, she discovers why she’s been feeling hot, restless—she’s the half-breed daughter of a legendary werewolf and is a muchsought-after prize. Joshua Striker, enforcer in charge of protecting the alphas of the Wolf Creek pack, has come to take Alex home. Nothing more, nothing less. From the first moment he sees her, she becomes the one thing he can’t afford—a distraction from his duty. A weakness he doesn’t want—but can’t resist needing. If only keeping her safe was as simple as fending off males on the hunt for a mate. Through city streets to the mountains of North Carolina, Alex and Joshua have to evade those who don’t want their pure bloodlines tainted with human DNA, as well as bounty hunters who think the only good werewolf is a dead one. What Joshua and Alex can’t outrun is the passion that flares between them—or the choice Alex must eventually face. Whether to claim her inner wolf, or forfeit her chance to claim Joshua as her own. Warning: This book contains sexy werewolves, rogue werewolves, nasty bounty hunters, a mysterious vampire and plenty of hot sexual interludes that will raise your blood pressure.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Alexandra’s Legacy: Joshua Striker’s heart was pounding, although outwardly none of his excitement or agitation showed. He’d found her. It hadn’t been easy, but he’d managed to stay one step ahead of the two roving packs of wolves searching for her. She was a treasure and they all wanted her. He could barely see her now, blocked by the bulk of her father’s body. But the one glimpse he’d had of her had been more than enough to fire his blood. He could almost feel her long, slender body bucking beneath his as he thrust hard and deep. He wanted to fuck her until she was screaming with pleasure, until they were both sweaty and spent. And then he’d do it all over again. His cock swelled in anticipation, pressing hard against the zipper of his jeans. A fine sheen of sweat formed on his skin, making it itch. His scalp tingled, his muscles tightened. He shook his head to clear away the haze of lust enveloping him. Now was definitely not the time for this. His job was to protect her, not to claim her. The man in front of him issued another low growl. James LeVeau, or rather James Riley as he called himself now, had disappeared from the Wolf Creek pack of werewolves in North Carolina almost fifty
years ago. At the time he’d been the alpha of the pack, the toughest and smartest one of them all. After his beloved wife, Leda, had died in childbirth, he’d simply vanished. There had been plenty of rumors over the years. The most intriguing one was that he’d had a child with a human, a daughter. Now they all knew the rumor was true and she was a prospective mate for many of the single male wolves. The past hundred years had not been kind to the werewolves and their numbers were dwindling at an alarming rate. The past three decades had been even worse. Children were far and few between, as were females of mating age. Personally, Joshua felt that had more to do with all the infighting between packs, but the reality remained that they needed children to expand their population. The fact that she was the daughter of one of the most powerful, most well-respected wolves in the country was a bonus. Whoever she mated with would immediately gain in status and standing. “I come from Wolf Creek. Ian sent me.” That gave the older man pause, but he didn’t back down or relax his stance. “Who are you?” “Striker.” James blinked, but gave no other indication of what he was thinking. Joshua admired the other man’s self-possession. “Last I heard Miguel was Striker of the Wolf Creek pack.” “He was my father.” It still hurt for Joshua to think of his father. The large man had seemed invincible to his sons, but death had claimed him all the same. “Was?” The very stillness of the other man assured Joshua that he was ready to spring and fight at any second. “It took four rogue wolves and several humans to bring him down.” He wanted to tip back his head and howl with the sorrow that was his constant companion. Instead, Joshua swallowed, refusing to show any of the emotion beating at him. “He was searching for you.” “You’re young Joshua.” James’ eyes narrowed as they raked over the younger man. “I was. Now I am Striker of the Wolf Creek pack.” Striker was more than just their name, it was his family’s duty within the pack. The head of the Striker family was in charge of pack security, of protecting the alpha pair and the pack as a whole. That duty had fallen to him and he would not fail, no matter the cost. “I am sorry to hear about your father. He was the best of us.” Joshua could not mistake the sincerity and the sorrow in James’ voice. “I missed him.” “Why did you never contact him?” The biting question was past his lips before he could restrain it. Joshua was angry with himself for letting his emotion show. It was a weakness he could not afford. “It was not safe. I had too much to lose.” James shook his head. “In those days they would not have accepted my child. She was not of pure blood.” He gave a bitter laugh. “Times have changed in the past
few decades, have they not? Back then, they might have killed her, now they want to claim her.” His features hardened and the alpha warrior was revealed. “I will do whatever it takes to protect her.” “Dad?” Her low, lilting voice washed over Joshua like a physical caress, making it hard for him to breathe. “What’s this all about? Who is this guy?” He could hear the uncertainty, the question in her voice as she stepped out from behind her father. James reached out his hand and wrapped it around her shoulder, pulling her beneath the shelter of his arm. “This is part of what I needed to speak to you about.” His gaze never left Joshua’s face. “Lock the door and come upstairs. We have to talk.” Joshua turned away from the pair, purposely leaving his back exposed. Taking his time, he threw all six bolts on the door. When he was done, he faced them and cocked his eyebrow in question. The older man motioned to a doorway at the far end of the garage. He strode past them, trying not to stare at the woman. He didn’t know her name, but he knew that he wanted her. Something about her reached deep inside him, demanding that he claim her as his own. With his preternatural sense of smell, he caught a faint whiff of her scent and almost moaned. She was close to coming into heat, but not quite there yet. At the moment, it was just the faintest tantalizing perfume that made his head spin and sent lust surging through his bloodstream. Layered over that was the clean scent of woman, her own personal fragrance. It was fresh, like the mountain wildflowers after a summer’s rain. And he was obviously losing his mind if he was waxing poetic when there was a pissed off alpha at his back and danger surrounding them all. If he didn’t keep his mind on business, he’d never live long enough to have a chance to claim his woman. And she was his. She just didn’t know it yet.
