I Don't Think So

I Don’t Think So Amarinda Jones

When dashing warlock Thomas Darcy suddenly appears in Mariette Jane’s home, announcing he needs her help, she knows he is lying. She is a facilitator between worlds. She is used to supernatural beings seeking her aid. But this man is different. His story does not ring true. So what’s going on and why is she suddenly having hot, delicious sex with the hunky warlock? Thomas is lying. He has been sent to subdue Mariette but he’s not sure why. He was only told of her threat to all warlock-kind. But it’s hard to subdue someone you want to lick all over. The more he’s with Mariette, the deeper Thomas becomes involved, until saving her becomes his prime objective.

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

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I Don’t Think So ISBN 9781419922282 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED I Don’t Think So Copyright 2009 Amarinda Jones Edited by Helen Woodall Cover art by Syneca Electronic book publication December 2009 The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

I DON’T THINK SO

Amarinda Jones

Dedication I truly believe everyone can and will fall in love. This story is dedicated to those who refuse to give up on finding “the one”. Never settle.

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Bewitched: Columbia Pictures Industries Tim Tams: Campbell Soup Company

Amarinda Jones

Prologue “O-o-oh…” Mariette panted as she tried to keep pace with the man pummeling her butt with his balls as his cock slammed into her ass. Her spine arched as she felt a thrill of wild sensation run through her body. No man had ever taken her like this before and she liked it—a lot. His fingers rubbing her clit made her push back against him for more. “Too fast?” Thomas’ voice was a low satisfied growl against her ear. “Not fast enough,” she gasped, wondering how bad the friction burns would be on her knees. But then do I care? It was not every day a hot, delicious man appeared and fucked her so soundly. And it had been so long since she had a man even stand so close beside her let alone sink his cock in her ass and declare it his. I cannot believe I am having sex with this stranger. She knew his first name but that was it. “Faster.” Mariette was willing to suspend belief for the sake of an orgasm. Thomas quickened his thrust at her words. “Do you still think I’m boring?” Oh hell no. Did I ever think that? “I think you should talk less and fuck more.” Mariette was on the verge of the most intense climax of her life. Words were superfluous. “Coming from you that’s funny, motormouth.” He chuckled as she moaned softly. “Don’t try to flatter me, warlock.” La, it was good to feel hard, male flesh rubbing up against hers once more. Nothing beat it—though chocolate came awfully close. “Why? Because I already have you?” Thomas pulled out of her ass until only the head of his cock was held by the tight ring of muscle. His fingers were still on her clit. Oh no, no, no. Mariette squirmed. She was on the brink. He could not be allowed to stop now. Do I beg for his cock? Would that make me look whiny? She tossed her head back. Mariette Jane had never had a whiny day in her life and she wasn’t about to start now. 6

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“Honey, if I did not want you there would be no way in hell I would be my knees now.” That sounded good and tough and like she was the one in control. The long fingers on her clit were gentle as they stroked the wet flesh between her legs. “Desperate huh?” Thomas’ whisper was husky with need. “It was you or my vibrator.” Mariette ground her ass against his pelvis enticingly knowing he was no more in control than she was. She had seen that when his fingers had fumbled with the condom as she had dropped to her knees only minutes ago. “A cock cannot compete with a vibrator.” “I would laugh my ass off, but under the circumstances…” “Do you need to come, Mari?” Just the way he called her “Mari” in that smoky-sounding voice made her hot. Mariette gulped. I am going to explode. “Do you?” Thomas’ free hand stroked her ass. “I asked you first.” “No, I can wait.” I am woman. I am in control. I may burst into tears though… “Liar,” he murmured as his cock plunged back inside her. “Yes-s-s.” This was exactly what she needed. Her whole body shook with the intensity of his movements and the fire that raced through her veins as she came screaming. “Excellent, you’re a screamer.” Am I? Mariette could not remember ever screaming before in passion but then no one like Thomas had ever appeared in her boring little world before. He kept pumping his cock in and out looking for release. “We have to do this again.” Yes please. “I don’t think so.” Things this good rarely happened twice to Mariette. “Why not?” Thomas wrapped his arm around her waist as his body jerked and shuddered against hers.

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“I barely know you.” And yet here I am with your cock up my ass. What would my mother say if she saw me now? Nice girls did not do things like this. Thomas threw back his head and laughed, his arms enfolding her body as they gave in to the tremors that rocked them. “You’re adorable.” Mariette had no idea what to say. What the hell do I do now?

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Chapter One

Seventeen minutes earlier “I need help.” Mariette Jane was not the slightest bit surprised when the man appeared out of nowhere in her living room. She had a weird life. Supernatural beings had a habit of wandering in and out of her life. Mariette was only glad she wasn’t naked this time. She never forgot the fleshy, stone gargoyle who appeared, landing on her coffee table, smashing it and then demanding assistance from her. He had taken only a cursory look at her nude body and then shrugged his shoulders. Mariette still wasn’t sure what that was about. Was he so consumed with his own problems that a nude, albeit chunky, woman was of no interest to him? But then, the gargoyle had been no prize either. The sculptor had skimped on the vital equipment between his heavy stone legs so he was hardly one to judge sexuality. Mariette assessed the tall, dark man before her. I wonder what he looks like naked. His simple jeans and maroon t-shirt hid nothing of the lean, muscular body beneath. To have such a gorgeous man suddenly appear was an improvement on a coffee-tablekilling gargoyle. Besides, gargoyles smelled like old socks. This man’s scent was sandalwood with a hint of musk. Yum. Mariette shook her shoulder-length red hair and tried to focus on the threat of an intruder and not the hotness of the actual man. “Of course you need my help. I have never known anyone to come to me who didn’t have some whiny-assed problem they expected me to fix.” The gargoyle had been in love with a stone statue of Helen of Troy. That had ended badly as she told the gargoyle it would. But gargoyles thought they knew everything. She wondered idly if the stonemason had ever managed to repair the stone Helen after the gargoyle’s over-amorous embrace had lopped her legs off.

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“You advertise in this local Brisbane magazine that you will help supernatural beings.” The man held the glossy pages out to her. “Is that Cat and Cauldron?” “No, it’s Witch and Warlock.” He allowed her to take the magazine from his hand. “Does it matter?” “Yes, because I like to know how my advertising dollars get spent.” Mariette thumbed through the pages quickly. “Ee gad! Look at that font.” She showed it to him. “I wanted gothic and spooky not cereal box red and perky. Do I look perky?” What a waste of money that advert had been. At least Mariette would be able to write it off as an expense against her business, Witch Watch.

God no, she looked anything but perky and Thomas Darcy was quite amazed. This was not the woman he expected to see. His research indicated someone completely different from the redhead who was so pissed off by a simple advertisement. Mariette Jane was supposed to work between worlds as a troubleshooter. This woman looked more like she would make trouble and enjoy it. “Have I got the right address?” Thomas had expected a soulful, deep thinker unfazed by life. But no, he got a short, curvaceous redhead wearing fire-engine-red sleep shorts and a tight, black singlet top with a skull positioned over large breasts. “Why do you ask? Don’t I look like a facilitator between worlds?” She handed the magazine back to him. “No.” And I cannot believe I have been sent here to deal with you. Had there mean a mixup? “You’re in your pajamas and it’s ten o’clock.” Mariette’s hands went to her hips in defiance. “Well, I didn’t have time to dress for this unexpected meeting. You just showed up. Besides, I like to ease my way out of my pjs. Rushing stuff gives me a headache.” Thomas almost smiled. She was kind of cute in an offbeat quirky way.

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“So what’s your story, tall, dark and I guess relatively-handsome-if-the-lights-wereturned-off-and-alcohol-was-involved?” “You’re impossible.” They couldn’t have got this assignment right. They wanted him to kill her? How was she a danger? The only weapon she had was her mouth. “And you’re not the first person to tell me that, warlock.” That took Thomas aback. He had dressed deliberately casually in order to not look like a threat. “How do you know I’m a warlock?” Mariette blew out a sigh. “Tall, pissy, arrogant attitude and your hair is a dead giveaway.” She waved her hands at him. “It’s long and floppy around your shoulders.” Floppy? All warlocks had long hair. It was their trademark. No one had ever called it “floppy” before. It pissed him off somewhat. Most women found his hair sexy especially as it caressed their naked skin. Thomas brushed a strand of hair from his face. What would she look like naked? He had the overwhelming urge to find out. “You’re a piece of work.” He had never met a woman like this one. Thomas was intrigued. “Thank you.” “It’s not a compliment.” Mariette shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever. What’s the deal?” At this point Thomas knew he had no choice. He had a job to do and this woman was the reason he was there. “I broke an oath.” Thomas had his story all planned out. It was designed to lure the woman in and then when she was vulnerable, crush her. “Oh yeah?” “Yeah.” Was the warlock, Cypher, correct in his intelligence? This woman? Seriously? She could be the downfall of all warlocks with the knowledge she possessed? “I break my diet every second day.” The cocky grin she gave him made his cock twitch. There was something about this woman that was annoying yet attractive. Just my type. Thomas liked smart ass women. You never knew what they would do next and that kept things interesting.

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He shifted his stance to lessen the growing pressure between his legs. And stop looking at her breasts, man. Though her tight top made that almost impossible. “An oath is important.” He had never broken one in his life but he had to make her believe he had. “So is fitting into my jeans.” Okay, time to play the trump card to get her attention. “I don’t believe I was stupid enough to take Esmeralda’s advice and come to you.” Mariette looked at him with interest. “You know Ezzie?” “Intimately.” Thomas didn’t be but he knew saying he was intimate with her best friend would be more likely to make Mariette believe him. “Which guy are you?” She surveyed him with interest. “The one who howled at the moon as he came and ripped up her best bed sheets with his claws, or the one who likes to suck blood leaving a whopping great love bite on her neck?” “I’m a warlock. We don’t do either of those things.” In his mind, he wondered what coming against Mariette’s curved body would feel like. “You don’t have sex?” Her tone was overly polite and Thomas knew she was trying to piss him off. “I’m leaving.” He saw the brief flash of disappointment in her eyes. Excellent. The lady was interested in him despite her cynical words. “Suit yourself but if you came to me you have to be desperate.” Mariette arched her eyebrows at him, her blue eyes full of knowledge. “I think I’m number eight on the ohwhat-the-fuck-do-I-have-to-lose list after Manny, the human tiger. What is it with men who dress in fur? And why does he get clients before me? Is the fur a crowd-puller?” Thomas was speechless for a moment. There was a list of people like Mariette? A human tiger? He was a warlock and had seen many things but that was not one of them. “I have no idea.” Who the hell was Manny? “What list?” He had come to her expecting to be in control and yet he was anything but. Her words confused him.

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Thomas wasn’t sure whether it was smarter to leave and report back to Cypher the lady was crazy, or kiss her until she was too breathless to speak. “People who help your kind.” “My kind?” His eyes went to her lips. Oh yeah, I want to kiss her. “Spooky people.” Thomas wondered how many women could hold their own in a conversation with a strange man while wearing only their pajamas. “I never thought of myself as spooky.” Sure, as a warlock he had powers but they were only used when he needed them. Unlike some of his Brethren, magic was not a game, hence the reason he was standing there wondering what to do with this woman. That she could be a threat to his sanity, he did not doubt—but to warlock-kind? “I don’t find you remotely scary but I daresay you could be scary if backlit properly, with scary music playing, then you could probably make someone flinch.” Mariette’s eyes never left his as if to prove she was not scared of the man before her. “What’s your name, warlock?” Flinch? Thomas tried not to smile as she did her best to annoy him. Just the mere mention of his name was known to scare the crap out of people but not her. Another man may have been angry but he found Mariette more interesting by the second. What exactly did her cool, pithy words hide? “Thomas.” He was at least a foot taller then her and yet she stood and chatted like she didn’t have a care in the world. “Really?” Mariette looked surprised. “Warlocks always have really dramatic names like Mephisto, Blackheart, Grunewald, Dark Lord.” She tut-tutted. “I have to tell you that ‘Thomas’ is boring and a bit of a letdown.” “Why do I feel this is a waste of time?” If only Cypher could meet this woman. She was not a threat. “No, not necessarily.” Mariette relaxed her stance and cocked her hips to the left and watched him. “I just like to play with people. You’re fun.”

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More than ever Thomas wanted to play with her. “I’m not here for fun.” But then what Cypher didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. “So who’s pissed at you for breaking this oath?” Suddenly she was serious and Thomas was amazed at the change in her expression. Who was this woman? Flippant one moment and then concerned the next. He almost felt like she cared. “All warlock-kind.” “Bummer,” Mariette murmured thoughtfully. “What was the oath?” Well crap. Thomas hadn’t thought it would get this far. He was supposed to come in, assess Mariette and make her defenseless any way he could. Preferably kill her. Yet, he was the one who was put on the spot and he didn’t want to do anything but feel her body against his as he fucked her. “I cannot tell you.” Mariette snorted in derision. “You’ve already broken the oath. I could ring up Ez and just ask.” And Esmeralda would have no idea who he was and then this feisty woman would be all over him. Not an unpleasant thought. “Have you any powers at all?” As far as he could tell, Mariette was a mortal. However Thomas always believed in assessing the risk factor of everyone. “Let’s see, I can do the splits, the Vulcan hand salute and roll my tongue.” Mariette obliged him by showing him the last two powers she possessed. “What? I don’t get to see the splits, Mari?”

“It’s Mariette, warlock.” She was not surprised he knew her name for he had sought her out. It was just the way he said it in such a low, husky voice. It sent a chill up her spine. “I only part my legs for men who are worth it.” And yes he could be. She knew that from her own extra pissy reaction to him. She only acted that way with people she was instantly attracted to. It was a defense mechanism designed to stop her from doing something stupid. That was the plan. Of course it didn’t always work that way. But

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there it was. “Let’s get back to the oath.” He didn’t look like an oath breaker. In her mind that sort usually had ratty close-set eyes and yet there was something about the tall, dark and handsome warlock that did not ring true. As for his eyes? They were a dark, soulful brown that reminded her of heat and chocolate. Yum. Mariette shook herself. Get a grip. You have a potential threat in your living room and you’re thinking of eating the man up. “It was the oath of truth.” Did he think she was stupid? That she was an amateur at supernatural stuff? Oath of truth? What a load of crap. But then warlocks were known to be liars. “And, is that supposed to mean something to me?” “The oath of truth is that a warlock will not divulge the secret of their strength.” Mariette refrained from rolling her eyes as she dearly wanted to do. “Oh really and what’s that?” Oh bullshit. Did he expect her to believe that? What do you want from me, warlock? Whatever it was, for the moment she would play along. “I can’t tell you.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. “So why did you divulge this oath before?” And what lame story do you plan to tell me and why? “There was this woman—” “Ah, I see, sex.” I must ring Ez and check him out. Ten to one she has no idea who he is. “It was complicated.” “What? She had you tied up?” Sex. When wasn’t it complicated? Mariette’s eyes locked with his. Thomas was a pretty good liar but not good enough. That disappointed her. People lied. Marietta knew that and she was not against it per se but she liked a well told lie with no possible holes in it. Thomas shook his head. “Are you ever serious?” “Sometimes.” Good, keep him wondering. Maybe he would slip up and tell her the real reason he was here. Mariette couldn’t think of one. Warlocks rarely turned up to

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see her. It was more the supernatural dregs of the earth who did and then they paid her in weird things that she had to hock. Luckily there was a large market in the occult and she did okay. “Okay, so basically some woman grabbed your cock and you told the dreaded oath. Who was she?” “Mavoureen.” Mariette smiled. Even if she believed him, he would be twelve kinds of idiot to hook up with that bitch. “Seriously?” This had to be something pretty good for him to drop that holy terror’s name. To say her name was like summoning the devil. Mavoureen was part witch, part demon and part whore. Again, what do you want from me? Mariette was no Mavoureen. She was a hack who had the weird ability to liaise between two worlds and sort problems out. Every Jane woman had the same gift. If you could call it that. Sometimes it was a total pain in the ass and hell on her furniture. But that is my life. “I was overcome.” “With alcohol?” She looked him up and down. Whoa! Her eyes widened on the front of his crotch. The man hard a hard-on. For me? I look like hell. Or do I? Oh wait, was he desperate? Mariette wasn’t sure if she should be pleased or offended. The warlock was very sexy and it had been eleven months, six days and thirty-eight minutes since the last time she had sex—if that one sweaty moment where she almost came could be called sex. “I was overcome with lust for her.” “I don’t think so.” Thomas didn’t look dumb enough to sleep with such an obvious harlot as Mavoureen. “It was probably a spell.” Mariette was pleased when she saw his eyes dilate. She knew warlocks hated being told others could have power over them. Mariette’s eyes moved down to his groin. Yep. It was still there. Against all rational thought, Mariette felt a familiar wetness between her legs. “Maybe.”

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“You’re not much of a warlock if you missed a spell being cast.” Piss the guy off or take him to bed? It was never really a choice before. Sex had been available and pretty ordinary. But this man, although lying his ass off, made her want to explore further possibilities. And I wouldn’t mind looking at his lying ass. Thomas shifted his stance but never lost eye contact with her. “I was otherwise engaged.” “Of course all the blood rushing to your cock—as it appears to be now.” She looked at the contained cock in question. “Happy to see me ’cause I’m as cute as a button or annoyed and looking to poke my eye out with that thing?” Thomas shook his head and laughed as he moved towards her. “You’re annoying but you most definitely attract me and I certainly want to poke you.” Ooh, yes please. Poking sounded good. I need a damn good poke. Would it hurt if I took advantage of the situation? “I do have that appeal. What are you doing?” He was coming awfully close to her now. Instinctively Mariette knew she could step back and ask him to leave. Thomas had that look about him. Some men did. It was the look of an honorable, albeit eventually pissed-off, man who did not force a woman. Mariette held her ground and let him come closer. The heat from his body made her dizzy with lust. “I want to taste you.” “I don’t think so,” she responded not wanting to look like a complete slut straight up. Thomas’ hands settled on Mariette’s waist. “Maybe you should feel not think, Mari.” Mari. Her heart was pounding. She had heard of people seducing others with their voice. Mariette wanted to drop her knickers then and there. It was only natural for her fingers to reach out and touch his chest. The heat of the flesh below made her close her eyes for a moment. “You feel it too.”

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Mariette opened her eyes and sighed softly. She did not need to be told what he meant. It was only too obvious and she had never felt her skin sizzle at such an innocent touch. “I-I don’t normally do this—” “What? Have sex?” Thomas smiled at her and drew her closer. “With clients?” “God no, never. They’re all weirdos. But you—” “Yes?” His warm breath fanned her face and she wanted to jump up in his arms and wrap her legs around his body and never let go. Was it just that she had been without sex for so long or something more? “You aren’t.” “Weird or a client?” I want to suck on that bottom lip. “I’m not sure of the first but no to the last.” And you never will be a client but I may as well have some fun. I deserve it and when would such a gorgeous man ever cross my path again? It would be foolish not to, Mariette. “Can I kiss you?” Thomas asked. Her answer was simple and to the point. Mariette kissed him, grabbing his shirtfront and pulling him close. The taste of Thomas was like a bolt of electricity running through her body and making her suddenly aware of how much she had been missing out on. Mariette had been kissed before but not with such expertise. His tongue stroked hers and his lips devoured her mouth like a hungry man. She did as she longed to and jumped up and wrapped her legs around his body, her breasts squashing against his chest as Thomas pushed her back onto the wall. “You are delicious.” His mouth left hers for a moment to give them a chance to catch their breath. “So are you.” Thomas was chocolate delicious, in fact she would give up chocolate for his kisses and no one had ever made Mariette feel like that before. Thomas’ fingers moved down to the bottom of her singlet. “I have to see you naked.”

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“Naked works for me.” And usually it didn’t because she always felt overweight and awkward, but she wanted to be skin to skin with this man. Thomas pinned her against the wall with his weight and tugged at her singlet. Mariette was more than happy to help remove it. She was craving for the feel of his touch on her naked breasts. “Hungry for me?” “You have no idea.” Her singlet came off and was thrown to the floor. “Oh but I do. I feel the same, Mari.” His hands cupped her breasts. Mariette closed her eyes and gave in to the feeling. Waves of intense pleasure racked her body at such a simple touch. “Suck me.” The way she was feeling that would probably kill her. “Thank you,” he murmured as his mouth descended and sucked hard on one nipple. “No-o-o…no, thank you,” Mariette gasped and held his head against her breasts encouraging him to suck and lick her nipples. “O-o-oh, Thomas-s-s.” “Yes, Mari?” He stopped and looked up at her. “I need…” A fan, a bucket of ice, a damn good fuck or all of the above and not necessarily in that order. “What?” “I want you to…” How the hell could she concentrate when his fingers were stroking her nipples? “Say it.” His eyes were on hers. They both knew what they wanted. “Please fuck me.” Oh what the hell. I’ll do some sort of penance tomorrow. Thomas’ laughter was husky with delight. “It would be my pleasure to.” He moved back from the wall and slowly lowered Mariette to her feet. She licked her lips. Sex for the first time was always tense. But am I tense because he’s a stranger or because if he is not inside me soon I will scream? “How? Where? Please tell me

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you have a condom.” If she had to attempt to find one in the chaos of her house the search would make her cry. Who knew need could be this desperate? “Always.” Thomas clicked his fingers and a rubber appeared. Mariette clapped her hands. “Yay, magic!” “I want you on your hands and knees.” Mariette stopped clapping. “What?” Please tell me I heard correctly. She loved it when taken from behind but so few lovers had been interested in anything but missionary sex. Should I clap again or will that make me look like a slut? “Drop those shorts and do as I say,” Thomas ordered, his voice low and barely in control. Mariette had never been one for the whole domination thing but if he asked her to cook right now—and she hated cooking— she just might. His voice was such a turn-on. Her hands pulled at the fabric of her pants until they slid to her feet. She kicked them from her ankles. Thomas sucked in his breath as his eyes roamed over her naked body. He tore his shirt up and off over his head. “You’re beautiful Mari.” She had never thought so. Mari believed she was too chunky for beauty but at the moment she wanted to believe him. And I want to lick his stomach. She was drunk with lust just looking at the tight six-pack of muscles. “Get down on your knees.” Thomas kicked his boots off. Mariette did not need to be told twice. She dropped to the floor with her ass on show. Realistically it was a really bad thing for her to do. Not because of the whole sex with a stranger thing. It was the cellulite thing. Too much information was on display. “Perfect.” “I don’t think so.” I love a man who says all the right things. Mariette turned her head to see him open his fly and drop his jeans. Her eyes widened. Thomas went commando.

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His cock was long, hard and thick. Mariette’s heart pounded madly. Oh, yes please. “I’m hardly perfect.” Whereas you…oh la… “Yes you are, Mari.” Thomas stroked the condom over his cock, smiling as she watched his every move. Once the latex was in place, he clicked his fingers and a tube of lube appeared. “I’m already wet.” Any wetter and she would drown. “I know. I can see. But I have other plans.” Mariette looked at him in shock. She didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out what he was suggesting. “I’ve never…not there.” She had wanted to but it had never been on offer. I shouldn’t. I couldn’t. Could I? Thomas dropped down close behind her. One hand stroked her ass as the other parted her butt cheeks. “Do you want me to take you in the ass?” A stranger was offering her something she’d always wanted to try. She wanted him. He wanted her. The cock prodding at her ass was evidence of that. The thought of that deep, penetrating heat inside her was overwhelming. “Yes,” she breathed out. Any other answer would have been a lie. Mariette jumped as she felt cold gel squirt inside and a finger follow the same path. “Oh…” It was strange yet exciting to have a large male finger pushing inside. She wiggled her butt as she grew accustomed to the stretching within her. Another digit soon followed while his other hand moved around to her clit. Mariette sighed in contentment. “Now this is perfect.” She squirmed as a third finger joined the others pumping in and out of her anus. “Thomas?” “Mari?” “I need more.” “I want you to be ready for me.” “I am so ready I want to come right now.” His fingers came out instantly. Mariette whined. “Don’t stop now.” Thomas slapped her ass lightly. “Be patient.”

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This was not one of her virtues and she was just about to point this out to him when Mariette felt the head of his cock replace the fingers and push at the tight ring of muscle. “Um, Thomas…” “This will work.” “I don’t think so. You’re awfully large.” Not that it was a problem. It was more she was small in comparison. He chuckled. “Trust me.” She wanted to. Anyone who made her feel this good was worth rainbow sprinkles on creamy vanilla ice cream. “I barely know you.” “And yet Mari here we are giving each other pleasure.” Thomas pushed further inside. The pressure was uncomfortable but not. Mariette wanted more. The heat from his shaft was slowly permeating her body and she liked it. He gently pushed in until he was up to his balls against her ass. “Okay?” Mariette closed her eyes for a moment. Yes, this was most definitely pleasure and she was okay on a level she had never dreamed of before. Whatever sex she had before could not come close to competing. “Yes. Move. Cock and fingers. Do it.” Full sentences were beyond Mariette at that moment. “Yes ma’am.” Thomas moved with an unhurried yet definite rhythm. While tender sex was excellent, wild, hot sex was what she needed. “Faster.” Mariette wanted to feel his cock driving deep and pushing her on to a screaming orgasm. “You are mine.” Oh la, yes, I am…

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Chapter Two

Twenty-two minutes later “You really need to get off me.” His weight was nothing as Thomas was supporting himself on his knees, his arms continued to encircle her waist. It was more that he was still ensconced in her ass and the wet heat of his body on hers was making her think all sorts of things she shouldn’t be even contemplating like “let’s do that again”. And that would be against her own self-imposed rules, of which there were two. “Always start a new diet on Monday” and “Don’t have sex with supernatural beings”. Warlocks fit into that category. Added to that if she had a rule number three it would be “Do not sleep with clients”. “Mari?” Thomas kissed her shoulder as his cock slipped from her ass. Mariette closed her eyes as the warm pressure withdrew. A weird sense of emptiness rushed over her. It was just sex, woman. He’s just a man. Ah, but what a man. She cleared her throat and tried to concentrate. She was literally butt naked with a person she did not know. “What?” “Are you okay?” Thomas tried to pull her into his arms. Even though she needed to be with him at that moment, Mariette knew it was not the most rational thing to do. They’d shared a moment. It was over. There was no point getting all gooey over it. “I was just thinking.” How good you were. How fantastic I feel and how you could easily you could ruin me for all men, if I let you stay—and I can’t. That was rule two. She turned around and sat down, drawing up her legs in front of her body. Her ass ached in the most pleasant way. While it was a defense mechanism to cover herself, it was also a way to control the shiver of lust that ran through her body as she watched him. Even the way Thomas removed and made the condom disappear with a click of his fingers was sexy. But then he would probably look sexy taking the garbage out.

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“That was amazing.” His voice was soft and low and for one crazy moment Mariette had the urge to cry and that would be sheer madness. It was sex and it was good but she had to remember the man had an agenda and she had to find out why he was there specifically targeting her. Getting all sensitive and clingy would complicate matters even further. In her mind Mariette ran though her list of other world contacts who may know why Thomas was there. It helped to remind her nothing was ever as it seemed in the world of the supernatural. Esmeralda being a white witch would have heard something, as white witches took no sides in any conflict. Mariette looked into his eyes. Thomas was gorgeous. She stopped the sigh that caught in her throat. Gorgeous but with a plan that involved her. So toughen up. “Okay, here’s the thing. If you want me to help you, we can’t do this.” “Sex?” “Yes.” “Didn’t you enjoy it, Mari?” Yes and can I go again? “That‘s not the point.” “What is?” She waved her hands in agitation. “Sex screws with my job. How can I help you when I know—” “What I look like naked?” Thomas suggested with a smile. “Yes. I mean no. I mean—” Oh crap I don’t know what I mean when you look at me like that. “Intimacy and business do not mix. They just don’t. Would you sleep with your tax accountant?” “I don’t pay tax.” Smart alec. “You know what I mean.” “No, Mari, I don’t.”

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“I can help you but no touching.” That sounded businesslike yet boring when her ass was still tingling from his cock. “Do you think, after that, we can refrain from touching?” Thomas was amused by her words. No. “Yes. And put your trousers on.” The less she saw the less she wanted. It was just a theory of course. Thomas was in no rush to do as she bid. “Why?” “Because…well…just because.” Mariette scrambled to her feet and grabbed her discarded shirt, clutching it to her breasts. While it was true he had seen it all, it made her feel more in control with some covering. “So this oath you broke…” “Yes?” Thomas stood in one leisurely movement and reached for his trousers. “Warlocks don’t give away their secrets.” And that’s why none of this made sense to Mariette. In the whole scheme of all things supernatural, she was a very small fish in a big, scary pond. “So why did you?” What brought you to my door? She breathed deeply. Good. His jeans were on. It was hard to conduct business with a naked man. Thomas shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe I’m sick of being a warlock.” Yeah right. Mariette could not help licking her lips as her eyes focused on his chest. It was downright lickable. “Put your shirt on. I can’t concentrate.” This made him laugh. “You have my shirt.” Thomas walked up to her. “Do you want to give it back or hide behind it?” Good question—and who could think when he smelled so good? “You know, you don’t look like you could help yourself at the moment let alone the weird beings who land on your doorstep.” Mariette was more than capable of doing all that. “Well you don’t look like someone dumb enough to sleep with that scrag, Mavoureen.” Or did he? How would

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she know what the truth is? Was Thomas saying that to drag her into whatever this trap was or had he had sex with the blonde whore? “Haven’t you just wanted sex?” Yes and she had just given in to need. However fucking someone like Mavoureen compared to Mariette was like drinking rotgut whiskey instead of fine wine. “Are you really sick of being a warlock?” Have I misjudged him? It paid to be wary with the types she dealt with on a daily basis. “I don’t know.” Mariette snorted. “How can you not know? As a warlock you have tremendous power. Could you give that up?” She’d never had power in her own life and the thought of having it was appealing. “Maybe I want out.” Maybe you’re bullshitting me. “So you’re a warlock undergoing a career crisis. You need a counselor not a facilitator.” She worked to make things happen. She was the agony aunt of the supernatural who went and chatted to people when those who employed her could not. Nine times out of ten she badgered them into whatever her client needed. Mariette didn’t believe in hugging people’s problems away. That usually caused more problems. Like now. “I need you, Mari.” He pulled the shirt from her hands. “In what capacity?” What was this for him other than sex? “In every way.” “I thought I just said—” And then his mouth was on hers and what she thought she said was no longer an issue as his lips took command of hers. It was so easy to give into the fierce heat of his kiss because it was exactly what she needed. Mariette had never felt so alive. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she molded her body into his. “You are so beautiful, Mari,” Thomas murmured against her lips as they tried to catch their breath. His hands went down to her ass, caressing the naked flesh.

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“Bloody hell. You’re making it hard for me to be helpful.” Mariette could feel his cock pushing at the denim of his jeans and once more she wanted it pushing into her. “I have many ways you can help me.” “But we—” He put a finger to her lips. “Don’t think or worry about anything, Mari, just feel.” Mariette’s eyes locked with his. There were two ways she could go with this. Business decreed she act sensibly and either aid him or ask Thomas to leave. Or she could take what was on offer and worry about the consequences later. There was only one answer a practical woman could give. “You’d better take those jeans off, warlock.”

The denim dropped to the ground. “Concerned for my safety?” Whatever he should or should not be doing was not something Thomas wanted to think about. That Mariette was warm, sweet and willing was the only thing that concerned him. This woman was no threat to warlock-kind. What the hell was Cypher thinking? “Thomas—” Even the sweet way Mariette said his name turned him on. The tips of his fingers traced her lower lip. “Do you want me?” Mariette’s tongue licked his finger. “Yes.” “Then that’s all that matters.” He had enjoyed many women in the past but none like this one. No woman fired his blood with a simple glance as Mariette did. Thomas smiled as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. The wet curls of her pussy brushed about his stomach muscles making them contract with the anticipation of that first, sweet thrust inside Mariette. “Wall,” Mariette mumbled as her lips met his. Her head clunked back against the painted wood. “Ouch. In a rush are we?” Thomas saw the excitement in her eyes. It matched his own. It was wild and crazy and quite wonderful. “I am on fire for you.”

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“Can I help you put it out, warlock?” Thomas grinned. “Only if I can put it in.” “Oh, yes please.” There was no need for any fancy words or terms of endearment. They were two people who needed each other. It was pure, simple hunger. Thomas pinned Mariette to the wall with his lower body and waved one hand. A condom appeared. “Can’t you make it magically appear on your cock?” Thomas ripped the packet open. “You know, I never thought about it.” Magically, he could do whatever he wanted but Thomas was not one to rely purely on magic. “It would save time.” Mariette licked her lips as she watched him cover the tip of his cock in rubber. “Anxious?” He worked the rubber up his shaft, pleased to know he was not the only desperate one. “I’m just saying—” “I like the old-fashioned way.” Mariette squirmed impatiently in his arms. “What? Going to the store and buying it?” “You know what I mean.” The friction of her body and tips of her breasts against his skin was making him clumsy with need. Steady on man. “This builds tension.” “I can see that,” Mariette responded, her eyes on his cock. “Any more tense and you’re going to explode.” “’Wanna help me with this last bit?” Mariette needed no further urging, her hands were eager on his cock as she snapped the last of piece latex in place. Thomas jumped at the slight sting. Her playfulness made him smile. Mariette squeezed his balls gently. “What’s taking you so long, warlock?” “You know, I don’t think I will ever get enough of you, Mari.” I cannot let this end here. I must stay in her life somehow. 28

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“Prove it.” And in one, solid thrust Thomas drove his cock up into the hot core of her. Mariette closed her eyes and gasped out loud as she clutched at his shoulders. “Mari?” “Yes, Thomas?” Her words came out in a wild, breathless rush. “How does that feel?” There was no other place Thomas would rather be than in her arms. He made his thrusts deep and hard, carving his place in her body and her life. “Fucking amazing. Now move warlock and make it fast.” Thomas laughed. “Not into slow, lingering sex?” The idea of licking Mariette from head to toes appealed to him. Not that it was an option at the moment. Mariette was right. He was close to exploding. But I’m definitely licking her later. “Maybe later,” Mariette moaned holding onto him, as Thomas bucked against her. “Need me, huh?” “As you do me,” she whispered against his mouth. That Mariette sought his kisses made his heart beat faster. Yes, sex with Mariette was exciting but knowing she wanted the taste of his mouth on hers was more important as it was a different level of intimacy. While anyone could fuck, kisses meant more. “Yes, I want you.” But there was no need to scare the woman. Thomas’ mouth met hers as he pumped faster in and out of her body. He tried to be gentle but it was difficult to when hunger was driving his body on to satisfy himself and the woman in his arms. “Oh Thomas,” she shrieked out loud, her eyes closing as she came. He smiled. Watching Mariette come was like watching a sunset—beautiful and memorable and you wanted to see it again and again. And I will. Thomas kept thrusting, making her moan and shake over and over. It had always been important to him that the woman he was with was satisfied before he even sought his own release. With Mariette it was that and more. Thomas wanted her to make her so crazy for him that

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when she found out he was lying she would be less likely to leave him. And I barely know her. What will I be like in a month with this woman? Completely enslaved? “Mari,” he cried out as he came, his balls grinding against her pelvis as he drove her into the wall in a wild explosion of passion.

Mariette blew the hair out of her eyes. She was hot and sweaty and relaxed to the point of feeling drunk. Her body ached, she had a slight headache from her head hitting the wall and she knew the minute she slid down from his body, her knees would be wobbly. But what a ride. Do me again. Thomas kissed her lips tenderly. “Are you okay, Mari?” She was better than okay. Mariette was felling alive and vibrant and it was all because of him. And yet who was Thomas? Better still, what am I doing? Mariette knew there was something not right about Thomas and yet she was opening her legs and inviting him inside without further thought. She never did that with any other man. Mariette was under Thomas’ sensual spell and it was hard to break it. But I must. She pushed at his shoulders and unwrapped her legs from his waist. As expected, when her feet touched the floor she felt her legs shake. “Mari?” Thomas looked at her in concern. “This is getting us nowhere.” Head slap, reality check. Mariette had no idea who Thomas really was, what he wanted or what she wanted for that matter. “I am going to have a shower and when I come out we’ll sit down and talk about what needs to be done.” Whatever that is…it’s sure to come to me. Thomas reached for her. “I want to shower with you.” Mariette’s hands went up to hold him back. “No way.” Just the thought of his soapy fingers on her body and between her legs was making her hot. She wanted time alone to analyze what she was feeling. “Why not?” His smiled indicated he knew why.

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“I need time to myself to think about who I can talk to in order to save your scrawny ass.” Mariette knew Thomas did not need her to save him. This man was no victim. “You clutched my ass and moaned.” “I was delirious. You probably used a spell on me, warlock.” Thomas shook his head. “I could have but it was not necessary.” Yep, she had fallen for him without any effort at all. “I want privacy in the shower.” “Okay.” She eyes him suspiciously. That sounded too simple. “I mean it.” “I promise.” Thomas made the sign of the cross over his heart. “And for God’s sake put some clothes on.” Mariette stomped out with the sound of his laughter in her ears.

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Chapter Three The minute Mariette was out of sight, Cypher appeared. “You are supposed to kill her not fuck her.” “I know what I am doing.” And there was no way Thomas was going to let Mariette Jane be harmed. While Cypher was powerful, so was Thomas. Each knew that and neither pushed the other too far. They had a healthy respect for each other’s abilities. One might call them cautious friends and wary allies in times of trouble. “She is a problem we need to be rid of.” If Thomas had not owed Cypher a debt of honor, he would have told him to shove his plans. But he did and Thomas Darcy came from a long line of people who never turned their back on their debts. They repaid them in full and swore never to be indebted again. The same would happen with Cypher. The blond warlock had helped him against an enemy, yet he had no plans to endanger Mariette because of it. I will find a way around this. What he said to Mariette was true. Sometimes he was sick of being a warlock. I have lived too long and seen too much. He would both honor his commitment and save Mariette. “I told you I don’t kill anyone.” “What about Artemis?” Cypher’s look was meaningful. Artemis. His enemy. “We both know he is still alive.” Though Thomas had come very close to killing him. In fact he wanted to destroy him so much once that he had almost been obsessive over it. But then Artemis had pushed him too far when he had killed Thomas’ cousin over a petty fight about a woman two years ago. Only an immortal could kill an immortal. The woman wanted Drew but Artemis wanted the woman and as young men do, they fought over her. Thomas remembered the stunned look on his cousin’s face as he lay dying in a pool of blood. “I never thought he would, 32

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Tom…” And then Drew had died in his arms. Thomas was more than aware Artemis had the killer instinct if he wanted something that another had. Darcy family honor decreed Thomas avenge the death. While Thomas didn’t believe in killing anyone, in a white hot rage of grief, he had faced Artemis.

“You come with a sword, how Darcy-like of you,” Artemis jeered at him. “Do plan to try to kill me? Your cousin couldn’t.” That he had even mentioned Drew had maddened Thomas. “Get a weapon.” “Why?” “I will not kill an unarmed man.” Artemis may not have honor but Thomas did. “You Darcys always take everything so personally.” Artemis clicked his fingers and a sword appeared. Without further word he lashed out at Thomas, who sidestepped the blow. “Do you want to kill me Tommy boy?” “Yes.” His blood was afire with vengeance. “Good luck.” It was then that Thomas Darcy, who never got angry, lost his cool and rushed the other warlock, slashing and hacking and giving no ground. He could see the look of surprise and horror in Artemis’ eyes as he scrambled backward to miss the slicing menace of the blade. The sweat poured off him and his arm ached as he thrust and parried. “You really must hate me.” Artemis was breathless yet his eyes defiant. “Yes.” So much that it was ricocheting back on Thomas. “You won’t kill me, Tommy boy.” How wrong he was. “I am not Drew. I am not beyond killing if I have to.” Artemis lunged at Thomas who in turn slashed the tip of his sword scoring a wide bloody swathe across Artemis’ chest. Blood poured out and he fell to his knees. Cypher appeared at Thomas’ side. “Don’t kill him.” 33

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“I have to.” It would not bring Drew back but it would make him feel a little bit better. “Artemis is not worth so much passion.” “He killed Drew.” But what would Cypher have him do? Let that lie? “I know but if you kill him it will start a factional fight that we cannot survive in our world.” “But he deserves to die.” Cypher nodded his head. “Yes, but it is not his time and it will not be by your hand when he does.” “I want him to pay.” In many ways death was almost too easy a punishment for Artemis but it was the only option Thomas could think of. “Artemis once used to be a good man.” Thomas could not disagree with Cypher’s statement. But that was a long time ago and before he dabbled in the black arts of Leopold and his clan of netherworld dwellers. From that moment Artemis started to lose his soul. “You can never regenerate your soul once lost, Cypher.” “No, that’s true but I have another plan for Artemis. He will be sent to the Brethren of Stone.” “That will kill him.” Those men were harder than steel and not ones to forgive unless unrelenting, painful penance had been made. He looked at Artemis. It would take so little for Thomas to plunge his sword into his gut and deliver the last boweltwisting blow. “Let the Brethren deal with him. Besides if you kill him it will start a world war like none of us, supernatural or human have ever seen before. Do you want that Thomas?”

No, Thomas hadn’t. Humans were not yet evolved enough to know that wars were not started over religion and land. Certainly those two aspects added fuel to the fire but

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it was the beings mortals never saw and only guessed at who started wars. And Cypher, the perennial diplomat, had been right. If a Darcy started a war by killing someone like Artemis, then competing factions would join in and take advantage of the chaos and infect the human world. It was only by careful negotiations and strict treaties that the mortal and immortal worlds coexisted. Besides in the end, killing Artemis would serve no purpose. So Cypher had bundled him up and taken him to the Brethren who had worked on Artemis until he came back quiet and watchful. Darcy honor meant Thomas owed Cypher for helping him. When he had approached him about Mariette, Thomas had been hesitant for this was a mortal woman who, as far as he could tell had down no harm in her life. Yes, she concerned herself with supernatural affairs but there were no complaints about her. Some beings found her helpful, others amusing. But Mariette was only doing what all Jane woman had done for centuries before her and there was nothing wrong in that as far as Thomas could see. “So, can you deal with the woman?” Cypher assessed him with a keen eye. “Can you be objective?” “Yes, however I still do not see how she is a problem to us.” Mariette was sweet and funny. “Other than being a smart ass, she is no threat to anyone.” “That’s where you’re wrong. Women like that are the worst kind.” “Whatever this plot you think Mavoureen is hatching, Mariette is not involved in it. She dislikes her.” It irritated Thomas that Cypher had not deigned to explain what it was that Mavoureen was planning to do. “Women are always allies regardless of personal feelings.” “Do you really see this woman and Mavoureen getting ready to overthrow all warlock-kind?” It was ridiculous to Thomas. “Yes and I would rather fight a battalion of men with swords than two angry women.”

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“Mariette’s not angry.” Thomas saw her more as confused and endearing. It was funny how fast she had gotten under his skin. Cypher looked at him in distain. “Did you not hear anything Lachlan had to say in his report? There is intelligence that she and Mavoureen will join forces to destroy warlock-kind. If we kill one then we weaken the other.” “So kill Mavoureen.” That was the best plan as she had been a plague on everyone for as long as Thomas could remember. “She’s harder to catch. This one you have now.” Thomas heard the shower stop. He imagined how that luscious curved body looked all wet and glistening with soap. “And if I don’t do as you want?” “You’re a Darcy. Your word is your bond. If the mortal woman is not dead by sunset tomorrow then I will kill her myself.” Cypher shook his head at Thomas. “You know I never thought you the sentimental sort.” You know nothing about me. “I’m not.” It was not a side of his nature he would allow any warlock to see. “Prove it then.” Cypher disappeared in a flash of light without any further comment. Thomas ran his hand through his hair. “Damn.” “What?” Mariette returned to the room, dressed only in a robe, Thomas knew that because he could see her nipples poking through the thin pink satin fabric. It would take nothing to pull the fabric from her body and see her naked once more. That Mariette was dressed so, told Thomas that she felt no menace from him as those who were scared never walked around virtually naked exposing themselves to threat. That was important to Thomas. It indicated trust. But will Mariette trust me when she knows the truth? She looked so lovely and cute that he wanted to cuddle her in his arms and never let her go. I cannot hurt her. “Thomas? You look like you’re in pain.”

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Oh, I am.

The pain she saw in his eyes concerned her. It was deep and emotional and it made Mariette wonder more about that man. Hidden pain was the worst kind. It tore at your soul until it left you empty inside. “Is there something I can do?” “Take off the robe,” Thomas responded with a wink. “Is sex all you think about?” It was a very good subject if you had the right teacher. “Actually I was thinking about licking you.” Mariette jumped at the thought. His hot tongue between her legs? Hmm, yes please. Maybe that’s why she had not put her clothes on as she should have. What to do? What to do? Enjoy a hot man licking her or be good and get back to business? “What?” “I’ve been thinking…” Thomas looked amused. “Yes, Mari?” Mari. The man knew how to get to her in a word. “The thing is we barely know each other.” “This is why I believe licking your body would be a great place to start.” Yes, it would. Probably all the world’s problems could be solved by everyone being licked into submission. “I’m serious. I don’t have sex with every immortal being who wanders into my home.” “I’m glad.” “Who are you?” Mariette sat down on sofa. Thomas eyes went to the fabric that barely covered her legs. “You want my life story?” Mariette crossed her legs as she had a pretty good idea what he was thinking. She had been wet since Thomas had mentioned licking. “Maybe. Yes.” 37

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“Okay then.” Thomas came and sat down on the sofa beside her. “I have been alive for six hundred and fifty years.” “Holy crap!” Yes, Mariette knew he was immortal but hearing it said out loud like that made it seem more powerful. “Indeed, I have seen too much, done too much and in many ways I am so tired of life.” Hence the pain in his eyes. “So immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up be?” She knew warlocks never physically aged in appearance past the age of forty. Why did people seek eternal youth? There was always a price to pay and sometimes it was not worth it. “No.” Such a simple word and yet it told Mariette everything. “I’m sorry.” “You’re sweet, Mari.” Thomas reached over and linked her hand with his. Mariette looked down at their hands. One large and timeless, the other small and on a deadline. “I’m really not. I’m usually a cranky, half-assed thirty-three-year-old woman barely managing on the pittance I get from the facilitator gig.” Thomas asked the obvious question. “So why do it?” “It’s tradition.” Mariette would not be the one to break it. Honor was important to her. “Ah yes, tradition.” Thomas nodded in understanding. “Now, may I lick you?” Mariette giggled and she was not a giggler by nature but it struck her as quite funny that they had gone from a deep moment to sex in the blink of an eye. “Seriously?” Thomas turned and pushed her back to lie on the sofa. “If I do not get to have my tongue in your pussy, I will expire.” He dropped to his knees before her. “Mari, may I?” That he could so easily take was only too obvious as Mariette was not fighting the hands on her body. That Thomas asked permission made her fall that little bit further for the man. “Yes, Thomas.”

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From the minute she said yes, the man was all hands. The thin satin was pulled from her body and Thomas positioned her so her body was open and exposed to his mouth. He sat on his haunches and gazed at her. “You’re lovely.” No one had ever made Mariette feel so good. Sex was one thing but words that wrapped around her like a warm embrace were an invaluable gift. “I don’t think so.” “But I know so.” He lifted her legs, hooking them up over his shoulders. When his tongue touched her clit it was impossible not to scream. It was the most intense feeling she had ever known. Hot, wet and probing, Thomas licked her with intent and Mariette lay back and clutched the cushions, panting with need. “Oh Thomas…” No one had ever done this to her before and she was glad he was the first. It wouldn’t have been right with anyone else. “Has any man ever seen you like this, Mari?” Thomas spun his tongue on her clit as his fingers slid into the wet core of her. Her pelvis arched up to meet his mouth and she welcomed the fingers that fucked her. “N-n-no…” “And no one ever will for you are mine.” Once more his tongue and lips licked and sucked at the exposed pink folds. His words were exactly what Mariette wanted to hear. She knew she could not be the only one who was feeling the heat of possession filling her up. She writhed under his mouth, needing more. “Touch your breasts, Mari. I want to see you play with them.” Her nipples were aching to be touched so Mariette was more than happy to fondle her breasts as Thomas paid attention solely to her pussy. When he slid his tongue into her vagina, Mariette stiffened and clutched her breasts as the most wondrous sensation shot through her body. Although his tongue was not a match for his cock, it was fast and flexible as it thrust in and out, licking her clit on the out stoke.

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“Thomas,” Mariette panted as she pulled his head up. “I want to come.” “So come,” he responded dropping his head back down. “But I need you inside me or it won’t be the same.” When he lifted his head, the look Thomas gave her was so fiercely possessive that Mariette knew then and there she loved him. It was madness of course to feel that way. But I know no one will ever love him like me. And if this one crazy moment was all she had then Mariette was going to take it. “Please Thomas.” “For you, anything.” Thomas pushed her back further into the sofa and positioned his body over hers. As much as she wanted to feel his hard, bare cock inside her, Mariette believed in sexual safety. “Condom.” Thomas clicked his fingers and one appeared instantly on his cock. “There are times to be old-fashioned but this is not one of them.” He smiled at her. “I need you, Mari. Do you need me?” His voice sounded so soulful and his eyes matched it. Yes, this was lust but it was something else. She could not be the only one feeling it. “Take me, Thomas.” He needed no further words. Thomas sank his cock into the hilt in her body. “I could quite happily die in your arms.” “Could we at least come first?” “I promise you that and so many other things I ca—” Mariette’s fingers stilled his lips. “No promises. Let’s just enjoy this.” Trying to promise anything in the heat of a moment was like trying to catch a falling star. Nothing and everything could come of it but why set yourself up for disappointment? “Now fuck me please.” “My pleasure, Mari.”

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Once again, his deep, long strokes sent shivers of delight through her body. In the position she was in, all Mariette could do was lie back and enjoy the pumping cock inside her body. Lucky me. Thomas picked up her hand and kissed it as he continued pounding away. His tongue trailed down her arm to her elbow. He smiled as she trembled. “What? Didn’t you think a man could multitask?” “I believe you could probably do anything you want to.” She gasped as a familiar, intense feeling rushed up her spine. “Faster.” “And if I slowed down?” Thomas stopped moving altogether. “I would cry.” Actually she would wail and carry on until he started again. Besides she wasn’t the only one looking for release. Every thrust of his cock told Mariette of Thomas’ need. He reached up and touched her face. “I can’t have that.” Thomas ramped up his pace. “Besides I know blackmail when I hear it.” “Well, I do have you by the balls.” Thomas chuckled as he increased his pace. “Whatever happens, never change, Mari.” And never leave me, Thomas. La, how needy would that sound if she said that now? I have known you for an hour or two and yet I think I love you. Yep, that was what every man wanted to hear. No pressure there whatsoever. But there was between her legs and it was building up to the point of climax. Mariette gripped the cushions, her knuckles white as she whimpered with every thrust from Thomas. Her clit was so tender and her insides burning that it only took one more thrust and she screamed as her body gave in to the orgasm that tore through her. Thomas laughed with delight. “I have never seen a woman so beautiful.” It had been on the tip of her tongue to say “I don’t think so” but at that moment Mariette did feel beautiful and it was all because of Thomas. When she felt the pull and

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jerk of his cock within, she hugged him towards her. It took some maneuvering but soon they were shaking in each other’s arms as they came down from their sexual high. “Licking is good,” Mariette murmured in contentment.

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Chapter Four “As if I would ever get involved with that flibbertigibbet mortal.” To even suggest it was an insult to Mavoureen. Of course she knew about the Jane woman. All supernatural beings did. She was a continuous pain in the ass who got involved helping the weak and the whiny. Mavoureen had been dealing with her kinswomen for the last one thousand years. Their interference was annoying and had often come at the cost of some of her best plans to get what she wanted at the expense of others. Besides, Mavoureen liked to taunt and torture the weak. How was she supposed to do that when they continually ran to the Jane women appealing for help? And the women had the most obnoxious habit of finding the right way to step in and save the victim. This particular Jane woman was yet to mess with her but Mavoureen was waiting, along with contemplating killing her before she could. That at least would be some fun. Past Jane women had managed to escape similar fates. Was this one smart enough to? Mavoureen looked at Manny the human tiger. His rodent-like face peered out from the front of a misshapen hood that was knocked up in a feeble attempt to look like a lion’s face. It failed of course. He looked like a giant ferret with his squinting, greedy eyes and his thin-lipped mouth. Manny was also thin and gangly with a nervous twitch that made him look he was on drugs or needed them. He could not have looked less like a tiger if he tried. Repulsive little man. Problem was, like all good snitches, Manny was useful so she kept him on retainer to do her bidding and seek intelligence like the ferret he was. Yes, that was more like it. He was a human ferret. A big, orange ferret in a homemade hairy orange suit. What was that about anyway? Sure, a trademark or cachet could make you stand out from the crowd but a pretend tiger who the downand-out in the supernatural approached because he had no scruples whatsoever? How could that be helpful? Not that I care. That’s their problem.

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Mavoureen stroked her long, blonde hair as she assessed the man in the baggy suit sitting on her sofa. Her tresses fell to her waist in golden waves of perfection. And so they should. After a millennium she knew how to look after herself and what spells to cast and beings to bribe for eternal beauty. For the warlocks to suggest she had an alliance with the redheaded Jane woman was laughable. As if Mavoureen would do that with the ghastly fat little Jane chit. Mavoureen shuddered at the thought. Opposites may attract but ugliness attracted no one but the desperate. I will never be that desperate. “I thought I’d let you know what the talk was in the warlock world,” Manny simpered as he stroked his fake, orange fur. It fell in clumps to the floor. How revolting. “Thank you. Now get off the sofa, you’re shedding.” Manny did as he was bid for although he was disgusting Mavoureen knew Manny feared her. She could make or break him. Hmm, why would warlocks spread such a ridiculous lie about her? Sure, she was planning to be the downfall of warlock-kind but she needed no help with that. Kill them and she could accrue their riches for only she knew where they were hidden. Warlocks gave up secrets easily when you had their cock in your mouth. Mavoureen smiled as she remembered the warlock who had told her everything about the warlock gold. He had been groaning one moment and dead the next. But then that’s what happened when you played with Mavoureen. You were only as useful as what you hid or knew. Once found out there was no reason to keep you alive. In a world that was slowly killing itself due to greed, warlock gold would consolidate her fortune. Sure, she was part witch and demon but Mavoureen could only cast a spell for money if money was available. It was one of her greatest frustrations. Anything else she could take freely but not wealth. Not that she had anything specific to buy, it was just the perverse need to have it. And of late there was so little of it around. Mavoureen could not take what was not there hence the reason she wanted the gold. No matter what century, gold was always valuable. But I have to kill the warlocks to get it. If she knew nothing else, Mavoureen knew true, ancient warlocks never willingly

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gave up what was theirs. She knew they had been amassing it for centuries and dolling it out only when it suited them. Sometimes it suited them to help the world economy. Other times it was not in their best interests. They were a perverse lot. They could do great good or evil. It all depended on their mood. “And you say they have sent one of their kind in to kill the Jane woman?” Interesting. While Mavoureen did not care for the Jane woman, she had to wonder why she was such a threat to them that they had to eliminate her. That was unusual. True, these women had always been annoying but knowing the warlocks wanted one of them dead made Mavoureen want to find out more about her. She was not powerful. She was just a human being. There had to be more to this. “Do I get my reward?” Manny’s look was sly. Well fuck. I should just kill him and yet he may be able to find out more. I can always kill him later. Hmm…a plan. Just looking at Manny made her want to puke but she had promised him a reward for knowledge and she needed to keep the little twerp alive a bit longer. Most people told him stuff because they thought he was harmless. That was an excellent resource for Mavoureen at the moment. She knew what he wanted—sex. However a weedy little man dressed in fake fur did not do it for her but then one cock was much like another. Just remember he is useful as he has no morals at all. Just my kind. “Come here, kitty cat…”

***** Artemis was not convinced. “And you believe Thomas does not know the truth?” Cypher shook his head. “No, I have told him she is mixed up with Mavoureen but not how.” “The Jane girl is no match for that slut.” “No, but few are,” Cypher agreed, knowing at that moment, Thomas was fucking the woman he was sent to kill. “And he asked no more questions of you? I find that amazing.” 45

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“He did, but Darcys are different from us. Once they owe someone a debt they work to repay it as fast as they can as long as it doesn’t jeopardize their principles.” And there was the rub. While as a warlock Thomas was no stranger to violence, this time was a little different. Thomas had questioned little until he met the woman. And then the bloody fool fell in love with her. That had surprised and concerned Cypher. He was worried that he had never thought this a possibility before. Thomas was as old as he was. They had seen much and bedded many women. Neither had got involved to the point of commitment with any of them. Until now. Cypher sighed as he thought about another woman. But then he himself had fallen so why not Thomas? I will not think about her now. I cannot think about her. She maddens me. Who knew a white witch could be such a pain in the ass? “What are you thinking, Cypher?” As if I would tell you about her. No one knew about what happened with Esmeralda. Cypher barely knew himself. It was so quick. He cleared his throat and forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand. I will deal with her soon enough. “I am thinking that if Mavoureen finds out that she and the Jane woman are sisters, then we are in more trouble than we have ever been in.” Together the two sisters could be the most powerful force on the planet. That did not suit warlock-kind. They liked to rule without interference. The coming together of blood kin would ruin that. “Sisters. It still amazes me.” “It is so. Her mother slept with the demon that fathered Mavoureen,” Cypher confirmed once more. They had only found this out very recently and that again annoyed Cypher. He had thought he knew everything. But it appears not. “The demon was most persuasive and not all mortal women can resist the sexual lure of a devil.” Artemis pondered this for a moment. “And her mother never told her?” “No.” Cypher had only found out after his dalliance with the witch and that had only been by fluke. He had read Esmeralda’s email and discovered she had been conversing with another of her kind in New Orleans. Cypher had been stunned when 46

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he read the words. “Oh and hey Ez, I found out your friend has interesting parentage. Isn’t it legend that Jane women are supposed to abhor demons? What happened with Marietta’s mother? Was it love or lust that made her fall into Quilliam’s arms? Does she know?” Those words still shocked Cypher. He had deleted the email instantly. Thank Heaven, literally, that Quilliam was dead, for the three of them would have been unbeatable. Artemis chuckled. “How funny that her mother so readily opened her legs for a demon as this one does for Darcy.” “Ah but Thomas is a warlock.” Instinct told him while Marietta would not willingly join forces with Mavoureen, sometimes peoples’ will was not their own. Did she even have an inkling of the amazing power she had burning hot in her veins? Did Mariette feel it? “Sometimes I wonder how that can be. Tommy boy is too nice. He should have killed me while he had the chance.” What had Artemis learned in the hard discipline of the Brethren? He was changed from the reckless warlock he once was. Now there was a bitterness that was more a worry than his impatience and foolhardy actions. The war braids of the Brethren made him look harder and unyielding. They also signaled the quiet war within the man. Once with the Brethren you were marked for life. “Yes, I agree but he is a man of honor and the scar you carry on your chest should remind you not to cross him or any of us again.” There was a flash of anger in Artemis’ eyes but only for a moment. He pushed back the twisted hair from his face. “Honor is overrated. Who knew he could get so pissy about his family name?” “The Darcys have been around forever and the blood that runs through his veins is more powerful and ancient than the two of us combined. He is not a man to have as an enemy.” And he will not kill the woman. I should have seen that. What is wrong with me at the moment? Cypher found himself thinking like a human being a times. Ah, the price of falling.

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“I know that now. I have learned many lessons.” Artemis’ voice was as hard as the stone of the Brethren. “How do we get him to kill the woman? Do we let him know of the family connection between her and Mavoureen?” “No,” Cypher responded instantly, pleased that he sounded decisive at last. “But we let Mavoureen know and Thomas will have to make his choice from there.” How loyal was he to warlock-kind? “Yes, but how?” “There’s this tiger…”

***** One hour and forty-seven minutes later “She’s my what?” Mavoureen roared at the tiger who shrank down under the sheer power of her voice. “Your sister.” “A prissy-assed Jane woman?” Everyone knew they hated demons just because of a boring little altercation in the thirteenth century when some people had been slaughtered by demons. What was the big deal? “How do you know this?” Mavoureen listened as Manny spewed back the information that had been fed to him by the warlocks. “Your father and her mother did the deed.” Mavoureen looked at Manny in disgust. Grown men did not say “did the deed”. “They fucked, Manny.” How can I possibly be related to a mortal? It tainted her by association. However it made sense why the warlocks were interested in Mariette Jane. More interesting was why they made sure Mavoureen knew.

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Chapter Five “Thomas, I mean it. Stop.” Mariette slapped at the hand that slid up her thigh and under her robe. He smiled. Mariette was such an enigma. One moment prissy and prim and the next so hot and sexy that he could barely kick his pants from his ankles fast enough to be naked with her once more. No woman did naked as well as Mariette. She was all generous curves and soft flesh and if he had his way she would never be dressed. His hands strayed farther. Thomas was seeking pussy. I will never get enough of this woman. “But what if it’s karma that sent you to me to you in order to have sex to solve my problems?” He had not bothered to re-dress after the hot, soapy shower they had just enjoyed where he had taken her body once more against the tiles and the water cascaded over their skin. And yet, after that his cock was ready for more. Mariette snorted at this as her hand covered his, stopping his progress. “I don’t think so. Now stop playing around. We have to concentrate.” “Okay,” Thomas murmured, his eyes on hers, knowing Mariette understood the look in his eyes. She sprang up and reached for her robe. “I mean it and I can’t do that when you’re all—” “What?” “Naked and stuff.” Thomas laughed in delight. He knew what “stuff” Mariette was referring to and he wanted his stuff and her stuff nice and tight once more. Mariette tapped her foot and sighed with impatience. “Your life depends on this, warlock.”

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That he was lying to her, cut into Thomas. He knew she would be angry when she found out the real reason he was there. Not that he could kill Mariette. He would fight every warlock there was to keep her safe. He smiled at that thought. I don’t believe it. “What? Mariette’s gaze was wary on his as she tightened the sash at her waist. “Nothing.” Actually it was everything but to tell the lady in question that right now what he was feeling would have her wondering about his sanity. Thomas was falling in love with Mariette. In all the years he had walked the planet never once had he believed this was possible. Thomas had believed love was only for humans and he had done okay on lust. Until now. I want more. The idea of forever wasn’t so appealing without Mariette. “I like that you care about me.” No one but his family ever had and they were long gone. While Darcys were immortal, they did not live forever as they tended to get into a lot of battles with other immortals who were jealous of their power. As far as Thomas was concerned, there was nothing powerful about being from a legend of a family when you were alone. Thomas watched as Mariette paced. How could he do her harm? Cypher was mad. Yes, Thomas owed him but all the honor in the world could not make him kill anyone let alone Mariette. His fellow warlocks were important. They were like a brotherhood who acted as one for the good of all. Well, mostly it was for the good of all. Not everyone’s idea of brotherhood was compatible and like every organization, there was always someone who wanted to be seen as being in control. That was Cypher. He was part politician, part showman and basically good in his intentions but not always honest. Like now. Thomas knew there had to be more about Mariette than he was being told. “Well sure, I care. I don’t have sex with just anyone—I mean—that’s my job, to care.” “I think you like me.” Mariette stopped and put her hands on her hips. “I don’t think so.”

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Thomas smiled. She said that phrase a lot and it while Mariette said it to sound like she was tough and in control, there was always a tone of sweet vulnerability about it. “You have to think less, Mari. I find it more interesting for me when you do.” When Mariette lost control and gave into what she was feeling it was the sweetest thing. “Do you want to live?” With you? Forever. “Yes.” “Okay then, so what do warlocks do to one another when they’re angry?” “They kill each other.” As he had come so close to killing Artemis. Mariette’s eye widened in horror. “Really?” “Yes, Mari.” While the lady dealt on the fringes of his world, Mariette didn’t really know how treacherous a life it could be. Immortals could only be trusted to a point. “Come here.” Thomas patted his lap. His cock was so hard that if he did not make contact with her body soon he was going to embarrass himself like a teenager. “If I sit there we won’t be able to concentrate.” “I promise I will give you my full attention.” He tapped his thighs once more. “Come on Mari, I won’t do anything you don’t like.”

Bloody hell. That was the problem. Mariette liked everything Thomas did to her. He was a veritable smorgasbord of sensual delight and not wanting to touch and taste him would be like not wanting to breathe. “Please come to me, Mari.” There were so many reasons why she shouldn’t and yet none of them were compelling enough to make her hold her ground. As if on autopilot, Mariette walked over and sat down sideways on his lap. She could see what Thomas was thinking. “This way is safer.” Mariette had more control and it was less likely she would slide down over the cock that was sandwiched under her butt. Yeah right. Mariette placed her hands demurely in her lap.

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“I mean it. We have to work out how to save you.” Her job was to try to help people, not necessarily save them. But then Thomas was different. He was— Not something I would admit to at the moment. It’s too soon. “Who do I talk to on your behalf?” “That would be Cypher.” Thomas’ hands went to her breasts. Mariette’s eyelids flickered momentarily as he touched her. Damn the man. How can I concentrate when he does that? “Cypher.” She cleared her throat in an attempt to gain her rapidly diminishing control. “Now that’s a proper warlock name.” But not the warlock I want. “Are you concentrating?” Am I? It was hard to when his hands were so gentle yet firm on her breasts. Mariette could feel the moisture between her thighs. Thomas had to be feeling that as well. “Yes ma’am, I am.” “So I tell him that you’re really sorry.” Mariette knew the oath breaking was a story and he had another reason for being there. Admittedly part of her was angry that Thomas had not told her truth and part of her wanted to live for the moment and believed he needed her. Maybe it was naïve but there it was. I am falling for the warlock. It was insanity of course because Thomas would leave when he had what he wanted. “Nah, that won’t cut it. Apologies are not something warlocks deal in.” Right, remember that when Thomas turns away and leaves you. “So I go and see Mavoureen and talk her into being nice and forgetting what she heard.” Which would be impossible as “nice” was not a term that was ever applied to that woman. Added to that Mavoureen would have no idea why Mariette was even there because if Mariette knew nothing else she knew Thomas did not sleep with the whore. Jeez, life is confusing. His hands were still on her breasts. “You would put yourself in danger for me, Mari?” Whoa! Thomas’s voice was so low and intense that she had to blink several times to keep herself together. I swear I could come on his voice alone. “Well, it’s my job. Besides it might be fun playing mind games with the evil one.” Mariette had only seen Mavoureen twice before. Both times Mavoureen had given her a look that chilled 52

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Mariette down to her toenails. Mariette in turn had done a cutesy finger wave both times and smiled in response to piss her off. Thomas looked at her with interest. “And what would you say to her?” That was a damn good question. How did one appeal to a whore? Money? I have none. “I don’t know but it would come to me. I’m fast on my feet when I need to be.” It had kept her alive this long. “Hey.” How had his hand slid so far between her legs without her realizing it? “What?” Thomas tried to look innocent and failed. La, he was gorgeous. ”Your hand, warlock.” “It’s comfortable there. Doesn’t it feel nice?” Yes, very much so. “Are you trying to distract me from seeing Mavoureen?” “Maybe.” His other hand pulled at her belt. “Am I’m going to be naked again?” Normally it was not something Mariette did well but with Thomas anything seemed possible. “Yep, you got a problem with that, lady?” “It doesn’t solve your problem.” Thomas smiled. “It solves one of them.” Saying she not aware of his cock jutting between her thighs would have been a lie. Mariette knew she had to be dripping moisture from her pussy onto his shaft. “Do you always think about your cock?” “Not usually but with you it seems to be out there demanding a response.” Mariette laughed. Who was she kidding? She wanted Thomas and she could have him. So why was she fighting it? Mariette lifted up from him and dropped to her knees. Licking was fun last time. What about sucking? “Mari, what are you doing?” “I want to taste you.” She took his cock between her hands. It was already turgid with need. 53

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Thomas fell back against the sofa. “This may kill me.” “It had better not, warlock. I have other plans for you.” Where to start? Head or length? “Problems?” “Just thinking. Don’t rush me.” Mariette wanted to give Thomas pleasure, not make him laugh his ass off at her attempts. “Have you ever—” “No.” And now I am blushing like a naïve girl. “Okay.” Thomas’ smile was full of interest. “Your call, Mari.” Mariette leaned in and licked the tip. Hmm, that was different. It was hard, yet soft and spongy. She licked a few more times. The growl that came from the man above her indicated she was doing the right thing. It seemed only natural to take the head into her mouth and suck. “Bloody hell,” the long, drawn out groan tore from Thomas’s throat. It pleased Mariette that she had him on edge for once. She sucked more of his cock between her lips. There was no way she could get all of him inside her mouth but she would suck whatever she could. So like a giant lollipop, Mariette sucked on his flesh. She felt Thomas’ fingers thread through her hair and caress her head. She liked the soft moans of enjoyment that came from the man spread-eagle before her and under her control. “Mari…” “Yes?” She lifted her head, the cock popping wet and shiny from her lips. Her hands went down to fondle his balls. “As much as I love this—” “Oh you’re not coming until I tell you to, warlock.” Thomas looked at her in amusement. “What? I am an all-mighty immortal with the power of life and death on my command.” 54

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“Yeah, and I have your cock in my hands so I have the power now. And this moment is about me and what I want.” Once more, Mariette sucked his cock into her mouth and she took pleasure in how his hips bucked up and down as he tried to keep control. Thomas reached down and pushed her head away with a gentle hand. “I have to come soon.” He waved his other hand and a condom appeared on his cock. “No, not yet, warlock. I want to try something else.” It was fun to have a man to do things like this with. Every woman should have one. There was stuff Mariette had only read about and she wondered if it were doable. She sat up higher so her breasts were in line with his cock. Thomas’ eyes widened as if he knew what she planned to do. Mariette pushed her breasts together and sandwiched his flesh between hers. The growl that came from Thomas was just that. Low, primal and guttural. “I don’t see how this is so great.” The push and pull of her breasts and his cock was nice and hot but nothing to get excited over as far as Mariette was concerned. “Oh, it is, trust me.” Thomas jerked upright when she stopped. “Why are you stopping?” Mariette stood up. “Because I want to do this.” And in one fluid movement she impaled herself on his cock. “Yes, this is much better.” She rode him hard, grinding her clit against his pelvis and her breasts into his chest. Thomas’ mouth met hers and they kissed with a hungry passion. Mariette kept up her pace. Normally she would never had done this with any man as her boobs would have been bouncing too much and her flesh wobbling but then Thomas was not just any man. He made her feel safe and that she could do anything and he would love it. “May I come now?” Thomas murmured against her mouth. “Yes.” They held each other tight as the orgasm tore through them. Their bodies shook and hearts hammered against each other as they kissed like there was tomorrow for them. “I don’t think I can leave you,” Thomas said when he found his voice. 55

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“So don’t.” “Mari, I—” “Uh-oh…” Esmeralda stopped in her tracks. Bummer. Mariette just knew Thomas was about to tell her something important but the moment was now lost. “Turn around for a moment Ez.” It was not unusual for Esmeralda to just appear like this. It was unusual for Mariette to be sitting on a cock when she did. She waited until her friend turned and then pulled up and off Thomas’ body. Thomas snapped his fingers and he was fully clothed. “I’ll leave you two to talk but I’ll be back.” He kissed Mariette’s hand and vanished. Mariette watched Thomas and Esmeralda exchange looks. No, they have never met. So why the lie? What did Thomas want? Was she seeing something that was not there, or did she have blinders on and not want to see it? “Who’s the warlock hottie, M?” Esmeralda’s brilliant blue eyes were alight with interest. “You don’t know him do you?” No wonder Thomas didn’t want to stick around. Why is he lying to me? “Should I?” Esmeralda tossed Mariette her discarded robe. “You’re naked by the way.” “That seems to be the best way to have sex, Ezzie,” Mariette quipped. “So I‘ve heard.” Mariette let out a long sigh. How do I find out why Thomas landed in my life? Clearly he knew stuff about her—where she lived, her job and her friends—while she knew nothing other than that sex with him was better than chocolate. But like chocolate, sex had drawbacks and honesty was important to Mariette. “Thomas said you sent him to me.” So why? Surely he would have known he would be caught out in that lie. Or was

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it that whatever he had planned to do, Thomas expected it only to take a short time and he would never be caught out? “Oh M, I would have held onto him.” Esmeralda looked thoughtful. “Thomas. Thomas Darcy, the warlock?” “I don’t know, we never got around to surnames.” Or the truth. Esmeralda smiled. “No, but I can see why. Is he good? He looks good.” “Unbelievable but—” “But you’re wondering, as I now am, about his sudden appearance in your life.” Mariette nodded. She wanted to know and yet she didn’t. It was nice having the dream of someone like Thomas in her life. “Yeah, I wondered why he suddenly showed up now.” She explained to Esmeralda what Thomas had told her. “Okay then, that makes sense with everything else I have heard,” Esmeralda responded. “And we have a problem.” “Great. I knew this had to be too good to be true.” Drop-dead gorgeous men like Thomas did not appear in the lives of average women. “Mav.” Esmeralda was the only one who called Mavoureen, Mav. But then Esmeralda wasn’t like anyone else. She was different. It was the way she spoke, the look in her eye and the quiet power that radiated from the white witch. Could it be true? Had Thomas slept with Mavoureen as he said he had? And why did it matter so much to Mariette? It was not like she had a claim on him. I just assumed he would have picked someone better than that and to have gone from her to me? Ick. “I heard something from Manny.” Mariette rolled her eyes in amused. “Oh yeah? What’s Manny saying now?” Manny, the hairy ball of matted orange fluff and the loosest lips on the planet. If you wanted a secret told you made sure you spoke it to Manny. “What did he tell you this time? The apocalypse is next Tuesday at eleven forty-three instead of last Wednesday

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when he said it was? I have to tell you I was totally bummed at that as I had bought popcorn and sat up and waited and nothing happened.” “Yeah, that was kind of disappointing,” Esmeralda agreed. “I was looking forward to the drama of it.” “Maybe next time. So back to Mavoureen.” And how was she involved with Thomas? “Okay, now this is just a rumor so keep calm.” Well crap. Anytime a sentence started like that you knew there was going to be a problem. “I’m always calm—sort of—anyway, just tell me.” “Solid rumor has it that you and Mav are related. That you’re sisters.” Mariette threw her head back and laughed. “Manny has to stop licking that fake orange fur of his. I’m sure it’s toxic.” She stopped and looked at her friend. “Ez, you’re not laughing.” This was funny. Manny was funny. Being related to a slut was not. “Well, I did at first until I thought I’d do some checking with some other witches and we traced your family tree.” “And?” It could not possibly be so. Mariette sat down hard on the edge of the sofa. Esmeralda joined her. “What do you know of your father?” “Other than it takes a male and a female to make a baby and that a male would have been involved with my mother to procreate, absolutely nothing. But I’m sure you’re going to tell me.” Esmeralda was like that. She found the facts out and only then did she act based on truth and knowledge. “Well M, you know the gossip about how irresistible demons are?” “There is no way that my father was a demon.” Mariette jerked upright in denial. “My mother would not have slept with one of those creatures.” While all Jane women were free to love who they pleased and they were free and open, they were not that open. Morals still mattered and demons had never been favored by the Janes since they massacred Jane women in the thirteenth century. Jane woman believed in keeping

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grudges alive. “They could not have had sex.” But then Esmeralda was a white witch and they never lied. “Could they? Seriously?” “Yeah M, I believe they did.” Mariette shook her head in disbelief. “So my mother gave birth to Mavoureen?” How could that creature have come from someone as good as her mother? “Oh God no.” Esmeralda looked just as horrified by the thought. “Besides Mav is immortal. She’s been around forever. From our research, her mother was some back street hooker the demon picked up and pumped his seed into. You share the same father.” “Right,” Mariette murmured as she tried to get her mind around it. ”So who is my—our—father?” She had wanted a sister but not like this. Esmeralda shook her head. “You’re not going to like it.” “Ez, I’m not liking a lot of this right now.” “Quilliam.” “Quilliam?” She had to be joking. He had been an evil bastard. “The one the angels killed?” “Yes, that mercenary asshole.” This was big. Quilliam had been killed only two months ago. He had been such a plague on Earth and the supernatural world that Heaven had intervened and had him killed. That was an unusual choice for them. Normally they let good and bad fight it out. But Quilliam? He was beyond bad. He was so evil that only a force greater than him could destroy him. “Did he force my mother?” Mariette had heard the stories of how he had raped and bashed women into submission. “Apparently not.” Esmeralda looked at her significantly. The white witch was not immortal. She had been alive as long as Mariette yet her depth of knowledge stunned Mariette. “Well, my mother must have been mad then.”

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She knew what Esmeralda’s look meant. Mariette didn’t want to believe she had willingly given herself to Quilliam. Once more she wished she was alive so she could ask. “Lust, as we both know, makes you do stuff you normally wouldn’t do.” “Yes.” Like screwing a warlock you knew nothing about and suspected was lying. “Yeah.” Esmeralda nodded, her eyes holding their own secrets. “But I’m not immortal.” Mariette had broken her leg, she bled when she cut her finger and had all the illnesses any kid could have growing up. “That’s right because to be immortal genetically your mother must carry more of the immortal genes. Your mother clearly did not carry this biological trait hence your mortality.” Mariette blew out a breath. “So this has to be why Thomas is here.” But even that didn’t add up because even if she and the whore were sisters, what did that matter to warlocks? Or had he actually slept with Mavoureen as he said and now wanted some weird pleasure of having bedded both of them? And yet, it just did not ring true to her. “You do know Thomas Darcy is not a lower order warlock.” “Again, we hadn’t gotten to swapping life stories.” Esmeralda smiled. “Yes, sex is a marvelous thing. As for the Darcys, they go back for thousands of years. Their line is pure warlock. There is no taint within it like the others. They mated with precision and only the purest, most powerful women were sought to bear their children. He is said to be incredibly powerful.” “Okay, so if he’s here because of me and Mavoureen what does he plan to do?” “Kill you.” Mariette jumped in shock. “What?” she yelled without realizing she was yelling. That was a good thing about Esmeralda, she never beat around the bush when it was important. She told it like it was and you had to catch yourself as you fell. “Remember the warlock I sort of went a little bit crazy over?”

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Correction, Esmeralda was straightforward in everything but her own life. “Sort of a little bit? You fell for him like a ton of bricks. You really liked him and you never said why you broke up.” “Yeah well, stuff happened,” Esmeralda muttered and blushed slightly. “But the thing is he almost as powerful as Thomas but he is more politically ambitious and he holds power in the world of warlocks.” “Is his name Cypher?” Mariette watched as Esmeralda nodded. Now this was all falling horribly into place. Thomas must have been sent by Cypher to kill her. Was the sex just a fringe benefit for him? Did it mean anything at all to him? “I believe both Cypher and Thomas have just found out about the family connection and he wants to kill Mav and taking you out as well would rid him of any future problems.” Mariette looked agog. “How can I be a problem to a warlock?” Though there was one in particular who was going to feel her wrath. Lying was one thing but making her fall for him was another. Or did Thomas feel safe knowing she would not be around long enough to be a commitment? “I have no powers.” “You have none we know of,” Esmeralda corrected her. “And that worries them. Mav is a loose cannon. You are an unknown.” Mariette dealt with too many supernatural beings not to know that power did indeed corrupt. “I don’t want to find out.” “I respect that but I don’t think you’re going to have a choice if Mav finds out the truth.” Mariette swore out loud. “Damn, Manny will tell her.” She wasn’t sure how but Manny always found out stuff others didn’t. He overheard it or was fed it in order to cause chaos. The ratty, disgusting wannabe tiger would do anything for sex and Mavoureen would do anyone to get what she wanted. “Yeah, exactly.”

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“And Thomas has been sent to kill me.” Bastard. “It looks that way,” agreed Esmeralda. “What are you going to do?” Mariette stood up. She was not going to wait for trouble to come to her. She preferred to face it and get on with her life. As for Thomas? I have no idea. She was too pissed off at him to think about it. “I’m going to see Mavoureen.” “That’s dangerous.” That was the understatement of the year. “Well, I could always sit around and wait to be killed by someone I have fallen—” “In love with? Yeah, it can happen that fast.” Esmeralda rose gracefully to her feet. “I’m sorry, M.” Mariette ran an agitated hand through her hair. “It’s just been one of those days, Ez.”

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Chapter Six “Hello sister dear.” Mavoureen greeted her with an evil grin. “You know.” If Manny wasn’t such a perverted creature he could be marketed as a fast information retrieval system. “Yes sweetie, come and give me a big hug.” Neither woman moved toward the other. “Normally I would,” Mariette told her. “But I have no idea where you have been.” She looked around Mavoureen’s opulent home. The demon and whoring certainly paid off. Marble, fine crystal and antiques were causally yet no doubt thoughtfully place for maximum interior designing effect. Mavoureen’s eyes never left Mariette. “It’s hard to believe we’re related. You’re so…” she waved her around as if trying best how to describe Mariette’s khaki pants and a black t-shirt ensemble, “so average.” “And you’re so terribly trashy but there it is.” “I could kill you for that.” Mariette smiled at her. There was no pleasure in it. It was merely to let Mavoureen know she was not scared of her. “Nah, I think you need me.” Mavoureen snorted. “How so?” “Seems some warlocks have taken a sudden interest in me.” Mariette was going to play this vague until she knew more than she currently did. She could understand they wanted her and the whore dead but there had to be something more at stake. “Do you know what that’s about?” “How would I?”

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“Yes, yes, I’m sure in your mind you’re as pure as the driven snow but let’s cut the crap. What’s going on, sis?”

That the Jane woman didn’t have a clue appealed to Mavoureen. She was still amazed that her father, Quilliam, the most evil demon who ever existed, had also fathered this mealymouthed creature. Was she also unaware of her powers? She would have to possess some if the bloodlines ran true. And, if she did and the two of them joined forces, they could rule the word. “Warlock gold.” Mariette looked at her with disinterest. “And?” Mavoureen was not surprised. Mortals were dumb. It was obvious she had few of their father’s genes but not enough to grant her eternal life. “Are you simple-minded? Gold equals power.” “Don’t you have enough power?” “A woman can always use more.” Was there such a thing as enough power? “It’s hard to maintain what I have and fend off others on nothing but my power. What happens if that wanes?” Mariette shrugged. “You work like normal people do.” Quel horreur. “Like you?” “I never said I was normal.” How did this one have the same demon blood in her veins? “Don’t you want more than what you have?” To be satisfied with one’s lot in life was not a concept Mavoureen believed in. That was for losers as far as she was concerned. “Yes, of course but nothing is ever that easy.” “What if I told you my power and yours combined would allow us to rule the world?”

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Mariette arched her eyebrows at her. “I would wonder if you have been sniffing glue.” Amazing. “You have no idea do you of how powerful you are.” “So tell me.” How far will my dear little sister go if pushed? “If you wanted to you could kill the warlock.” “What warlock?” Mariette’s eyes narrowed in anger. Ah yes, he had hurt her. Excellent. “The one who has betrayed your trust.”

“So you know about him too?” That didn’t surprise Mariette. “Manny again?” “Yes.” “You must get sick of bending over and letting him hump you.” Even though Mavoureen was an evil bitch, she was quite beautiful in a cold and calculating way. “I do what I must.” What was that saying? Absolute power corrupts absolutely? There was not enough power in the world for her to want Manny on her ass. “So you want gold.” “And you could get revenge,” Mavoureen pointed out. There was none to get. What was the point of it? Mariette knew something was not quite right with Thomas’ story. No one made her have sex with the warlock. If she was really concerned she could have said no. But Mariette hadn’t. So there was no vengeance to seek. If Mariette felt anything it was just confusion. Had she meant anything to Thomas at all? Despite these feelings, Mariette had no intention of telling Mavoureen more than she thought she knew and there was no way she would allow herself to be used for whatever demented plan Mavoureen had. “So tell me about the gold.” While Mariette liked money she wasn’t about to steal it from beings who could kick her ass twelve times over.

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Mavoureen’s eyes were alight with greed. “They have more than anyone ever dreamed of.” I do not dream of gold. “Have you seen it?” Or was this some mythical pot of gold thing that everyone chased but it never existed? “No.” “So how do you know it’s real?” Mariette didn’t think Mavoureen was a rocket scientist but then neither was she stupid. She had been around for a long time and survived pretty well from what Mariette could see. “I just know.” Either she was a fanatic or she was dumb. “Right, so what’s the plan to get it?” Funny, yesterday Mariette would not have considered the possibility that she and this evil whore would have anything in common but here she was chatting to Mavoureen. “Well, I did plan to kill a bunch of warlocks to show them I meant business but as you’re sleeping with one we could just hold him ransom. He’s very powerful.” That was her plan? Mariette had to admit she was a little disappointed. This was an ancient, immortal woman who could create mayhem at the blink of an eye and she was thinking of a ransom? Like a warlock would be dumb enough to walk into that trap let alone stay in it. How smart had their father been? Did Mavoureen take after him? If so the immortality and smart genes she could gladly have. “He would whip your ass— though you’d probably like that.” “Is the warlock good in bed?” Technically, they had never made it to a bed. “You’ll never find out.” “Bit possessive are we?” Mariette smiled a thin smile. “There is no ‘we’.” “Sticks and stone, sister dear,” Mavoureen murmured. “Join me and we’ll rule the world.”

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This had been one crazy day. Mariette’d had sex with a warlock who wanted to kill her and she discovered she had a despotic sister who was going for world domination. I wish I was back in my pajamas. “I need time.” “You have none. The word is he has been sent to kill you because of me.” This was something that Mariette did not get. If Mavoureen was the problem, then why not kill her first? “It would be much simpler just killing you.” Mavoureen waved her hand carelessly. “They’re always trying to kill me but I’m hard to destroy.” Her eyes were hard on Mariette. “We have to get the gold by sunset tomorrow.” “Why then?” “Because those do-gooder warlocks are going to liquidate their assets and give their money to the poor.” Mavoureen sounded quite horrified. “Something about the economy and people in hardship yadda, yadda, yadda.” “Bastards,” Mariette quipped cynically. “Who told you that?” It sounded like a load of crap to her. “Manny.” “You believe what that little twerp says?” It all seemed a little too farfetched to Mariette. She doubted very much that warlocks gave away anything let alone a stash of gold. And wasn’t the sudden talk of gold and the stunning fact they were sisters all happening at a very coincidental time? “Think what you like but the world’s poor have no idea how to spend money.” “Riiight. On that note, I’ll get back to you.” Mariette had spent enough time with her sister. She turned her back on her and walked out. “You have an hour,” Mavoureen declared. “Oh fuck off.” Mariette wasn’t about to be dictated to by anyone let alone this slut. “You’ll hear from me when you hear from me.”

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Mavoureen followed her out of the house. “Do not pass this chance up. Together we are more powerful but apart I can look after myself. On your own, you’re a target. Think about that, sister dear.”

***** Thomas was waiting for Mariette when she got home. “You saw Mavoureen.” Lucky guess or had he been watching her? “Yes.” Did all killers look at their targets with such tenderness? “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” Everything. Just my dumb luck to fall for you. “I’m tired. It’s been a hell of a day. I just want to go to bed—alone.” “Mari,” Thomas said, stretching his hand out to her. Mariette knew what he wanted but taking his hand now would be like accepting that lying to her was okay. “Just leave me, warlock.” She walked in the direction of her bedroom. Undaunted, Thomas followed her. “Tell me what’s going on?” “You wouldn’t understand.” If you did you wouldn’t have lied to me. “Have I done something?” His voice was full of concern and for one moment she wanted to turn around and collapse against his chest and forget that he used her. “You’ve done nothing.” It was all her. She had allowed him to touch her, to kiss her, to make her believe in happy endings. Fool. Mariette kicked open the door to her bedroom. Thomas stepped inside and looked around. “This is kind of what I expected.” He grinned at her. “Organized chaos.” Mariette narrowed her eyes at him. “What do you mean?” Sure it was messy and colorful and not a bedroom out of a magazine. But it was hers and she was comfortable and him there was making her less so. “Just go, warlock.”

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He stood his ground. “No. Tell me what’s going on with you, Mari.” “Go!” Mariette raced forward and pushed both hands on his chest trying to remove him. Thomas wouldn’t budge. She dug her heels in but still he would not move. Instead, he tried to pull her into his arms. Mariette was having none of that. She lashed out at him. Thomas caught and held the fists that flew at him. “Who are you fighting here, Mari? Me or yourself?” “Why me?” “What?” “Out of all the woman you could fuck you chose me?” Mariette was no great beauty. Was it easier to have sex with someone less than perfect when you had an agenda to fulfill? “Why?” Thomas was puzzled. “I made love to you because I love you, Mari.” Mariette snorted in contempt. Did he have a clue how badly she had fallen for him? How she had never wanted to give her heart to anyone until now? “Please excuse me while I laugh my ass off.” She struggled to free her hands. Thomas trapped them behind her back. “Tell me.” “Piss off, warlock.” Before she could say any more his mouth was on hers. Mariette tried so hard to fight the feeling of love and lust that flooded her body but this was Thomas and as much as she wanted to hate him she loved him. “Oh Thomas…” she panted as their lips parted. I hate you. I love you. Why did you make me fall for you? “Mari, whatever this is, it will be okay.” Thomas kissed her face, his lips light yet fervent on her cheeks, jaw, and ears as his hands went down to her to pull the shirt over her head. There were so many reasons why Mariette should stop him but her heart wanted one more time with Thomas. Just once before I let him go. Her hands started ripping at his

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shirt. Buttons popped off and pinged across the room. The fabric tore as she wrenched it off his shoulders. “Whoa, steady on—” “Shut up.” Mariette threw his shirt to the ground and started working on the buckle of his jeans. “Are you mad at me?” Brain surgeon. “Would a pissed-off woman undress a man?” “Yeah, if she wanted to lop his cock off.” Thomas remained still and allowed her to do what she needed to. Mariette’s laugh was hard. “Oh, I’m not going to do that.” I’m going to use you as you used me. Thomas kicked his boots off then his jeans. “Good to know.” She yanked her khakis and panties down. She wanted one last fuck to get him out of her system. “Do you remember how this started?” It had only been this morning and yet it seemed like forever. “Of course.” “Good.” Let’s finish it that way. Mariette dropped to her hands and knees, her ass up in the air. “Take me,” she demanded. “You’re not ready for me.” Mariette was wetter than she had ever been. Maybe knowing it was the last time made it so. Maybe the mere thought of being with Thomas was enough to make her thighs sweat. Whatever it was she needed to be filled, full and hot, one last time with Thomas. “Condom.” “Mari, let’s go slowly.” I want this to end now and on my terms. “Condom,” Mariette repeated, turning her head around to see him. “Not up to it, warlock?” Though she could see his cock was certainly rigid and ready to go. 70

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Thomas nodded his head in acquiescence. “As you wish.” He clicked his fingers and a condom covered his cock in the blink of an eye. A tube of lube soon followed. He dropped to his knees behind her. “Yes, this is all about me.” One last memory of you. “It’s all about us,” Thomas corrected her as he slathered his cock with gel. “I don’t think so,” Mariette muttered softly. Thomas’ body covered hers. “What?” “Hurry up.” She jumped as one long finger slid inside her ass. Mariette closed her eyes and gave into the hard, moving pressure within. “More.” The quicker, the harder, the better. “Mari,” Thomas growled softly against her ear. His warm breath against her skin was almost her undoing. Almost. “Thomas, give me what I need.” A second and then a third finger joined in with the pulsing rhythm that ground in and out of her ass. Mariette arched her back as his other hand moved to her pussy and massaged her clit. I will miss this. “I have no idea why you want it this way but you are making me harder than I have ever been.” Good, because the final fuck was supposed to be the best and the hard cock at her ass promised that. “Inside now.” Thomas chuckled, unaware of the raging emotions of Mariette. “I like this pushy side to you.” Mariette moaned as the head of his cock pressed in through the tight ring of muscle. She squirmed to allow him inside. Mariette wanted maximum penetration. As the head breached the tight entrance and his shaft followed, Mariette pushed back in invitation. This was what she needed. Fast, hot, memorable sex. Let’s finish this as we started. “I want it so fast that I can barely breathe.” “Mari?” Thomas was skin to skin over her.

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“Do as I ask.” And he did. Thomas pulled almost all the way out and then pushed back in again. The shriek that tore from her lips was one of fulfillment. As he started plunging in out of her ass, Mariette gasped at the intensity of his thrusts. Each stroke was long and deep, giving her what she requested. It was hard to keep pace with his cock and the fingers rubbing her clit but she did. I want to remember this—to remember you. “More.” “I will explode.” “So explode.” Mariette wanted everything this man had to give. The friction of his cock and fingers was driving her wild. It was almost impossible to hold at bay the orgasm that started at her pelvis and tore thought her body. Mariette sucked in air, her knuckles white as she kept her balance with every thrust. As Thomas came, he collapsed on her body, his weight on her elbows, his body shuddering against hers as he jerked and stilled inside her. “I love you Mari.” “Yeah? And do you still want to kill me?” Thomas stiffened. “What?” “You heard.” “You know?” Confirmation declared. “Even though I come from the same gene pool as my dear slut of a sister Mavoureen, do you think I’m stupid?”

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Chapter Seven “She’s your what?” Thomas was dumbfounded as he pulled away from her. Firstly that Mariette had allowed him to make love to her even though she believed him a threat. Though it did explain the intensity of their coming together. And secondly, that Mavoureen was her sister. Therein lay Cypher’s interest in her. “Don’t play dumb.” Mariette pulled away from him. “I had no idea. I was told you were a threat but not how. It must be the powers you have.” If Mariette was related to Mavoureen she would have some magical ability. “Well, I don’t have any.” She looked around for her robe. Thomas clicked his fingers and it appeared. As much as he liked Mariette naked, he knew now was not the time for that. “You must have or they would not want you dead and no, before you ask I don’t want you dead.” Mariette pulled the robe on and tied the belt tight. “How nice of you to say so.” “How did you find out about me? Was it Mavoureen?” Thomas had never thought the woman was that smart. Mariette shook her head. “From the moment you appeared in my life I knew there was something more going on. An honesty oath? Seriously? Was that the best you could do?” Yeah it had been a poor story made up quickly without any great thought. “I didn’t want to do it at all.” “So why did you lie to me?” The pain he could hear in her voice cut into his soul. “I owed Cypher.” “What?”

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“When I tired to kill Artemis, he stepped in and stopped me. If I had succeeded then other warlocks would have wanted me dead. This would have caused chaos in our world and yours because when warlocks turn on each other it is cataclysmic.” Mariette held her hands up to stop him. “Who is Artemis and why were you trying to kill him?” “He betrayed a friend of mine.” “A lover?” Thomas shook his head sadly. “He killed my cousin Drew over a woman.” Mariette touched his arm. “I’m sorry.” “You may not believe it at the moment, Mari but I live by a strong code of honor. All the Darcys do. I never planned to kill you.” His hand closed over hers. “I love you.” She pulled her hand out from under his. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Thomas sighed. He had done so much damage in such a short time. “I have handled this badly.” “Damn straight you did, skippy,” Mariette snapped. “Did it never occur to you to tell me the truth?” “I wanted to but—” “Yeah, yeah, I know, honor.” She blew out a breath. “So what now?” Thomas knew the answer. “We deal with Mavoureen.” “Oh yeah how? She’s a loose cannon who I have discovered is also not very smart.” That made Thomas smile. It amazed him the two polar opposites could be sisters. “Ah, so she doesn’t know we’re a team.” “Are we?” Thomas was not surprised to hear the doubt in her voice. “From the moment we saw each other, from the moment I touched you, from the moment we kissed.” Mariette snorted. “That’s very poetic but it means stuff all if you are still lying to me.” 74

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“You’re pissed off. I understand and—” “I don’t think so,” Mariette interrupted him. “How can you possibly understand how I feel? I discover my father is a demon, my sister is a whore who wants to rule the world and the man I lo—” “Love?” “Like, is using me.” “I’m sorry.” No words could make up for how he had made her feel. “Yeah well,” Mariette grumbled to herself, “it’s been a shitty day.” Thomas held his arms out to her. “Come here.” “I’m too tired for more sex.” He smiled. “I just want to hold you.” Thomas would do whatever he had to in order to make Mariette happy.

***** “Cypher.” Esmeralda had felt his presence before she saw the blond man. “You’re looking good, Melly.” He had not changed a bit. Still good-looking and arrogant. “My name, as you know, is Esmeralda.” Only those she liked were allowed to call her anything different. She had stopped liking Cypher a long time ago. “Yes, but I like calling you Melly.” Cypher would never change. “What do you want from me?” “What can I have?” That was a typical response from him. “Nothing.” That was typical response from her when it came to him. Esmeralda had hardened her heart to the man who had broken hers. “Are you going to be mad at me for the rest of your life?”

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Esmeralda nodded. “That’s the plan,” she responded coolly. “What are you playing at with Mariette?” What threatened her friends was Esmeralda’s business. “She is a problem.” “So are you but you’re still alive.” Cypher laughed at her word. “You’re so funny. I miss that about you.” “While I miss nothing about you.” “Liar.” The two of them stood staring at each other in silence. Esmeralda had to break it as she no longer enjoyed playing games with Cypher. “If you want to rid yourself of a problem then get rid of Mav.” “She’s harder to kill,” Cypher pointed out. “What? Is it that you think Mav may be useful to you later or is it that you’re not man enough?” Cypher smiled and Esmeralda felt her whole body heat up. Get a grip woman. “Why Melly, you know that’s not true.” “Sex does not make you a man.” “No,” Cypher conceded. “You’re right but we had some very good times together though.” That had been so long ago and they had been different people. “We did until you ruined it.” “Yes.” There was no denial of that fact. Esmeralda’s eyes were hard on his. “I will not allow you to kill my friend.” “You can’t stop me.” She took a deep breath. Esmeralda knew what she had to do and what it would cost her. But to keep Mariette alive she would do whatever she had to. “I believe I can. I have something you want more than keeping your precious warlock gold safe.” Cypher caught his breath. “You would give me that?” 76

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“Yes, if you leave the two lovers to sort this out themselves.” He smiled. “Are they in love like we once were?” Once upon a time there was this witch and this warlock… “We were never in love.” “Ah denial, now that sounds familiar on your lips.” He assessed her with a calculating stare. “So you will give me what I desire most if I leave the mortal alone.” “And Darcy. Yes.” “You know what this means.” As if she didn’t. It was not something Esmeralda ever imagined she would have to give up. “Of course.” “I’ll meet you at midnight tomorrow at the same place as last time.” Esmeralda nodded her head and moved on. “Oh hell, what have I done?” She had saved her friend but she was in danger of screwing up her own life once more.

***** “This will work,” Thomas assured Mariette. It was just two o’clock in the morning and they were standing outside the Aladdin’s Golden Cave Emporium Warehouse and Storage in the north Brisbane suburb of Geebung. Could there be a more obviously named place to have a stash of gold? Or was that what the warlocks wanted? That the thieves would think the obvious too obvious. “You know I thought that they would have had the gold hidden in some far-off mystical place.” Mariette surveyed the less than mystical surrounds of the industrial estate of Geebung. Thomas smiled and reached for her hand. “Nah, warlocks are fairly average guys.” “Yeah right,” Mariette snorted. They had more power combined than anyone else on the planet. “You know, Mavoureen is not stupid. She may be watching us as we speak.” Her dear sister wanted the gold. Mavoureen was a ruthless slut who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

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Thomas clicked his fingers and the door to Aladdin’s Golden Cave opened. “Do not concern yourself with Mavoureen. I sent her on a wild goose chase.” “When? How?” They had been together almost constantly since making love in her bedroom. “Where?” “When you fell asleep in my arms, I managed to untangle myself—you sleep weird—and I paid a quick visit to Manny.” “I do not sleep ‘weird’. I’m just used to having the bed to myself and you may have gotten in the way.” “You’re like a roller coaster to sleep with but worth it.” Thomas winked at her. “As for your dear sister, my understanding is that on the advice of some flea-infested tiger acquaintance of hers, she is wandering around a souk in Marrakech searching for a man named Hezbathlah to show her the gateway to a fictitious city that is supposed to be the golden city of the warlocks.” Thomas looked pleased with himself. “Hezbathlah is a genie who owed me a favor. He will keep her busy until we can offload the gold.” “Not only are you hot and sexy but as smart as a whip.” “And you love me.” “Possibly.” Mariette saw the look of hope in his eyes. But now was not the time for true confessions. They had to find the gold and dispose of it. “I expect you have a brilliant plan to rid your kindred of this gold?” Because Mariette certainly didn’t. From the little she knew of gold, it was heavy. But then she was with a warlock and all things were possible. “No,” Thomas responded as he pulled her inside. “Not a damn clue. I plan to leave that up to you.” “Me?” Mariette stopped in her tracks and looked at him. “Why me?” “Because I want to see what your powers are.” Thomas gave a gentle tug on her arm and pulled her along.

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“I have none but the rolling-tongue-cum-Vulcan-hand-salute thing and I’m pretty sure neither of those are the kind you can pin hopes on.” “And let’s not forget you can do the splits,” mused Thomas as they moved through the warehouse. It looked pretty much like any other storage unit and there was nothing “golden” about it. “But you do have power, Mari.” The warlock was either mad or overoptimistic about her. Either way it was sweet if not delusional. “I really don’t and I’m not even sure I can do the splits anymore.” Though sex with Thomas had certainly made her legs more limber. As they turned a corner, Mariette skidded to a halt. “W-wow! Look at that!” It was row upon row of gold stacked high and wide. It gave the whole room a golden glow. There had to be millions of dollars there. “What am I supposed to do with that?” It’s not like she was Samantha in Bewitched. “I can’t wiggle my nose and have the gold magically disappear.” “I think you can do a lot of things that you’re not aware of.” Mariette rolled her eyes. “Oh please, you’re not going to give me some selfempowerment-you-can-improve-your-life speech are you?” The promise of all the free steak knives in the world would not make her stand and listen to that. “I can’t just hold out my hand and demand the gold to come to me.” She did that and in an instant a bar of gold appeared in her palm. “Holy frigging hell! That’s gold!” Mariette dropped the gold bar to the floor. It clunked and rolled until it came to a stop at Thomas’ feet. “You’re telekinetic.” “What?” “You move things with your mind,” Thomas added, as he picked up the gold. “Duh, I know what that means but why now?” Thomas smiled at her confusion. “You have always gone and got things. You’ve never thought to wait for them to come to you.” “Well damn, this would have saved me so much money at the grocery store I could have just waved my hand said ‘packet of Tim Tams please’ and— Wow!” Mariette

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looked down in her hand. “I have Tim Tams.” I should have specified chewy caramel. These were Tim Tam original. But still, as powers went this was an excellent one to have. “I like this power.” Mariette looked him up and down. Before Thomas came into her life she knew nothing and had no fun at all. Tim Tams were good but this man was much better to taste. I do believe I am on heat. “What are you thinking?” “I was just wondering how much fun it would be to strip you naked.” “You’re back to liking me now?” “It’s probably the glint of gold in your hair or something.” Mariette waved her hand at him. Nothing happened. His clothes remained on. She tried again. Nothing. “Well, this power sucks.” “You want me naked?” “Would you mind? I have the sudden need for cock.” Her inner thighs were slick and wet and ready to have and hold his body to hers. Thomas arched his eyebrow. “Sex in a room of gold where we could be in danger from competing supernatural forces?” “Aladdin’s Golden Cave Emporium,” Mariette corrected him teasingly. “And I live for danger.” Thomas clicked his fingers. His clothes disappeared. “Do mine.” Naked had never been a great look for her but when draped over Thomas it was art. “I prefer to strip you myself.” “I can’t wait that long for you to be inside me.” Nor could he if the stiff length of Thomas’ cock was anything to go by. “You say the best things, Mari.” Another click of his fingers and she was naked. Thomas held out his arms to her. They were in a room of gold and anyone could walk in and see them but Mariette did not care as she pressed herself against his body. Her mouth locked on his and she kissed Thomas with a hunger that demanded satisfaction.

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“You make me crazy.” He picked her up in his arms and walked her over to the stacked gold. “That’s been my cunning plan all along, warlock.” Her ass met gold bars. “I feel so decadent.” “Like it?” “I love it.” Mariette’s hands reached for his cock. She squeezed it gently. The strangled growl from his throat made her feel powerful. “Condom.” One appeared in her hands. Yes, this was an excellent power to have. She rolled the rubber up covering his twitching shaft, her mouth luxuriating in the sweet, soulful kisses he placed on her lips. Mariette knew at that moment that Thomas would be all she ever needed in life. “Actually, I love you.” “Mari—” “Yes, I know it’s too soon and no, I should probably give it some more thought, but I know what I want.” Mariette reached up and stroked Thomas’ face. “I also know that you have your own life and maybe this doesn’t mean as much to you as it does to me but—” Mariette’s words were swallowed up by Thomas’ mouth. She clung to him, her legs wrapping around his waist, holding him close. “I have waited centuries for you.” “Really? There had to be other women.” Thomas nodded. “Yes, but no one I ever loved.” Mariette felt the tears prick at her eyes. “You say the best things too.” “May I?” His cock was poking at the core of her body. “Please do. I long for you, Thomas.” In one thrust he was inside. Mariette sighed. “Perfect.” “Is that because we’re making love on gold bars?” Thomas held her hips as he thrust in slow, measured strokes.

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“Maybe.” Who hadn’t had the fantasy of rolling around in money with their lover? It was just a little hard to roll on gold bricks though. “Greedy?” Thomas’ smile was one of pure wicked delight. “Only for you, warlock. Now suck me.” His mouth descended, sucking so hard on her nipple that Mariette arched forward, giving him whatever he needed. It was only with Thomas that Mariette understood the phrase making love. Sex was more than just two bodies slamming together in hope of a climax. It was also giving and taking and opening up a part of you that few people saw. Mariette ran her hands down Thomas’ broad shoulders loving the feel of his body as it moved against hers. She could feel his muscles straining as his hips ground against hers. Thomas was velvet and steel, tender heat and ardent lust. He was her man. I will never let him go. As the thrills started to spiral though her pelvis and up her spine, Mariette lifted his face to hers and kissed him deeply. Their bodies rocked together giving pleasure to the other. Maybe being in a warehouse was not the most romantic place for lovers but the setting was irrelevant. All that mattered was that it was Thomas who held her close and Thomas who kissed her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Thomas pulled out. Mariette moaned in distress, her gaze hot and needy on his. “Don’t stop now.” “It would kill me do so, Mari,” he murmured as he slammed back inside her. Thomas did this several times. It caused the most amazing chain reaction of explosions through Mariette and she dug her fingernails into his shoulders as she gave in to the wild rush. “Oh Thomas,” Mariette sighed shaking so hard she could hear the gold bars around her rattle. Thomas laughed in pleasure. “I plan to have you say ‘oh Thomas’ like that until we’re old and gray.” “I plan to dye my hair redder as I get older.” Gray was fine but red rocked. “I will love you regardless of hair color,” he vowed as he stiffened then jerked as he gave in to the orgasm that gripped his body. 82

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Mariette held onto him, her body shaking in time with his. A sudden thought ruined the moment of quiet contentment. “Wait a second—you’re never going to get old and go gray. You’re immortal.”

Thomas held Mariette close to his heart as they fought to catch their breath. Every time they came together it was so intense that he felt a little more normal and it did not scare him as he thought it would. This was his time to get something for him. And I want Mariette. Immortality was overrated. “Actually I will.” “How?” Mariette pulled back from him. “You’re immortal.” “Not anymore.” Thomas pushed the hair from her face. “When a warlock falls in love—deep, true love like we have—their immortality is gone. I will never be human but l will die.” Mariette looked at him with hope in her eyes. “How do you know?” “That this is real love?” He knew it as he breathed in and out. It was something he felt was so natural and necessary that being without Mariette would be like death. “Well, yeah and about the loss of immortality. That’s a pretty big thing to lose.” “It’s a fact of warlock lore. Many fight it but I gladly shake off the burden of living forever.” “Is it so terrible?” “Mari, my darling, I would rather spend forty or fifty good years with you than live a thousand without you.” Thomas held his hand against his heart. “My love for you I feel in here and in my mind. I know it when I look in your eyes, Mari. You make me feel like a man and not some thing that has existed for centuries just being there but not a part of anything.” “Have you been so lonely, Thomas?” Mariette made his heart beat like crazy. He wanted to tell her every thought he had ever had. He wanted to talk to her for hours. But now was not the time. “My life was as

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I made it. I knew no better until I met you.” He leaned in and kissed her with a tenderness he’d dreamed of but never imagined he would bestow on another. “You are mine as I am yours.” Mariette blinked a couple of times holding back the tears. “I believe I’m going to keep you.” Thomas smiled and scooped up one of the tears that ran down her face. He liked the idea of being a “kept” man and as much as he wanted to stay wrapped in her arms, there were things they needed to do. He untangled himself from her embrace. “We have stuff to do.” He snapped his fingers. The spent condom disappeared and their clothes reappeared. “Yeah,” Mariette stood and looked around her. “Where are my Tim Tams?” “Does it matter?” They were surrounded by gold and Mariette was looking for cookies. I am going to have the best life with Mari. Mariette put her hands on her hips. “Well yeah, I conjured them and they’re mine. Besides, great sex deserves great chocolate.” “Oh, of course,” Thomas mused. He reached over and picked up a small gold bar. “What about the gold?” “It’s pretty but you can’t eat it.” She sighed, seeing no cookies in sight. “Okay, time to deal with the gold stuff then or do we need to? Mavoureen said the warlocks were going to give it to the poor and—” Mariette stopped and slapped her forehead. “I’m stupid aren’t I?” Thomas hugged her to his side. “No, you have a kind heart and you hope for the best. The truth is Cypher is going to flood the stock market with it.” It was something Thomas had planned to stop from the moment he heard about it. Cypher told him it would increase warlock wealth. Like all supernatural beings, they could do the most amazing things but wealth was not always there for the taking. Thomas understood the need to feather nests but not at the expense of others. “But that could crash the market.” 84

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“Yes and then he will swoop in and buy all the worthless shares.” Greed was an ugly thing and it had not changed in any century. “So when the market bounces back, he’s rich.” Mariette shook her head in disgust. “What a bastard. No wonder Esmeralda dumped him.” “I heard some woman broke his heart.” Like Thomas, Cypher was no longer immortal and he often forgot that. But maybe it was more convenient to do so. Hiding from something never made it less a fact though. “I would have broken his stupid head,” Mariette replied. “We have to stop him and Mavoureen before she comes back.” “Move the gold, Mari.” Thomas had absolute faith in her ability to do it and she needed to test her skills. The more they knew about her power, the better. Thomas did not doubt for a second this was but only one power she possessed. In time they would know more.

“How? Where do I move it?” Thomas made it sound so simple. It was not like it would fit at home. “Think of a desolate place.” “The Simpson Desert.” It was a vast nothingness in the middle of Australia. Few ventured there. It would look surreal seeing gold bars plonked down in the sand dunes. Thomas nodded. “Okay, will it to go there.” Mariette was astounded at the belief he had in her. No one but Esmeralda had ever had this much faith in her. “I have only ever requested a bar of gold and Tim Tams and they landed in my hand.” Sending a huge amount of gold into the air and hoping it landed in the desert was different. “What if I can’t?” Who the hell knew the map coordinates? “What if you can?” Thomas countered.

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That was true. Maybe she was being a negative Nellie. But still, this was a lot to ask of someone who had trouble finding her way around the foreign southern suburbs of her hometown let alone a desert. I wish I had paid more attention in geography class. “Why can’t you do it? You’re a warlock.” Just because he was no longer immortal, it did not mean he had lost his power. “This is not about me, Mari. This is about you coming into your true power.” Thomas linked her hand with his. “This not just about gold to Cypher. He was worried that you would find your power and what you would do with it.” “I don’t think so.” Mariette snorted at this idea. “I barely have time to deal with the lowlifes who come to my door looking for help let alone deal with some sort of weirdassed power.” “I know this is hard but I also know you can do it. Just picture the gold and move it.” Thomas’ voice was full of confidence. “You can do it.” “I can barely stick to a diet let alone have the power to move gold.” “Do it for us, Mari.” Oh la. Thomas had a way of getting to her like no one else. “There’s an us?” Mariette knew in her heart there was. She just needed to hear it again to give her strength. “You know there is.” She sighed. “Okay.” She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. “You can do it.”

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Chapter Eight “Not so fast.” Cypher appeared instantly. He looked accusingly at Thomas. “You were supposed to kill her.” “I never agreed to that.” Thomas’ voice was cool and to the point. “I want her dead.” Mariette had the distinct feeling that Cypher was on the verge of stamping his feet to get what he wanted. “So, you kill Mariette then.” “Hello? Am I invisible?” She raised her eyebrows at Thomas’ words. Nice to know where you stand. “What? No introduction either?” She was not scared of this man. Talk was cheap and only actions counted and there had to be a reason why he wanted Thomas to act against her. “Mari, this is Cypher.” The other man bowed his head in recognition. Thomas assessed the other warlock. “I believe a lady called Esmeralda may have something on you.” This instantly caught Mariette’s attention. Esmeralda was smart and if she did have something to use against someone she would. The white witch wasn’t a malicious person. Esmeralda only used her knowledge to benefit others. Mariette looked at the man called Cypher. He shifted his stance only slightly but it was enough for Mariette to sense his discomfort. “I believe you are right, Thomas.” Cypher blew out a sigh of pure frustration. “The point is that’s my gold.” “It’s warlock gold,” Thomas corrected him. “And I am in charge of it,” Cypher replied.

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“Well you’re doing a crap job of it,” Mariette told him. She wasn’t sure what was going on. Cypher was arrogant but she felt no evil from him and she knew Esmeralda would never tolerate that. But still, she had every intention of removing the gold from his or anyone else’s grasp until she knew what to do with it. That Cypher wanted to use it for his own greed was not acceptable to Mariette. She went over to the gold and drew a deep breath. Concentrate. Move the gold. Be calm and on control. Think how Esmeralda would handle this. Cypher followed her with his eyes. “What are you doing?” Mariette lifted her hands above the gold. She wasn’t sure why, other than it felt the right thing to do. “I am sending this gold far away so one can have it until we can utilize it properly.” Cypher sucked in his breath. “You’re telekinetic.” “Yes and I’m also cute.” The sound of clapping echoed through the warehouse. “Well done, sister.” Mavoureen appeared. “This is perfect for our plan. You can move the gold to a place that suits us.” Well crap. Obviously the genie couldn’t keep her bottled up. “We have plans?” “Of course we do.” Mavoureen looked at her as if it was obvious. “Sisters stick together.” She smiled an evil smile at them. “What? Did you think a pissy, little genie could hold me at bay? By the way, good luck releasing him from the lamp I stuffed him into.” Cypher swore. “I told you the two of them would be our downfall.” He looked accusingly at Thomas. Mariette rolled her eyes. What a drama queen Cypher was. She turned her attention on her half sister. “I don’t get it. Why don’t you just take the gold?” She had always believed Mavoureen possessed incredible powers.

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“Time has been cruel to me sister. Although I am still beautiful, I do not advertise the fact that I no longer have the powers I once had but you and I combined can rule the world.” “Mariette.” Thomas’ voice was full of concern. She was aware he was worried but Mariette knew, at least she was pretty sure she did, what she was doing. “Hmm, see even if I believed that, sister, I know you would kill me as soon as you had the gold.” “Would I do that?” Mavoureen’s voice was overly sweet. Mariette knew what she had to do. She had to get the gold away, far from all of them, until she had time to think. That’s what Esmeralda would do. Once more Mariette raised her hands and both she and the gold disappeared. “Bitch,” Mavoureen spat out. “Damn it! Where did she go?” Cypher turned on Thomas. “Where she needs to be,” was Thomas’ response.

***** “Jeez give a girl some warning next time.” Esmeralda stumbled outside into her backyard and looked around in amazement. “What the freakin’ hell is going on?” Mariette tried to look innocent, though it was hard with gold haphazardly stacked in large piles on the lawn. “Well, I was planning on transporting this to the Simpson Desert.” Esmeralda chuckled at her words. “Does my Brisbane backyard look like that?” “Well, the drought has been bad.” And it looked like even more gold in the close confines of Esmeralda’s yard. “Look, I was thinking of you and—” “And you ended up here.” Esmeralda shook her head in wonder.

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“Who knew I could transport me and the gold?” She quickly filled her friend in on what happened. “Wow, that’s a pretty good power to have. What do you plan to do with the gold?” Apart from stashing it in the desert, Mariette had not really given it any thought. She remembered what Mavoureen had told her. Giving it away would not only be the right thing to do but it would also piss both Cypher and Mavoureen off. That was a bonus. “I really want to put it to good use. No one should have this much gold.” Esmeralda nodded. “Agreed, however we have to think quickly as your sister, lover and Cypher will be here soon no doubt.” “About Cypher, he said he made a promise not to kill me.” Mariette waited for her friend to tell her what was going on. Esmeralda was the only one she could think of who could have changed his mind so fast. “What did you do, Ez?” “It’s a long story and we need to work on saving your ass first.” That was true. Her fat ass was in trouble. “Okay, but I want to know what the deal with you and Cypher is once we have.” “Fine, whatever.” Mariette knew what that meant. Esmeralda was going to conveniently forget to tell her. Luckily Mariette had a long memory. “Right, so we have gold. Now we need to sell it or cash it in or something.” How did they do that when it was not even three o’clock in the morning? “It’s not like we can take it to a bank.” “No,” Esmeralda agreed as she walked over and assessed the gold up close. “We trade it.” “With whom?” “Pixies.” Mariette rolled her eyes. “Oh I hate pixies.” “Well they’re not overly fond of you either.”

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“Hey, it wasn’t my fault they stumbled into all that trouble with the trolls.” Okay, it was but they deserved it. Esmeralda smiled and shook her head. “You set them up.” “Well they shouldn’t have conjured that spell to make my skin green.” “It was only for a couple of days and it was to teach you a lesson, M,” Esmeralda reminded her. Like she needed reminding. Green was just not her color and Mariette had constantly scared herself when she had looked in the mirror. “Hey, it’s not my fault they’re so sensitive, Ez.” “You know when you summon pixies they must do whatever you request.” “It was only housework.” It was not like it would have killed the little buggers. Esmeralda sighed. “Yeah but you summoned them to do it on a daily basis.” Mariette shook her finger. “It was every alternate day.” “Well, it’s no surprise they got pissed off at you.” Esmeralda nodded as if her mind was made up. “They’re our best option. They can move and manipulate anything and they will give us a fair price.” “Can’t you handle this?” Mariette didn’t want to get involved with pixies again. They could be pretty damn scary especially when they were cranky. “I’m a white witch. We’re against greed. If I touch that gold it would turn to useless yellow bricks,” Esmeralda reminded her friend of her limitations. “Pixies are our best option.” Of course Esmeralda was right but that didn’t mean Mariette had to be happy about dealing with them again. “Well, you call them. They’re probably still a little angry at me.” “Probably?” Esmeralda snorted in amusement. She raised her hands to the sky. “Pixies I summon thee to do my bidding.”

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In an instant two pixies appeared. They were barely three foot tall, dressed in multicolored shirts and trousers, with bells on their curled-toe shoes. “Esmeralda, always a pleasure.” Then they saw Mariette. “Jane the pain.” Whoa! Nasty pixie alert. Mariette moved closer to her friend for protection. “Hello.” All she had to do was nod and smile and avoid turning green again. “We’re not cleaning your house.” They sneered at her. Mariette sneered back. “You never did much of a job anyway.” The pixies pointed their fingers at her. “Do you want to be green again?” “Settle, children,” Esmeralda warned in a calm, firm voice that indicated she would brook no nonsense. She turned to the pixies. “We have a problem.” “If it’s Jane the pain, we know.” Mariette’s eyes narrowed at them. “This is not worth the hassle.” Esmeralda put her hand on her arm before she could move away. “We need this gold exchanged for cash and then we need the cash dispersed immediately into every charity. If there is no gold then you are no longer a problem to either the warlock or your sister.” That was true, thought both parties would be pissed off with her. But I can live with that. The pixies surveyed the gold with a keen eye. “That’s a lot of gold and effort but for a fifty percent cut we’ll do it.” Mariette exploded. “Fifty? This is to help the needy, you little wankers.” “Sixty then,” they chorused in glee. “Grrr…” Esmeralda clapped her hands loudly. “There will be no cut in it for you. You know that. You are dealing with me and you know I cannot allow that. What if I will promise you if ever you need my help at any time you only have to call me and I’ll be there.” “Well…” “Come on,” Esmeralda cajoled sweetly. “I know you boys are good and caring.” 92

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“Okay, but only because it’s you. We’re not doing it for her.” They stuck their tongues out at Mariette. She in turn feigned being stabbed in the heart. “So wounded—not.” “Bitch.” “Pointy-toed people.” “Mariette, go inside while I finish this business,” Esmeralda told her. Mariette stuck out her tongue at them as she left. Once inside she shut the glass door and watched Esmeralda and the pixies. “Damn lucky they didn’t turn you green again.” She whirled around. “Thomas!” Mariette ran to him.

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Chapter Nine He caught her in arms. “Pleased to see me?” Mariette was agog to find him there. Thomas was the one person she most needed to be with her and there he was. “How did you know I was here?” “I figured you would come to someone you trusted.” “It was just a fluke. I was thinking of what Esmeralda would do, she’s always so calm and in control.” “As you are.” Thomas tweaked her nose. Maybe. Sometimes. “But not around you.” Though Mariette did feel safe with Thomas. “Where is Mavoureen?” “Last time I saw her she and Cypher were yelling at each other.” Thomas started pulling at her blouse. “What about Cypher?” The man obviously had it in for her. Mariette couldn’t understand why but maybe he feared something about her. What could that be? She was pretty average despite the whole half sister demon thing. Well crap, does that make me a demon too? It could explain her wild PMS. “I don’t want to undress, Cypher.” Thomas removed her shirt and started working on her bra. “You know what I mean.” The man had fast hands. Mariette liked that. The bra fell to the floor and her breasts bounced on release. “Cypher will be pissed that the gold is gone but he’ll just have to get over it.” “It’s actually in the backyard with Ez and the pixies.” The snap of her jeans came undone easily. It was totally the wrong time to be having sex and yet that made it perfectly right. “The pixies hate me. They call me ‘Jane the pain’.”

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“What poor taste they have.” “You’re so sweet to me.” It was the most natural thing in the world to be naked with Thomas, hateful pixies or not. He clicked his fingers and his clothes fell beside her on the floor. “I love you.” La, he was beautiful. “After a day?” Yet as crazy as it was. Mariette felt the same way. “I have spent a lifetime looking for you. The minute I saw you I knew my search was over.” “Really?” Thomas pulled her close to his body. “Yeah, are you going to cry?” “Possibly but what if we’re just caught up in a crazy moment?” Thomas picked up her hand and placed it on his heart. “Does this feel crazy?” He kissed her tenderly. “I have never felt like this with anyone before.” “You’re immortal—or you were—you must have.” Otherwise he had spent many lonely years and it made Mariette sad to think so. “No, and now all I want to do is to grow old and die in your arms.” “Take me home and make love to me, Thomas.” The idea of belligerent pixies seeing her naked was not appealing. They would probably score me out of ten knowing them. And maybe she should care about what happened to the gold but Mariette had total faith in Esmeralda and her ability to handle the gold and the pixies. “My pleasure, Mari.” But before they could move, Cypher appeared with Artemis. “You have ruined everything.” Naked, Thomas stood and faced them unfazed. Naked and very fazed, Mariette hid behind Thomas. She held out her hand and willed her shirt to come to her. It didn’t move. Typical. She just wanted one thing and her power was on the fritz. “What do you want?” Thomas did not move a muscle. 95

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“The woman must die, Darcy. You know that.” Cypher’s words were hard. “You cannot have her. Mariette is mine.” Thomas stared them down. Damn, he was one hell of a man and he’s all mine. I wish I could see their faces. As if reading her mind Thomas clicked his fingers and both of them were instantly clothed. Excellent choice of jeans. Mariette moved to stand beside her man, her hand in his. “Mavoureen is your real enemy,” Thomas pointed out. “But this one is a blood relation and she has already shown her true colors by stealing my gold.” “Oh wait a second.” Mariette wasn’t going to stand still and be accused of anything. “It’s not your gold.” Cypher gave her an icy look. “You know nothing.” Mariette wanted to smack him in the face but Thomas gave her a look that indicated it was best not to. What the hell had Esmeralda seen in this man? And who was the other one who stood at his side quiet yet watching everything? “You know I could kill you quite easily now for you are no longer immortal.” Cypher turned his attention on Thomas. Bastard. “For what? For falling in love?” Mariette knew only too well she had the upper hand now. “But then you also fell in love Cypher so that means you are no longer mortal either.” The sudden silence was deafening. Mariette found herself holding her breath. Artemis smiled. “So I am now in control.” “It’s not that simple,” Cypher told him. “The warlocks are loyal to me.” Men and their pissing contests. “Well maybe not when they know you nicked their gold.” “Silence, mortal!” “I’m sorry, that is no longer is threatening coming from you, mortal.” “Mariette,” Thomas warned in a low voice. “Be careful.” 96

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She pulled her hand from his. “No, I don’t think so. I‘m not going to shut up.” She walked up to Cypher. Mariette knew Thomas was at her back. “Listen up, blondie, my life was just swell before you decided you had to kill me because some whore is my sister.” This felt good. The last twenty-four hours has been so crazy that she needed this release of anger. “I’m not going to politely die for you and I suspect Mavoureen isn’t either. So what are you going to do? Kill me? You know Thomas is not going to let that happen and if you kill him you lose a valuable ally.” Mariette turned her attention to the other man. He was so still it was like he was made of stone. If he hadn’t spoken earlier she would had thought him a statute. “I have no idea who this guy is but I reckon he would be more than happy to see you go under.” “I like her,” Artemis said as he held out his hand to her. “Artemis Rex. Delighted to meet you.” Maybe he wasn’t made of stone. “Mariette Jane.” She took his hand in response. Mariette could feel Thomas’ hand at her waist as if he was ready to pull her away. Cypher looked annoyed. “She is dangerous.” “Only when premenstrual, then, I’m terrifying.” “Good to know,” Thomas whispered in her ear. Artemis let go of her hand. “Frankly, I think you’re all dangerous, mortal or not.” He looked from Thomas to Cypher. “And I’m not silly enough to think you won’t band together and kill me. Besides, you two have a following and I don’t. I could not survive a coup.” Thomas nodded in acknowledgment of that fact. “I will, however, never forgive you.” “I accept that but I cannot change what I did and I have been punished in ways you cannot imagine.” Mariette was dying to know more but she felt it was inappropriate to ask. “So what do we do?” Thomas assessed the other warlocks.

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Mariette shook her head. “What is it with men? Let’s settle this now. No one has any bigger dick that anyone else. So, accepting that, what you do next is shake hands and promise to play nice.” Thomas laughed at her words. Mariette had no doubt he had the biggest dick but that was not the point just then. “It’s not that simple,” Cypher barked at her. “Whoa, back off, sunshine.” I really have to find out what Ez saw in this guy. That he did not refute he was in love indicated he must have some finer feelings. “You know, you all have the ability to beat the crap out of each other. Why not use it to do something good?” “Like what?” Cypher looked none too pleased about how this was panning out. “Ah gee, what about help the pixies distribute the money from the gold to people who need it.” Artemis swore. “I fucking hate pixies.” “Yeah, they’re pretentious pains in the ass,” Cypher nodded in agreement. Mariette smiled. “See? We’re getting on already. We have something in common.” “You’re impossible,” Cypher murmured. Thomas pulled Mariette into his arms. “But delightful and completely mine and Mari is right. We’ll always fight but let’s attempt to make some effort to get on.” “I am not doing a group hug now,” Cypher warned stepping back from them. “Oh fuck no,” Artemis agreed. “You know I’ll outlive the two of you anyway and take over so I can afford to be generous.” “Not if you fall in love,” Mariette pointed out. She was a great believer in the fact that there was someone for everyone. It was just a matter of them turning up like Thomas did. Mariette hugged him close. She wasn’t afraid of group hugging if the group was Thomas. Artemis shook his head. “That’s never going to happen.” Cypher chimed in. “Yeah he’s an asshole.” 98

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“I have to agree,” Thomas murmured. Mariette pulled away from Thomas and clapped her hands to get their attention. “Boys, boys, play nice.” “With you? Always. Let’s leave these idiots.” In a moment they vanished.

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Epilogue “I was just thinking,” Mariette murmured as she lay back against Thomas’ chest. The bath water had gone cool, but the hot body of the man she loved was the only thing she needed. Thomas’ hands were stroking her breasts in slow, lazy movements. “About what?” But for the hard cock at her ass, Mariette was so relaxed that she was on the verge of falling asleep in his arms. “Do you think any of you warlocks will ever get along?” “No, but I don’t care as I have you.” “Good answer.” Thomas kissed the top of her head. “I know who’s boss.” Mariette giggled at his words. He was so smooth. “Even better answer.” I must do something about that cock. She turned around in his arms, water sloshing over the side of the tub as he did. “So what do you think?” “About what?” Mariette fisted his shaft in her hand. His eyes lit up with sensual promise. Yummy man. “About us. Are we fantastic together or what?” Mariette shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She leaned in and kissed his lips lightly. “I know so. I love you, Thomas.” He sighed and gathered her in his arms. “I am a happy man, darling Mari.”

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About the Author Amarinda Jones believes anything is possible and sometimes just asking for the impossible will surprise someone enough that they will give it to you. Writing is like that. Put it out there and wait for a response. There is always the possibility you may fall on your ass, but after all, that’s what cellulite is for. Amarinda believes in taking chances, speaking her mind and aging disgracefully. Twenty years from now she plans on being the neighborhood witch who all the kids are scared of. But then, everyone has to have a hobby.

Amarinda welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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Also by Amarinda Jones Anyone but You Because I Can Decatur the Vampire Knock Three Times Lickety Split Mad About Mirabelle Maid for Death Marlow’s Curse Maybe It’s You Micah Blue Penned Again Prince Vampire Rowdy Run the Gantlet Seducing Celestine Shades of Gray Shiver Me Tantalizing Tilly Thief of Mine Thigh High Unbreakable Who Knew

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