Page 110 of A Bolt of Magic

I’ve never felt anything like it. It amplifies every sensation, making me feel more alive than I’ve ever been. It’s as if McColl’s very essence pours into me, filling spaces in my soul I didn’t even know were empty.

We collapse together onto the bed, both of us shaking and gasping for breath. I pull her against me immediately, pressing my face into her hair as we both come down from the incredible high.

“By the gods,” I breathe out when I can finally speak. “Every time with you…it’s…it’s…” Like we were made for each other, but I don’t dare say it.

“I know,” she whispers, her voice just as shaky as mine. “I feel it too.”

We lie there in the aftermath, our breathing slowly returning to normal, my arms wrapped around her as if I could keep her here forever through sheer force of will. The magical connection still hums between us, a constant reminder of what we’ve shared. Of what we have.

Her stomach rumbles, and we both laugh.

“Are you hungry, by any chance?”

“Supper time has come and gone.” She chuckles, her voice throaty from her groans and cries.

“You’re right.” I look at the window, and it is dark. Where has the time gone? “Don’t move,” I tell her, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “Don’t you dare move so much as an inch. I’m going to get us some food, and then you’re staying right here in this bed with me for the rest of the night.”

I feel her tense slightly at my words, and I wonder if she’s thinking about slipping away again like she did last night. The thought of waking up alone again makes something clench painfully in my chest.

“Please, McColl,” I say softly, turning her in my arms so I can see her face. “It’s one night. Let me have this one thing. Stay with me. Please.”

Her hazel eyes search mine for a long moment, then she relaxes, melting back against me.

“I’d like nothing better.” Her voice is tinged with sadness, which I hate but also love.

Relief floods through me. “Good. Don’t go anywhere. I will soon have you fed and under me again.”

She giggles. “Sounds good.”

I reluctantly pull away from her warmth and head to the kitchen, not bothering with clothes. I throw together a simple meal of bread, smoked salmon, cheese of various kinds, and fruit. When I return to the bedroom, she’s sitting up against the pillows, the sheet pulled up to cover her breasts. Her hairis tousled, her lips still swollen from my kisses, and she’s never looked more beautiful.

I admire her for a moment. I can’t help it.

“What is it?” Her cheeks flush.

“Nothing at all. I hope you are hungry?” I lean on the bed, kissing her softly before handing her a plate.

Then I get back in bed and we start eating. I’m more ravenous than I thought. So is McColl, because she eats like it is her last meal.

“This is good,” she says around the food. “I forgot how much I loved smoked fish.”

“Sooooo good,” I agree, taking a big forkful of salmon. I groan.

“I know,” she says, doing the same.

When the worst of our hunger is sated, I ask, “What was that about with Lydia earlier? It looked like I interrupted something.” I pop a grape into my mouth.

McColl’s expression grows thoughtful. “You won’t believe it. She apologized.”

“Really?”

“Yes, for how she treated me growing up.” She takes a bite of cheese, chewing slowly. “I had no idea about her childhood. Let’s just say that it wasn’t great. I never knew. Never even once suspected, but she was jealous of what she saw as my perfect life. How crazy. Here I was, thinking she had it together. That she had everything and…turns out, she felt the same about me.”

“Wow, that’s a lot.”

“It is. She went on to apologize for her treatment of me now, too. She said it all came flooding back when she saw me again. She was jealous of you. Isn’t that funny?” She laughs, but I can see it’s forced.

I study her face in the soft light. “No, she should be jealous. I’m a catch.”

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