Page 32 of Witches and Wine
“I hate you,” I grumbled.
“Love you too, Beasty Boy. Now, why don’t I do my job as your assistant, finish these spreadsheets, call the supplier, and you go talk to the witch, hm?” Bruce patted the tablet and wiggled his ass on the stool like he was settling in.
“Fine. But you are doing all of that from my club office. Not here.”
Bruce opened his mouth to protest, but I snapped my fingers, making him disappear from my apartment before he could get a word out. I pressed my palms against the marbled bar top, my mind playing tricks on me, confusing me, and rattling my senses. I’d stood toe to toe with giant squids, fire-breathing dragons, and Hera.Thiswas what frightened me. How did I tell the woman I was consumed by that we could,mightbe, eternal soulmates? And given my track record, would she even believe me?
“The horns, Elani. The horns,”I cooed into my phone resting on the nightstand on speaker as I dressed myself.
Whatdidone wear when visiting an ancient witch?
My sister let out a low whistle. “Since when do you divulge this much information on situations between the sheets? Or, in your case, the middle of the damn woods?”
“Since I’ve experienced the blissfulness of being completely unburdened, sis. I only wish I could feel like that more often.” Getting lost in scandalous thoughts of Dion sinking to his knees between my thighs, the moonlight glistening off his horns, I rubbed the dip between my collarbones.
“There’s no reason you can’t. Sounds to me like you keep screwing Dion like a rabbit in heat.”
My cheeks turned to lava pools. “Elani,” I shouted, shoving my arm into one sleeve of a buttoned long-sleeved shirt.
Gurgles and coos sounded from Hedone near the receiver. “Please. The graphic details you just gave me on Dion’s apparentbeast form I can never unhear, sis. Never. Want to hear about Eros’s wing play?” The way her voice lilted at that last bit told me she was grinning wickedly.
Huffing, I slipped into a tan pencil skirt. “And I immediately regret telling you.”
Riley hopped onto my nightstand, circling my phone before curling his body around it.
“I know, I know. Harm is off doing otherworldly war duties so I was your next choice.”
I froze at that comment halfway to zipping the back of my skirt. “Elani, you don’t really think that, do you?”
“A little? But honestly, I completely understand. Harm is closer in age to you, andI’myour little sister.”
Guilt twisted in my gut, and I stroked my finger up and down Riley’s fur. “I’m sorry. I never meant for you to feel like I go to her first for everything now.”
“No apologies necessary here, Chels. I see this as my moment to shine, and boy, could I use the grown-up girl talk.” Elani made kissing sounds, followed by Hedone doing a raspberry. “I also can’t believe you’re awitch. Seriously, how cool is that? Have you been able to use any of your magic?”
Tracing a nail over my lips, I sighed. The freedom of my magic flowing from me so effortlessly when Dion was there to remind me to relax was almost enough to make me kidnap him and never let him out of my sight. A grin tugged at my mouth with that thought because something told me he’dlovethat. “Yes. But it’s only breached the surface when I’m completely relaxed or—” I paused, wincing at theotherkinds of moments it made an appearance.
“In a state of complete and utter rapture?” Elani finished for me.
Bringing the phone back to my ear, I scratched Riley’s head, warming at the sight of him smiling, his tiny teeth poking out. “That is a lovely way to put it, yes.”
“I refined it for you. My mind was way farther in the gutter. What made you want to go see this High Priestess if you can’t summon your magic at will yet?”
After giving my hair a final tousle in the mirror, I grabbed my purse and headed out the door. “Ouch.”
“I meant no offense and certainly have no room to talk considering how long it took me to get a handle onmypowers, but if you can’t show your magic, how is she supposed to help you?”
My heels clicked on the sidewalk, the town’s small, cozy vibes settling more in the daylight, brightened by the sun. “Dion suggested it. He thought she might be able to help me harness it. He said I should go alone because it was awitchything, and he didn’t want to step on my toes.”
“That’s awfully nice of him.” Elani paused and, with her voice muffled like she’d pressed the receiver against herself, said, “In here, babe. Talking to Chels.”
Hedone’s excited gurgling blared through the speaker.
“Husband home?” I bit back a smile.
Elani laughed. “How could you tell?”
I caught sight of the bakery shop where I’d met Sylvie days prior and halted. “I’ll let you go, Lani. Say hi to Eros for me, and I’ll fill you in on what happened tomorrow, okay?”
