Page 36 of Witches and Wine
Cressida grabbed a bowl and jar of something black, emptying half of the contents into it. “And here you are, underestimating your power. You’re a witch, dearie. You’ve been altering his brain chemistry without even knowing it.”
My neck numbed, sweat beading on my skin, and dizziness formed in my head and stomach, making me rock back on my heels.
Altering his thinking? Was thatpossible?
“I don’t know how to use my powers like that. I can barely summon them, let alone do something that diabolical.” The words flew from my mouth in a haughtiness I hadn’t expected from myself. “And you just saidhewas the one trickingme.”
The Crone chuckled and grabbed a mortar stone, working it in the bowl. “Is that not why you came to see me? To learn how to control your magic? To use it?” She pointed a finger, wagging it at me. “And don’t be so naïve to think that not a single witch in existence hasn’t used her power to manipulate a person’s thoughts. Whether it was for good or bad, we’vealldone it. You both are seemingly trying to out-trick the other, it would seem. Quite ironic if you ask me.”
My gaze fell to my trembling hands, staring at palms where white magic had flowed from the other night. It had surged in sparkling, triumphant waves during that time with Dion—with the maenads. “It can’t be,” I whispered.
“Howdy,” Dion’s voice boomed from the door as it swung open. He flashed us a trademark pearly smile and glanced between us. “What’d I miss?”
My heart and core fluttered at the sight of him despite the uneasiness now consuming my brain. Gulping my nerves down, I gave him a grin and a tiny wave.
The High Priestess rolled her eyes and tossed the mortar into the bowl. “Have you forgotten how to knock, Greek?”
Dion stood tall, silently closing the door behind him and dragging a hand through his hair. “Cressida, pleasant as always. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Not nearly long enough,” she scoffed, moving her gaze back to me.
I wasn’t looking at her directly because I was far too focused on Dion, studying him, questioning him, and desiring him all in the same breath. But I could feel her warning stare burning against my cheek.
“Missed you too, you old Crone,” Dion mumbled before turning his full attention on me, extending his hands for me to take. “I came to check on my girl here.”
“She’s hardly a girl, Beast,” the Crone seethed.
Slipping my hands into his wasn’t difficult. Fighting the way my body wanted to sink into him the moment our skin touched was another matter entirely.
“She knows what I mean. Isn’t that right, Red?” Dion ever so slightly tilted his head, those amber eyes roaming my face, seemingly aware that something was off about me. His thumbs rubbed between my knuckles.
My head nodded without assistance from my brain, and I pinched my eyes shut, looking away from him as if our gazes were what constructed this entire ordeal between us. “Priestess, can I visit you another time?”
A tiny smile crested at the corner of her lips, and she gave a single nod. “Of course. My door is open to any witch in need of help.”
Dion’s grip tightened on my hands.
“I need to get back to my apartment. Would you mind porting us there?” I asked, afraid to look at him and entrance us both in whatever spell I may have unknowingly conjured.
“Sure,” Dion replied, rubbing his earlobe before making us disappear.
We appeared in my apartment, and Riley zoomed from his tower, immediately swirling around my ankles, working his way up to my shoulder, and nuzzling my neck.
“Thanks.” Clearing my throat, I squeezed Dion’s hands a final time and pulled away. “I promised my sister I’d give her a call at the top of the hour, and I would’ve been late. She worries, you know?”
“Yeah,” Dion said—distant and suspicious.
“That, and I have a bunch of potential clients to sift through.” I threw my purse onto the couch, snatched a pen from my desk, and used the butt of it to scratch my head.
Dion moved closer, his hand slipping over my hip. “I said I’d help you with that, and I still mean it, Chels.”
It wasn’t in me to pull away from a touch like that—sweet, calming, and claiming.
“I know, and thanks, but not today. Like I said, I need to call my sister.” Risking a look at him and stifling a whimper at how devilishly handsome he was, I smiled.
“Alright, understood. I’ll uh—” Dion squeezed my hip, and I almost told him to screw the call so I could ride him reverse cowgirl instead. But I didn’t. “—I’ll get out of your hair. You sure you’re alright, though?”
Sucking my lips into my mouth, I nodded vigorously. “Dandy as a daisy.”
