Page 38 of With This Witch
“Mostly watching movies. Though sometimes I’ll play a video game.”
“What did you get up to tonight? You know, after I left.” Maybe he couldn’t stop thinking about her too?
“Nothing,” he laughs. “I was replaying the day in my head and lost track of time.” He looked up at her with a gaze so heated her panties, if she were wearing any, would be scorched.
A knowing silence settles between them. Rather than risk that heated gaze becoming an inferno, Petra excuses herself and returns to her room. Lachlan follows closely behind her after putting the glasses in the dishwasher.
Lachlan’s room is just down the hall from hers, and he stops outside, looking at her as if he wants to ask her to come in. She doesn’t give him a chance. Instead, she quickly wishes him a good night and closes her door firmly behind her. She lets out a deep breath and then gets back into bed.
Sleep finds her quickly this time, but she is left dreaming of Lachlan and all the ways he could make her come.
* * *
Petra wakes late the next morning and momentarily forgets where she is and all that transpired the day before. As she stretches and notices her surroundings, excitement and hesitation flood her system. Sapphire tendrils flow through the room, lifting random items from shelves and opening closet doors.
“Put that back,” she tells her magic as it takes a turtle figurine from one of the corner shelves and places it on the bed. She watches as the responsible tendril sags reluctantly and perhaps with a bit of attitude as it wraps around the figurine and puts it back on the shelf.
While she gets dressed, she can hear Lachlan moving around in the kitchen. She hoped to slip out unnoticed, but the fates have decided against it and would rather humiliate her. After a final look at herself in the mirror and double-checking that there are no loose tendrils of magic floating around, she takes a deep breath and opens the door, greeted by the tempting smells of waffles, bacon, and coffee.
Lachlan clears his throat as she walks into the kitchen. “Good”—he checks the clock on the stove—“morning. How’d you sleep?”
“Good. I immediately passed out when I went back to bed. Apparently, all I needed was some water.”
“Good. Good. I wasn’t sure what time you’d be up, but clearly”—he gestures to the plates of waffles and bacon—“I made brunch. If you can grab the berries and whipped cream from the fridge, I’ll get some syrup, and we can dig in.”
Petra opens the fridge, spotting the fruit containers and whipped cream, and carries them over to the table, which has already been set for two.
“This looks lovely, Lach. You didn’t have to do all this,” she says.
“I know. But we both need to eat, and I need to show that I can provide for my wife. Even if it’s just waffles and bacon,” he responds, winking at her as he rounds the table to sit.
Petra laughs lightly, sitting down opposite him. “Well, you’re off to a great start.”
They each load their plates with the delicious meal Lachlan has put together and eat, enjoying companionable conversation, during which Petra learns that Lachlan had to train to hide his demon form and that it’s not something that every demon is capable of.
“So, I’ve always been curious about why you own Bittersweet Acorn. I mean, as a high-powered demon, son of a demon lord, a council member, and from seeing this place, you clearly don’t need the money. So why a bar?” she asks, cutting a slice of waffle and bacon and swirling them in the maple syrup on her plate.
“Honestly, I like that it makes me feel useful.”
“But aren’t you useful in your everyday life?”
“I am. But this is different. My usefulness at the bar doesn’t depend on my ability to persuade, dominate, or instill fear. It’s not about me as a demon and how much power I have or the power I can lord over others. It’s simply about providing a service and being a listening ear.”
“I guess that makes sense,” she responds, tilting her head as she processes his answer.
“It also helps that when people and creatures drink, they tend to talk, so I learn all sorts of different tidbits about humans and the supernatural. And information is always useful as a council member. So, it helps me to stay connected to the goings-on in the community, which was a perk I didn’t think of at first. I just applied for the business license because I wanted something just for me.”
“I can understand that. It’s hard being from our world and living in the human world. Finding that balance of purpose and responsibility while also trying not to terrorize the humans.”
“Absolutely.”
“Can I ask something else?”
“You can ask me anything,” Lachlan responds, leaning forward so she knows she has his full attention.
“Why did you really offer to help me? Why do you care so much that I take the Premier Witch role?”
“Aside from the fact that I wouldn’t want any of the Wilks family in the role—can you imagine what harm they would do to the community?” He shudders, “I care about you. I know you would be great in this role and would help facilitate some of the change we need within the council. Believe it or not, there are downsides to some council members living century-long lives. Your compassion, patience, and empathy are desperately needed, as much as your youth is.”
