Page 35 of Tricky Magic
Ellea
Ellea couldn’t get comfortable. It had nothing to do with the couch or the heavy book in her hands. It had everything to do with what had happened three nights ago.
Her powers were still running on an all-time high. The dreams she had were erratic and filled with a strong body and hazel eyes. No one in their right mind would be okay with what had happened, but she would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t want it to happen again. Ellea had never felt so strong, putting years of training into a fight like that. And it was over nothing. They’d both overreacted, but it was fun—and hot.
Dammit.
She was going crazy. She brought the book up and hit herself in the forehead.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid.” She groaned, then took a deep breath.
Trying yet another spot on the couch and grabbing a pillow, Ellea settled in to finally finish her book, a thick novel filled with dragons, sex, and a fallen kingdom. She could feel the couch sinking into just the right spot, so she turned to her last page. She’d read two sentences before the sound of something dripping stole her attention. Annoyed, she tried to ignore it and keep reading, but it was persistent, grating on her last nerve.
“Billy! Is that you?”
Heavy breathing answered her.
“Billy?” she tried again. “I know it’s you. What are you doing?”
Finally getting up from the only comfortable spot she’d found in the past three days, Ellea headed toward the sound of her familiar breathing.
As she came around the corner, she found Billy standing on her two back legs. Her front legs were pressed against the floor-to-ceiling window, and a wet smacking noise escaped her mouth as she licked her own drool off her mouth and began panting again.
“What the Hel are you looking at?” Ellea asked the beast that was almost as tall as her at this angle.
One of the finest asses I have seen in a very long time,she answered, licking more drool off of her lips.
Ellea looked through the window, following the Familiar’s gaze. Sure as shit, a butt-ass naked man was walking down the dock across their lake. It was far away, but not too far to see the muscles of his legs leading up to his nice ass. The muscles along his back rippled as he wiped his wet hair away from his face. As if he could feel their eyes on him, he looked back over his shoulder—and smirked. Ellea yelped and backed away from the glass so fast she fell on her butt. “Fucking asshole,” she said.
Oh my Gods! It’s the hunk from the store!Billy screeched. She didn’t move away from the window. “His name is Rosier,” Ellea said, standing and rubbing her sore butt cheek.
YOU KNOW HIS NAME? When did this happen?she yelled into Ellea’s head. Her nose was still pressed to the glass as Ellea walked back to the window. She didn’t gettooclose, hoping he couldn’t see her. She was about to explain what had happened when Ros’ door opened, and a giant black wolf trotted out.
Ellea whistled at the sight. It was beautiful and huge, but a growl was coming from her familiar. She glanced over as Billy’s nails began to grow and her mouth formed a snarl.
That son of a bitch!Billy pushed off the glass and headed for the back door. It opened on her command, and she bolted. “Shit. Billy, wait!” Ellea yelled, running after her. “What’s going on?”
Billy didn’t answer, and she was fast, so fast. She bounded around the lake at a ridiculous speed; it only took minutes to cover the distance. Ellea kept running as Billy reached the green cabin, and she roared so loud that the surrounding trees shook. Ellea picked up the pace, but she had no idea what she would do when she got there.
Ros and the wolf had retreated into the cabin in the time it had taken Billy to run there. Now the back door creaked open, and the wolf poked its head out. It winced at the sight of Billy. Slowly, it walked out, and Ros was close behind, no longer naked, but only wearing a pair of dark jeans. Ellea’s eyes roved from his wet hair, down his chest, and stopped at the button that was not done on the dark denim.
Water droplets were still streaming down his defined abs, traveling toward that dusting of hair poking out of his undone jeans. She suppressed a groan as a painful flutter attacked her heart and stomach.
Hey, Billy. Looking good, sweetness. How long has it been?came a male-sounding voice in Ellea’s head, pulling her from her blatant staring. She paused and shook her head. Looking up at Ros, she realized it wasn’t him, but the wolf. She shouldn’t be able to hear him.
All I get is a‘Hey’after how long? Five hundred years?Billy growled out.
Six hundred and fifty-two years, actually,the wolf said.
Ellea looked up at Ros, who was staring directly at her. Her mouth went dry at the intensity of his stare. If he could hear their conversation, he wasn’t showing it.
You’re keeping pretty good track for a mutt that left me high and dry.Billy’s growling was feral as she got close to her full beast form.
Billy, sweetness, you know how it is. How it was,he responded with such a quiet tone. He was being submissive, and Billy wasn’t having any of it. She snarled and snapped her enlarging canines at him.
“Billy, stop,” Ellea tried quietly. Ros just stood there, still staring at her.
She glared at him. “Are you going to help at all?”
