Page 12 of Sorcia's Heart
“All women?”he asked, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
She laughed, nodding.“Yep.”The warmth of the sunshine on her face and his teasing tone eased some of the tension between them.“What’s yours?”
He grimaced, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.“I create a car alarm near each member’s location.”
Sorcia chuckled, the sound genuine despite the lingering awkwardness.“All men?”
“Yep.”
She nodded thoughtfully.It wasn’t unusual for a coven leader to surround themselves with members of the same gender, but it struck her as odd nonetheless.When they’d been together two years ago, he’d often asked her opinion on coven issues, and she’d relied on him to bounce ideas around when she needed clarity.
“Did you feel any other disturbances last night?”he asked, steering the conversation back to business.
“Nope,” she replied quickly, keeping her voice steady.She didn’t dare admit that she’d been far too distracted by him—and what they’d done—to notice anything in thesphaera.
Marcus glanced sideways at her, his tone taking on a teasing edge.“Honestly, I wouldn’t have noticed if anogrehad come into your domain last night.”
Her brow furrowed at his reference to unaffiliated witches, those who often caused trouble but weren’t a significant threat.“Why not?”
“Because I was too busy thinking about making love with you,” he said bluntly, his voice low but deliberate.
Her steps faltered, her breath catching in her throat.“You… we… it wasn’t making love,” she stammered, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper as her eyes darted nervously around the bustling street.“Last night was just sex!”
Marcus stopped walking, turning to face her with a slow, knowing grin.“Oh, it was more than that, Sorcia,” he said softly, the glint in his blue eyes equal parts amusement and intensity.
She pulled back, her cheeks burning as she self-consciously adjusted the colorful scarf around her neck.Her green eyes darted anxiously toward the passing pedestrians, scanning for any sign of judgment or disapproval.
“And it won’t happen again,” she declared, her voice firm, though it wavered just slightly at the end.The words hung between them like a fragile barrier, her attempt to reestablish the boundaries she’d let slip.
“Right,” Marcus replied with a low chuckle, his tone laced with infuriating confidence.“Whatever you say.”
The warmth in the air seemed to amplify her embarrassment, but the hint of a smile on his face softened the edge of her frustration.
“What time are you and your council shopping today?”he asked casually, the playful glint in his eyes making her want to both laugh and scream.
Sorcia pulled out her phone when she felt it buzz, glancing at the notification, then back up at Marcus.“I have a meeting with some clients to show them a house this morning.Then I’m meeting with my council over lunch.”
“Good,” Marcus said smoothly.“How many houses are we showing them?”
She stopped abruptly on the sidewalk, her green eyes narrowing as she turned to glare at him.Ignoring the pedestrians forced to maneuver around them, she crossed her arms.“You’re not going with me, Marcus.I know you have a large business to run, so…” She waved her fingers vaguely in the direction of Chicago.“Go do it.I don’t need your help with my business.”
Marcus’s expression didn’t change, his face a picture of calm confidence.He met her glare with that infuriating, enigmatic gaze, his blue eyes locked on hers.“I’m coming with you,” he said simply.“I don’t think you should be alone.If what I suspect is happening, you’re going to need our combined powers to fight it.”
Her annoyance deepened.“What do you think is happening?”she demanded, her tone edged with wariness.
He glanced around the bustling street before taking her arm gently.“Let’s talk about it when we get to your office.Not out here in the open.”
They continued walking, her irritation simmering beneath the surface.It took them five more minutes to get to her office building and another ten to actually reach her private office.Employees stopped her constantly—twenty realtors, plus a support staff of over forty—each with a question, a form to sign, or simply a warm hello.
“Marcus!It’s so good to see you again!”one staff member exclaimed, grinning broadly.
Another chimed in, “When are you coming back to help us with the Halloween open house decorations again?No one else could string cobwebs across the ceiling like you!”
Sorcia rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t entirely stifle the faint smirk tugging at her lips.Marcus, as always, smiled calmly, enduring the interruptions without complaint.He stood to the side with effortless grace, looking every bit the picture of patience.
Sorcia couldn’t help relishing the reversal.She’d spent countless hours inhisoffice waiting while his staff bombarded him with questions, requests, and last-minute demands.His business empire dwarfed hers, spanning industries from farming to grocery chains to pharmaceuticals.But for once, he was on her turf.
Finally, they reached her office.Sorcia exhaled sharply, closing the door behind them and savoring the brief reprieve.Too many of her employees remembered when she and Marcus had been together.None dared ask about him directly, but she’d felt their curiosity—sharp, buzzing, and relentless.
