6

Tessa opened her eyes and wiped the sleep from them. Sunlight and a warm ocean breeze blew through the open glass doors. She sat up and noticed a tray at the foot of the bed. A coffee carafe, mug, and a plate filled with strawberries, various melon slices, pineapple, and blueberries called to her. She let her feet hit the floor then padded over and poured herself a cup of coffee. After adding cream and sugar, she took a sip.

“Ohh, this is good.” Turning to face the open doors, she spotted a form down by the water’s edge. Moving out the door to stand on the stone patio, she focused to get a better look.

“Oh my lord.” The most firm, round, muscular naked male ass she’d ever laid eyes on stood on the beach, and it was attached to a body that rivaled any Greek God of mythology. By the long black hair flowing down his back, she knew it was Crone. Looking away was not an option—not that she wanted to—but it would be the polite thing to do. “Screw manners.” Besides, being his destined mate had to come with some perks. Didn’t it? Even if she didn’t intend to follow through with it.

She set her mug on a nearby table as she moved across the patio and into the sand. I must get a closer look. Suddenly he turned and looked at her over his shoulder as he stepped into the waves and removed her magnificent view.

“Damn it.” She went back and picked up her mug, taking a sip of coffee when she got the feeling someone watched her. With a slow turn, she faced a wet Crone. Clad only in a towel, rivulets of water followed every peak and valley of muscle and sinew. She could hardly swallow, her tongue thick, wanting to lick him dry like a damn cat. For a moment, she wondered what it might be like to wake up next to him every morning.

“I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”

She blinked and reminded herself to keep her gaze focused on his. “Thank you. Apology accepted.”

“I will do what I can to protect you. I’ll hunt Zadicus, end his miserable life, and accept no payment in return.”

Holy hell. Had she been wrong about him? She tried to hide her relief at not having to pay him gold she didn’t have. “Why would you do that?”

“I failed your grandmother, therefore I owe you both. I only ask for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I can’t take your virginity. You must understand that it’s not personal. You’re a beautiful woman and deserve to give that to the man you love. One who will worship the very ground you walk on. Please tell me there’s another way to end your curse.” For one moment, he looked like a lost little boy instead of the strong Jinn that many had grown to fear over the ages. The urge to comfort him flooded her, but she dared not touch him. It was obvious that what happened between her Nana and him still caused him a great deal of pain. She couldn’t respect a man more than she did at this moment. She almost spilled who she really was but thought better of it. He’d likely freak out at the news anyway.

“There is another way. It’s complicated and not guaranteed to work.” She sighed. “With my magic having a mind of its own, I’m not sure I have the strength to do it alone.”

His eyes fired up. “What is it? If I can lend my power in any way, count me in.” He snapped his fingers and to her dismay, he was dry and dressed in a pair of shorts. At least he still allowed her a view of his bare chest.

Tessa moved to one of the wicker chairs and took a seat. “There’s a spell that can be performed on the next hunter’s moon. We need Zadicus’ blood, a lock of hair, and the piece of skin that carries the moon symbol. Oh, and he needs to be alive.”

Crone nodded as if this was all in a day’s work for him. “What else?”

“I’d need to draw power from you. It would require the mixing of our blood and allow us to combine power for a brief period.” This was exactly why she’d not mentioned it earlier. She might have been able to get away with having sex with him, using a blocking spell so he’d not discover she was his mate. However, mixing blood...there was no way around that one and he’d know in an instant.

“The hunter’s moon will be here in a couple of days, so how fresh do you need your items to be?”

“Uh, anytime would be fine. Do you know where Zadicus is?” Finding the warlock might prove to be impossible right now. Tessa knew the warlock was also aware of how to break the bond and would go into hiding.

Crone rubbed his goatee and stared off for several minutes before responding. “My minions haven’t had any luck yet.”

Tessa felt her brows shoot upward. “Minions?”

He shrugged as if it meant nothing. “I have creatures who spy for me. No one has seen the bastard, but he will be located. I have my best tracker on it.”

“And who would that be?”

“Ares of course. Nothing better than a tiger to find your enemy.” His lip curled upward, and for some reason Tessa felt a pang of jealousy over the beautiful shifter who seemed to hold a great deal of Crone’s admiration. The mention of Ares name must be magical on its own. The large cat leaped through the air, coming from some invisible portal, and landed at Crone’s feet where she rubbed her massive head against his leg. He reached down to scratch between her ears, and Tessa gritted her teeth.

“Ah beautiful, speak of the feline. Have you had any luck yet?” The cat curled at his feet and focused its big eyes on Tessa. She could swear she saw hatred lurking in their amber depths. But why? It wasn’t like Tessa had staked any claims on Crone. Though she would be within her right to do so.

The cat continued to stare then pushed out its large pink tongue and licked the edge of its lips as if to intimidate. Ares was successful; Tessa touched her throat and looked away.

“I don’t think she likes me,” she whispered as if an animal with far superior hearing than her own wouldn’t hear her. Dumb ass.

“Who? Ares? Don’t be silly. She has no reason to dislike you.” His lids dropped to slits. “Unless you did something to harm her?”

Mental note. The Jinn definitely has a protective streak for the tiger. “Of course not. She just looks as if she’d like to devour me.”

He laughed. “She wants to eat every one. Let’s go inside and form a plan to find this warlock, so I can skin him alive.”

Crone headed into the house with Ares still in her tiger form hot on his heels.

I’m not sure I trust her.

Why? Has she done something to you?

No, it’s only a feeling I have.

He patted the cat on the head. Unless she does something to harm you or I, then you must give her a chance. Ares had never trusted strangers easily, and she got a little twitchy when he got too close to other females. At least her cat did. Crone sometimes thought Ares wanted more, but he valued her friendship and didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. Besides, she was more like a sister to him than someone to have a sexual relationship with.

Perhaps you should go fetch my brothers for me. Tell them to meet me on the far side of the beach at nightfall.

Fine. Ares jumped into the air and vanished.

“Where’s she going?” Tessa had snuck in now that Ares had left.

“I sent her with a message to my brothers. I’ll have them help me track Zadicus, starting tonight.” He picked up the coffee carafe that had been left in her room and poured himself a cup. “You haven’t touched your food.”

She picked up a strawberry. “I got sidetracked.”

He kept his smile at bay, knowing he’d been the distraction. It pleased him. “Eat and keep your strength up. I may need your help in finding Zadicus.” He didn’t want to involve her since it was dangerous, but if left with no alternatives, he’d do what needed to be done to capture the warlock.

“Any way I can help?” She shoved the tip of the berry between her lips, and he could swear she batted her lashes. Damn it to hell and back. Why did he feel like a smitten teen when around this witch?

“Any idea where he might hide?”

She bit, chewed, and licked her lips before speaking. “I wish I did, but I have a thought on how to bring him into the open.”

“And you were planning to tell me when?”

She lifted a shoulder. “You might be opposed, and I didn’t want to tick anyone off.”

This woman was a curious creature and the more he was around her, the more interested he became. “I’m not sure who you’d be pissing off, but let me be the judge on whether I oppose.”

“I basically have a magical chastity belt. If I become too sexually aroused by another male then Zadicus will show up to defend his virgin.”

Crone spit out the gulp of coffee he’d just taken. “What? Let’s back up a moment. I seem to recall an earlier conversation where I was to take your virginity. How the hell did you plan for that to happen?”

“Umm. I’d planned to use a blocking spell.”

Good lord! Crone was thankful he’d had enough sense to stay away from her. “And you expected that to work when as far as I’ve seen, your magic sucks?” Harsh but true.

Tessa shuffled her feet. “I know, I’m a klutz. My magic only works part-time, and I don’t always think things through, but I was smart enough to get the spell from a more reliable witch.”

She lifted her gaze, and he swore there were unshed tears. “I’m a poor excuse for a witch, and the sad thing is I don’t know why. I mean I can understand why my magic wouldn’t be as strong as it should, but there’s no reason it shouldn’t work at all.”

Now he felt like a real ass. “I don’t know a lot about witches, but I understand you require a familiar to help you with your magic.” He glanced around. “Speaking of, where is the kitten?”

“Sebastian? Likely curled up under the covers napping. He’s not my familiar and yes, having one would strengthen my magic. However, the lack of one isn’t why my spells seem to have a mind of their own.”

He pondered that statement for a moment, and it did make sense. “We’ll have to come back to that later. In the meantime, getting you aroused will bring on the warlock?”

She turned a pretty shade of pink. “Yes.”

“I can do that. We’ll rendezvous on the beach where my brothers can hide and set a trap.” With a plan in place, and the day half gone, he left her to shower and get ready while he plotted how to contain a pissed warlock. He had to admit, he was looking forward to seeing how Tessa responded to his ministrations. He had a feeling she’d be even more beautiful when aroused.

Tessa wore a thin dress that showed off her long, shapely legs. She’d left her hair loose, and the raven curls bounced in the ocean breeze. The sun had begun its decent and danced over the tops of the waves, throwing bursts of orange and red across the landscape.

Shit. Crone was beginning to think her plan was crazy or he was. Either way, he was screwed. Armand, Lazaro, and Ares hid in the background behind the sand dunes and waited to spring the trap once Zadicus showed.

“Are you certain this will work?” he asked. She stepped closer until he could smell gardenias. How had he not realized before that she smelled like an exotic flower? She awakened his senses and placed them on full alert.

“Only if we make it real enough. Simply kissing me won’t bring Zadicus here. We need to put as much heat into this as possible. He needs to feel my virginity is threatened,” she answered and placed her palm on his bare chest.

Double shit. “I hold a degree in heat.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Her smile nearly melted him.

“Don’t fear.” He pulled her to him and nipped at her ear. “I’ll have you begging me to fuck you within minutes.”

“You’re so vulgar and sure of yourself,” she stated, yet her arousal already began to mingle with her floral scent.

Crone took her words as a challenge He loved a challenge, never backed down from one. He cupped her ass, lifted her so their lips met, and brushed a delicate kiss across her mouth. She tasted like the morning dew. Fresh and clean. He nipped at her bottom lip and ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth until her lips parted with a moan. Before she would have a chance to think, he slipped in his tongue. It swept, swirled, and dueled with hers. Heat built between them, and he pressed her to his growing erection. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ground into him.

Dirty wench. She was trying to seduce him back.

He pulled free, sucking her bottom lip as he broke off the kiss. He licked and nipped her jaw, making his way along the sensitive flesh down her neck until he hit the secret spot at the top of her shoulder. She threw her head back with a cry and ground into him harder.

Perfect.

Her nipples jutted through the thin material, and she hadn’t worn a bra. He lowered his head and sucked a nipple through her flimsy dress. Her nails dug into his flesh and spurred him on further.

Passion ignited between them. For a moment, he forgot where they were, and that this was only a ploy to unleash the fury of a warlock.

“Unhand her!”

Crone slammed back to the present and thank the gods. He wasn’t sure he would have stopped. He wanted to press her body into the sand, take her right there on the beach and witnesses be damned. Instead, he shoved her behind him and glared at the warlock. Killing Zadicus would be too good for the warlock who meant to hurt his witch. It all made sense now: his mood swings, his possessiveness over her, and the unquenchable desire. He wasn’t sure if she was aware of it, or if this was the secret she’d been trying to hide, but kissing her had unlocked everything. Tessa belonged to him.