| |
“I don’t understand.” Gus’s brow creased in a dour expression. “Why would your friend Estele spike our drinks and deliberately do something so spiteful?”
“It’s worse than that. Estele was probably trying to do something nice. Her kindness is worse than someone else’s focused malevolence could ever be. Trust me on that.”
“Uh-oh, I don’t feel so good.” He thumped his fist against his chest as if suppressing a cough. A rolling growl rose from deep in his throat. A feral expression gleamed in his eyes, and they flashed amber. With teeth bared in a vicious snarl, he snapped at the air and howled. In an instant, he composed himself, looked stricken, and appeared to be battling for self-control. “Pardon me. I’m so embarrassed. That was involuntary.” He plunged his hand into his pocket and withdrew his keys. “I better be on my way before it gets worse.”
“What about the Lycan intervention?”
“Someone needs to intervene for me! I’m the one who needs help. With the moon rising, there’s no way I can stand next to a beautiful blonde like you and not make an absolute jackass of myself. You’re my dream girl, and way too much temptation to deal with during a full moon. I’m leaving now before I bend you over one of these tables, lift your dress, and ride your gorgeous ass like it’s the dirty-dog rodeo.”
He shook his head in apology. “Oh, shit, I didn’t mean to say that. Please don’t be offended. That’s the Hoodoo Blue talking. It makes this stuff pour out of my mouth.” He took a few long strides toward the back door and turned. A look of scorching regret colored his face. “Fredi, I’m aware I’ve made a bad first impression by blurting out every nasty thought that crosses my mind, but I sincerely hope we can meet again under better circumstances. The things I’ve been saying are not the real me.”
“I get it. Don’t be embarrassed, at least not in front of me.” She gazed at him, convinced he was just about the nicest and certainly the most attractive man she’d met in a long while. For a wayward moment, she allowed herself to fantasize about what it might be like to grab hold of his shirt, rip the collar open, nuzzle her face against his chest, and tease his nipples with her teeth until he made desperate little sounds. As she conjured the dreamy scene in her mind, she slipped into an erotic daze and got lost.
“Watch out, Fredi!” he shouted.
She sniffed a hint of char in the air as her thoughts floated. The next moment, Gus was clutching her arm and propelling her across the room. In a haze, she staggered forward. All the tablecloths in the center of the cocktail lounge were ablaze and the ceiling sprinklers had come on. The fine mist of water whirring through the air instantly made the lounge steamy.
The chaotic scene slowly sank in. This was her doing. “Holy Mother Circe! Not again. I’ll get another six months of highway cleanup for this.” Almost as quickly as it appeared, the green fire died out, and the automatic sprinklers shut down.
The shrunken heads cheered in unison. “Hurrah!”
“Damn!” Fredi surveyed the puddled floor and burnt tablecloths. “I didn’t mean to do it. If I had my wand with me, I could put the room right before anyone saw the damage.”
Gus placed his hands on her shoulders and guided her out the back door. “It’s not that bad. I can help with this tomorrow, but not now. Floors can be mopped and tablecloths replaced. I’m more concerned with getting the hell away from the downtown area before anyone gets hurt.”
Once they were out in the parking lot and breathing cool air, he came to an abrupt halt and gave her an earnest once-over. “I didn’t want to ask in front of the shrunken heads, because they seem pretty gossipy.” His gaze searched hers. “Tell me the truth. What’s with the green flames?”
As he waited for his answer, she bit her lip, wondering how honest she should be. Gus stood so close she could almost count each of the long black lashes that fringed his beautiful eyes, which she now noticed weren’t really hazel. They now appeared almost golden, but maybe that was the Lycan in him coming on strong. “It’s not really fire. The green flames are enchanted, hyperdimensional, superheated Wiccan plasma.”
“It sounds dangerous.”
“It can be.”
“It also seems to be causing a lot of problems and beyond your control.”
“Sometimes it is. This is a fairly new development in my life. I’m learning to cope.”
“What triggers it?”
She shrugged. “Things, thoughts, people.”
“That’s not very specific.”
A seasick sensation akin to falling in an elevator swooped through her. “I don’t want to say. It’s a personal matter.”
“Oh, I suppose none of my personal stuff got exposed tonight? Do I need to point out that I’m in a very vulnerable position? This is exactly the sort of situation I strive to avoid, and a full moon makes everything a thousand times worse. A woman like you is my biggest weakness, and it never works out. I’ve sworn off blonde bombshells. I told myself never again, and then this happens.”
“And what is this? I feel vaguely accused of something.”
He shook his head. “Fredi, I’m not accusing you of anything. The wolf in me is on the rise, and you’re way too tempting. It’s the curves—it’s everything.” His gaze roamed over her. “I’m dying to drag you into my den and...” With a frantic motion, he rubbed his face with his palm as if he could erase the thoughts simmering inside his skull. “I’ve got to get out of here before I do something I shouldn’t.”
She swallowed hard. Geez, what a confession. Hot damn. Part of her wished she could take him home right this minute, rip the clothes off him, and risk setting the place ablaze. “You have a wolf den, really?”
“No, I don’t live in a wolf den. It’s just a saying. I’m leasing a condo at the moment.”
“Too bad. I was curious. Some sort of earthwork sounded exotic.” She didn’t bother to mention an earthen den also sounded like a low fire risk and Gus was looking mighty tempting. She was almost ready to consider going somewhere, anywhere, with him, when flames roared from her fingertips and set a wooden planter at the edge of the sidewalk on fire.
“Help me put it out!” Fredi pounded the flames with her purse. “I am so sorry. This evening isn’t working at all, is it? I think I’ll go home before I blow something up.”
“Are you sure you should drive?”
“I swear I feel fine. Whatever was in the Hoodoo Blue seems to have worn off as quickly as it came on.” She drew a deep breath and checked in with herself. “Yes. Everything’s back to normal. Well, not ‘normal’ normal—my normal. At least I’m not blurting out every dirty thought in my head.”
“I don’t know if I agree. I kind of liked hearing what you were thinking about me. Fredi, I really like you, and I’m counting on you to call me sometime soon.”
“When the moon is waning?”
“Something like that.” He laughed. “I hope we’ll meet again when I have a little more control over my impulses. I’d hate myself if I blew it with you.”
“I’ll call.” It was the moment to walk away, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Her feet remained firmly planted. Awkward moments dragged.
Gus looked anxious. “Fredi, you’d better go, right now. I am dangerously close to picking you up and carrying you off for the night.”
With her queen-sized proportions, she wasn’t the sort of erotic prize the average man could casually lift without first carefully considering the strength of his lower lumbar region. “I don’t think you want to do that unless you’ve got really good workmen’s comp.”
“Bullshit.” He scooped her into his arms and lifted her high without betraying the slightest sign of strain or effort. “See? I can handle you.” His grip tightened. A feral spark lit his gaze. “You are so soft. You feel great. My God, the things I would do to you.” He nuzzled his face against her hair and kissed her throat. His breath was warm on her skin. The kiss deepened to a gentle nip that left gooseflesh pebbling her skin.
A sweet moan snuck past her lips. “Don’t do that. It’s a turn-on.” Just as she said it, green fire shot from her fingertips and spread across the parking lot’s blacktop in a row of sizzling flames.
“Ah-ha.” Gus carefully lowered her to the ground. “I get it now. I didn’t quite put it together earlier. When you’re turned on, you lose control and shoot fire, right?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
“How long has this been happening?”
“About six months.”
“You’ve been on guard for unscheduled firestorms for six months? How do you...? Christ, I thought I had it bad during a full moon. That makes my troubles look like a big nothing.”
“I’m embarrassed talking about this.”
“Don’t be. I’m in the same boat. Believe me, I have embarrassment on speed dial. I get hairy, grabby, and howl, and I don’t always get to choose when or where it will happen. Do you have anyone you can talk to? Somebody who gets it?”
“Not really.”
“I thought witches had a great support system in place.”
“They do. I choose to keep this to myself, because...”
“Because you’re embarrassed and you hate being out of control?”
“Yes!”
“You shouldn’t be. Everyone in the enchantment community has some sort of issue they have to cope with. Isolating yourself isn’t the best choice.”
“It’s been tough. I’m scared I’m going to hurt someone.”
“Me, too.”
“I don’t know what to do about it.” Fredi toyed with her purse strap. “Actually, this was my first social outing since my big fiasco six months ago. By the way, I got tricked into this.”
“Tell me about it. Me and social fiascos are compadres. Don’t get me started. A few months ago, a friend tried to fix me up with a slinky little cat shifter. Big mistake. Territorial canines and aloof cats are not a good mix. There was a lot of hissing, and I got my nose clawed. Apparently, I can’t date within the shifter community, and I certainly can’t date outside it. It’s a bit awkward breaking the news to unsuspecting women that you’re a wolf-shifting Lycan. Therefore, I’ve been lying low.”
“No cute Lycanettes in your life?”
“Nope, not lately.” He grinned. “Besides, I think I prefer blonde witches.” He looked at her with a broad smile on his face for a noticeably long pause.
Her heart hammered so fast she felt like it might jump out of her skin. “Before you leave. I should show you that scratch on your truck.”
“I don’t mean to sound rude, but I don’t give a damn about the scratch.”
“I’ll fix it. I promise.”
“I’m not worried about it." He leaned closer. “I wish there was something I could do for you.” His eyes flashed amber, and a purely carnal expression crossed his face. A shudder racked him as the silky strands of hair on his forearms grew longer. “Oops, the shift is starting. I better go. Where was that fire road that led into the hills?”
She pointed over her shoulder. “A block north, there’s a paved path that runs behind city hall and becomes a dirt road. You’ll be fine.”
“I guess this is where I say goodnight.” The way he looked at her made her think he was going to pull her into a kiss, but he offered a curt nod instead and strode away.
“Wait! Before you leave, would you move your truck so I can pull out?”
Spinning on his heel, he turned. “Whoa! That’s some tricky parking. How did you exit the driver side—through osmosis?”
She was reluctant to admit there’d been a lot of bumping and grinding. “I’m a witch. I have my ways.”
“Maybe I should spray some WD40 between the car doors so I can back up.”
“Do it and make it fast. I see tendrils of chest hair climbing over your collar.”
“Goddamnit.” He clamped his hand over the top of his shirt as if the simple action would hold the rampant hair growth at bay. “I’m on the lunar clock and running out of time. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Gus dashed to the driver side of the truck and unlocked the door. Her gaze riveted to his every move. For a big guy, he was agile with a smooth stride. She loved his long legs. They looked great in body-hugging, dark-washed jeans. It was obvious those all-night moonlit hikes in the hills had done him some good on many levels. Aside from keeping him away from prying eyes and innocent people, from this angle, she could clearly see he had a mighty impressive ass. For sure there was some serious horsepower in his caboose.
He hopped into the truck, lowered the window, and leaned out. “You better move aside. I can’t back out with you standing directly behind me.”
“I’m sorry to hover by your tailgate.” She hadn’t even noticed she’d drifted closer to him as he prepared to leave, and stepped left. There was something so compelling about Gus. Maybe it was his warmth and quick admission that he had problems, too, that made her want to climb into his lap and stop him from driving away.
The truck slowly rolled in reverse and stopped when he reached her. With crooked fingers, he coaxed her to the window. “Fredi.” His smile was wide, but there was a touch of melancholy in his eyes. “Another time, okay? Maybe drinks or dinner someplace where we won’t be slipped a mickey and risk massive urban destruction if we accidently touch or think a randy thought?”
“I can’t imagine where that might be.”
“Would you think about it and promise to call? I would love to spend more time with you.” He paused. “You don’t happen to enjoy hiking, do you?”
“No.” She lifted a glossy boot, tilting her ankle to clearly display its towering heel. “Don’t be ridiculous. Do I look the least bit outdoorsy to you? Besides, the hills are too dry this time of year. For sure I’d start a brush fire and piss off Smokey the Bear.”
He looked at her with longing. “I had to ask.”
Damn, the sensual expression on his face left her breathless. Why couldn’t she enjoy a little time alone with this handsome man without causing an environmental disaster? Was her situation truly so hopeless? It would almost be enough to brush a kiss against his beautiful mouth. At least it would give her something to dream about. He looked like a good kisser, too, the kind who started sweet and easy and ended in a scorching hot fusion with his hands tangled in a lover’s hair. Did she really have to say no to all of it and walk away? It wasn’t fair.
Gus gave her a halfhearted little wave. “Goodnight, gorgeous.”
Why did he have to smile again and give her that sad puppy look? Her fingertips suddenly felt hot as a lava flow. She glanced around in a panic, knowing she was about to blow, and swung her fingertips toward a brick wall at the exact moment a gusher of emerald flame poured forth from her fingers with the force of an exploding oil well. The bricks glowed white-hot and turned a vitreous pale green and crackled as they cooled.
She gulped in shock. “Santa Diablo, that was close! I almost struck your gas tank. I have to be more careful. You better go right now, and, for safety’s sake, stop saying nice things and flirting with me. I mean it.”
“Bye.” He glanced over his shoulder and backed the truck toward the parking lot exit.
The moment the truck moved away from her, a burning sensation built under her skin. By the time Gus had driven to the edge of the lot, shooting hot stabs of pain doubled her forward as if she were being forced to roll on smoldering coals. “Holy dementia! Am I bonkers or hexed? What the hell is happening?”
“Arrh!” At the same instant, Gus slammed on the brakes and leaped out of the truck. “I’m on fire! I feel like I fell into a freaking cactus patch. God, it hurts!” He stumbled toward her. “What the...? Do you think this is some weird side effect of the Hoodoo Blue?”
She tugged the hem of her dress into place. The closer Gus got, the quicker the pain faded. By the time he was a couple yards away, there was no discomfort at all. “How do you feel now? I’m all right.”
He stopped. “I’m fine, too.” To prove it, he lifted his hands and gave them a quick wriggle. “There’s nothing wrong now. That was the weirdest thing. As I was pulling onto the street, a pins-and-needles sensation started, but after I crossed the sidewalk, I got tossed in the hurt locker, bad.” With a look of concern, he gazed into her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look shaken.”
“I’m fine.” She reached into her purse and rummaged for her car keys. “It’s probably the last effects of the Hoodoo Blue wearing off. Let’s hope we’ve already experienced the worst of it.” A glance skyward revealed the full moon peeking over the top of a parking structure. “You should go.”
A big grin lit his face. “Later days.” Gus turned and walked back to his truck.
As he walked away, she stopped to enjoy his easy, swaggering stride. He was all man, broad shoulders, lean hips, and great ass. Her fingertips tingled.
“No,” she whispered. “Not again. No flames, no cactus needles, please...”
At the same second Gus opened his truck door, they both screamed in unison. “Aaaah!”
“This is worse than the fucking Inquisition!” She ran toward him. “It’s happening again.”
Gus leaped away from the truck and rushed to meet her. “In the name of all that is fucked-up, that hurt!” His face blanched. “How is it even possible that the pain was worse the second time? This isn’t funny. I have to get out of here. I can’t shift in downtown San Buena. We’ve been lucky no one walked past and noticed all this paranormal nonsense. Oh, shit...”
He hunched forward with a violent shudder as his shirt ripped with the loud pop of snapping threads. His already broad back got wider. “Damn it, another work shirt wrecked!” When he glanced her way, his eyes glowed and his canines descended. A chilling growl rumbled low in his throat. He lifted his face to the sky and released a booming wolf howl that rolled on and on and sounded like the roar of the most feral demon-possessed crackhead on Earth.
Fredi threw her hands into the air. “Well, that ought to attract at least four patrol cars to the parking lot. Let’s leave before anyone arrives and ask questions. Whatever you do, don’t panic and give in to a full shift.”
It looked bad. He was already wild-eyed, and perspiration beaded his upper lip. “All right, if you say so.”
“Get moving.” She turned and walked toward her car. Gus returned to his truck. The faster he walked away, the more her skin tingled. Before he even opened the driver side door, she was gasping for air. By the time he was in the truck, the pain had escalated so sharply she was ready to detonate.
“Aaaahhhh!” they both screamed in unison. Both abandoned their vehicles and ran toward the other.
She panted as she confronted him, “This is weird. If I get close to you, I’m okay. But if you move too far away... I can’t bear it!”
Worry showed on his face. “What distance is too much?”
“Who knows?!” She pointed to his truck, which was blocking the sidewalk. “That distance seems to be too far.”
He stared at his truck. “How far do you think that is?”
“Maybe ten yards?”
“Watch.” He held his palms in the air, glanced over his shoulder, and took a giant step backward. “Help me keep count. One...” He stepped back. “Two...” He stepped farther. “Three...”
“Keep going. I’ll tell you when I start to feel something strange.”
“Four, five, six, seven...”
“Okay, I’m beginning to feel those stingy little needle jabs.”
“Eight, nine...”
“It’s getting worse! Slow down, goddammit!”
“Ten—holy crap!” Gus buckled over. “I feel like I’m being flayed alive!”
“Then stop.” She rushed toward him. “So, now we know ten paces is too far. Until the hoodoo from our Hoodoo Blue wears off, we need to be careful about our proximity.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean someone, most likely Estele, has cast a hoodoo on us.”
“I’m Lycan. I’m not versed in Pagan or Wiccan subtleties. What exactly is a hoodoo, and why did Estele do something so vicious and stupid?”
“Estele’s not vicious. She’s actually a very sweet friend, but her judgment and proficiency at spellcraft can be iffy.”
“How ‘iffy’?”
“She fucks up a lot.”
“Damn. And a hoodoo is what exactly?”
“A hoodoo is a time-released spell with finite effect.”
“Like a sinus medication?”
“Yes. A hoodoo won’t last or cause permanent damage, but—”
“But we have no idea how long its effects will linger?”
“Right. It could last until sunrise.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“I’m pretty sure I can use my brand of witchery and pure sunlight to break any sort of hoodoo Estele may have inadvertently cast.”
“Geezus. So Estele really doesn’t understand what the hell she’s inflicting on others when she does these terrible things to her ‘friends’?”
She winced. “That’s about it. For the record, Estele means well. She’s not a bad person.”
“What do you think she was trying to do to us?”
“I think Estele wanted us to sit together for a drink and stay long enough to talk.”
“For God’s sake, she didn’t have to go this far. The moment I saw you, I thought wow—”
“Don’t!” With a flick of her hand, she was quick to hush him. “If you say something flattering or sexy, you’ll start another firestorm, and I’m not sure that brick wall over there can take another plasma blast without crumbling.”
“Fredi, we have a big problem. We can’t stay here all night hoping nothing goes wrong. I’m starting to shift. My shirt’s already ripped, and the pants are next. I really need to be off somewhere alone, not standing in a neon-lit alleyway beside a gorgeous blonde who I’m dying to drag into my backseat. What can I do? The last thing I need is to piss off a witch or earn myself a criminal record.” He winked, and the first solid hint of sarcasm crept into his tone. “I’m getting a little antsy. This very public parking lot is not the ideal place for me to go Lycan. Trust me on that. Do you have any suggestions?”