The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies #1)

by K.J. Charles

“She’s a witch.” “Just like Great-Aunt Lucie.” “No,” Stephen said. “She’s a witch.” “Oh. I see.

“The next bloke takes a swing at my lord, I’m going to break both his arms,” said Merrick. “And that’ll give him trouble when he tries to pick his teeth up. That’s all. Nice talking to you, ma’am.”

“When I have you, sweet boy, it will be because you want me to. Not against your better judgement, not in spite of my surname, and definitely not to annoy your aunt.” Stephen went red, but his voice was defiant. “Well, what was that, then?” Crane shrugged. “You seemed tense.”

“Except for those eyes of yours,” Crane went on musingly. “And those incredible hands. And that foxy smile. You don’t let it out much, do you? Everything under cover. And then you stop hiding yourself for a moment, and your whole face lights up, and suddenly I can see just how you’ll look when I fuck you.”

It was also, without question, the dark thrill of fucking a very dangerous man. That particular penchant of Crane’s had driven Merrick to despair and profanity many times over the years; even for his history, Stephen was something special.