Don't Hex and Drive (Stay a Spell, #2)

by Juliette Cross

How could a man like Devraj fit into my world? We were just too vastly different. I’d never want to be with a man who lived in the spotlight. And there’s no way he’d never want to be with a woman whose highlight of the week was visiting an animal shelter. Would he?

Devraj had marked me well, and it would be hard to hide our relationship now. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

I’d known I’d fall hard if I took that step back into his arms, so I only had myself to blame. Still, it didn’t make this any easier. I knew without any doubt that when he left, it would crush me. Break me.

And I’d fallen so hard, I knew she had to be mine. For as long as my heart was beating.

Isadora cared so deeply for me, and I knew it from the powerful punch of magic that pulsed from my six-letter name. It screamed from the scrap of parchment—deep, possessive feelings of longing and want. And more. But I couldn’t think about it too much because it made my chest ache.

“I suppose I’ll just have to stay here in New Orleans then.” Her eyes rounded. “Why would you do that?” “Can’t you guess?” Her pulse quickened,

How could she possibly be confused by that? Didn’t she know I was crazy about her? I wasn’t ready for this to end anytime soon. I just needed her to take a chance on us.

She was literally tearing me apart. I could feel something crushing and crumbling inside of me. That’s when I realized she honestly didn’t know me as well as I knew her. Yes, I’d told her about my past, but I didn’t tell her about my present.

That the reason I dragged these ancient relics around the world with me was because I longed for a home, longed for a place that always made me feel welcome and not so very alone. Like I’d been feeling since the night I’d met her.

I closed the door and whispered, “Gotcha.”

“Devraj,” I nearly cried, dipping my mouth to his neck and giving him a suckling kiss below his ear. He hissed in a breath, thrusting his hips up and grabbing hold of my hair, but not pulling me away. “I can’t believe I did that,” I said, still licking and sucking his neck, the salty taste of him driving me mad. “I can.” He nuzzled into my hair and nipped my earlobe. “You’re incredible.”

I’d worn jeans because I’d planned on not having sex with him today. I needed a break after last night’s earth-shaking experience where I’d felt him capture my heart at the same time he’d conquered my body. He gripped my chin and whispered, “Open your eyes.” I did, but I wanted to look away again. “You never wear jeans.”

“You wanted some space from me after last night?” I bit my lip as he pumped two fingers inside me, nice and slow. I should’ve known this Stygorn would’ve seen through my sad attempt at creating boundaries.

“No space between us, love.” His voice was soft, melodic, but his expression was fierce. Determined. Dominant. “Do you understand?”

“Now, get your fucking jeans off so I can come inside you.”

he was constantly giving. Always giving. I wanted to give something to him.

A devouring, marking kiss. When he finally let my mouth go, he kept me close, tightly held in his arms. “Don’t tell me we don’t match,” he ground out against my lips, squeezing my nape. “Don’t tell me this is just sex.”

Whatever this was—this connection, this craving, this obsession—it went beyond the physical. I knew that, which was why I was trying to build a little distance. But Devraj would have none of it.

He wanted all of me for the time we were together. And I honestly couldn’t deny him. Not anymore.

“Definitely again.” He kissed me hard. “And again.” He nipped down my jaw to my ear. “I’m never letting you go.” And for one blissful moment, I believed him.

I couldn’t live without her. There was no doubt of it now. No matter that she was afraid or didn’t trust our relationship, I’d make her see reason. When I found her. When I got her to safety. When I’d pummeled Adam within an inch of his life.

I had enough sense to pull my punches so I wouldn’t crush his skull. He would stand trial. He would face the Guild’s Court because I wanted the Bellingrath’s name to be dragged through the mud. Killing this asshole was so tempting. So very, very tempting. But public humiliation and the removal of his powers by Jules would make a deeper mark than a Stygorn losing his fucking mind and killing a blood thief.

I didn’t want to waste a minute of my time facing the Stygorn Guild to defend my excessive actions. But I still wanted him to pay.

“Because he does,” said Violet on a heavy exhale. Evie, Livvy, and Jules all swiveled their heads to her. Violet just shrugged. “What? I’m a Seer. They belong to each other.” At that moment, I loved that foul-mouthed sister almost as much as I loved Isadora.

Violet grabbed my arm as I passed her. “Where are you going, Stygorn?” I glanced back, recognizing that sting in my sternum for what it was. The clenching of my heart. The longing to be with this woman for all time. I huffed out a breath and turned back to Violet. “Need to take care of some things.” Then I gave Violet a wink. “So she knows I’m all in.” Her eyes gleamed, sparkling with her Seer magic, as she smirked. “It’s about fucking time.”

I scooted up to sit against the headboard, my heart lurching at the realization that one person was definitely absent from the room.

Cute? The grim I’d seen hanging on that corner was seriously dark and mysterious, striking in his sharp features. I’d never describe him as cute.

He hadn’t messaged. Nothing at all. My heart sank again, the pain of losing him already too sharp. Too raw.

“It’s okay, Clara,” I said, voice cracking. “I’ll be all right.” She beamed at my reflection. “Oh, Isadora. You’re going to be fantastic. Just wait and see.” She winked at me, which was a little odd. First, because she didn’t know how to wink, so it came across as an awkward double-blink. And also because Clara wasn’t the winking kind.

“I know, love.” Another soft kiss. “I was just waiting for you to figure it out. But I couldn’t wait anymore.” “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

“People are watching,” I hissed. “Let them watch,” he said, completely amused while he drew me into his lap. Rather than fight him, because that was pointless, I wiggled till I was sideways and wrapped my arms around his neck while we enjoyed the show.

“Anyway, the really cool news is I’m opening my own tattoo shop!” Her favorite customers clapped and encouraged her. But her glance went sideways to Nico at the judging table. He’d stopped looking down at the ballots, his eyes on her. “And I guess I should mention that I’ll be partnering with none other than your favorite local musician, Nico Cruz.” He shot her a look but then shook his head in exasperation. He laughed and stood, giving a casual wave to the crowd.

“You sure you don’t want to tell them about your little enterprise, too?” I laughed. “Um, no. Jules can only take one shock at a time.”