Always Practice Safe Hex (Stay a Spell, #4)

by Juliette Cross

Taking Lavinia by the hand and leading her to my office was the last thing I had in mind for tonight, and yet it was the first thing I thought once she’d whispered my name in a soft, raspy plea.

I needed more than what I could do to her on the dance floor of my own club. Since she’d agreed to find a more discreet spot, it seemed she was of the same mind.

My office was the closest place for privacy. But not ideal for sex, especially not the kind of sex I wanted to have with Lavinia. The all-night-sweat-soaked-sheets kind. But right now, I’d take whate...

“He or she won’t mind you using their office?” “Not at all.” I pushed her back onto the sofa and then settled on top of her. Pure. Fucking. Heaven.

“I Wanna Be Your Slave” by Maneskin pumped through the monitors and the walls. And fuck if it wasn’t so sadly true.

“Go on, Blackwater,” she teased, her hands wandering over my ass and then working between us to my crotch. “Don’t be shy.”

She gasped, eyes wide as she glanced down then back at me. “You can do that?” Grinning, I let her wrists go and rose to my knees to straddle her, but I held her arms in place with my TK. She tugged but couldn’t move. “Holy shit.” Her expression tightened in wonder and more arousal.

She was aggressive. It turned me the fuck on, but I also needed her submission. Although I was unlikely to get it this first time, there was no doubt in my mind that there would be another. And another.

“You are the goddess,” I rumbled against her skin, scraping my jaw against the silken softness, then I captured her gaze, “And I am your slave.” What the hell had come over me? I never said things like that to a woman. If anything at all, it was things such as just like that or harder or open wider. Never words of worship.

I had to focus to keep from letting the darkness out. That demon wanted to wrap her up and keep her for fucking ever.

She smiled, her fingers combing through my hair. “I love how you’re so sure of a next time, Blackwater.” “I don’t need to be psychic to know that we both want more than this.” “So cocky.” I grinned. She rolled her eyes. “I meant, conceited.”

With a hand at her nape, I pulled her mouth back to mine so I could taste her a little longer. I couldn’t seem to keep my mouth off her body. She was driving me to delicious madness.

“Wise or not, I want to do it again.” She didn’t comment, but her smile tipped up

I didn’t want to frighten her with the thoughts going round in my head. There was no fucking way that our affair ended after this. This was just the beginning.

I smoothed her straps over her shoulders, wondering why I felt so compelled to share information with her. It wasn’t something grims did with anyone outside our own race.

“Are you different than most grims in other ways?” Sliding my palms to cradle her slender neck, I eased closer. “I am.” “How? Tell me.” I couldn’t help the grin cracking my normally cool façade. I think I’d smiled more in the last hour than I had all of last month. “So curious.”

“Why won’t you tell me? What’s up with grims that they’re so secretive?” Now that, I could and would answer. Well, partly anyway. “Grims have a strong core belief that information is everything. More powerful than money or fame or anything else. We also prefer to keep ourselves in check.”

“Is there something you’re hiding from other supernaturals?” She was so smart, my Lavinia. My palms drifted up to cup her jaw. “Yes. We are.”

In truth, she couldn’t overpower me with her magic if she tried. Few who walked this earth could.

“Are you dangerous?” she whispered, eyes dark as midnight as she clasped her slender white fingers around my wrists. “To you?” I brushed my mouth against hers again, holding her gaze. “Never.” Couldn’t say the same for everyone else.

She glanced around. “Wait. My panties. Where’d they go?” “I’m keeping them.”

“Every time you realize they’re gone, you can remember what we did together in here.”

“Since when did you ever think I was normal?” She laughed. “Pervert.” “Only for you,” I mumbled

I turned then and backed her to the wall, hands at her hips. “Tell him yourself. Right now.” Realization dawned and she lifted her chin and laughed, leaning her head against the wall. “No. Now your ego will be unbearable to deal with.” “It always has been,” I whispered into her ear,

“Take the time you need to settle this in your mind, Lavinia,” I told her with sincere earnest. “But know this. I won’t stop until I have you in my bed.”

And then I’d never let her leave. She had me utterly bewitched. Body and soul. I couldn’t walk away.

The darkness purred in agreement, whispering to me, telling me she was mine whether she accepted it or not. The monster wanted...

“Are you okay?” she whispered, reaching out to touch my chest. I stepped back, my gaze snagging on her worried expression. This was unexpected, but I’d always been able to manage it. Except that first time.

She didn’t only tempt me, but my monster as well. A creature that should never be unleashed and should never be fed.

There was no way I was giving up Lavinia.

My body thrummed with tension, craving just the sight of her. I wanted to look in her eyes and see if there was any regret there. Or perhaps longing.

She glanced my way, her delicious mouth—highlighted by dark red lipstick—then slid into a smile. I believe she knew exactly what that swimsuit was doing to me.

This was that same innate evil I’d sensed from Richard before. Except now, his focus was entirely on Lavinia.

I needed to remain calm, not lose my shit on him right here and now. I had no actual proof of what he was, but my instincts told me I was right. And I’d never been wrong yet.

“Maybe for you,” he huffed on another laugh, still not tearing his gaze away from her. “My chances are a given. No matter what she prefers.” Mother. Fucker.

“Excuse me,” I mumbled stepping in front of him and lightly tapping his phone with my forefinger. As I strode toward the door Lavinia had come through, I heard Richard cursing to himself. His phone had just stopped working for some reason. Probably because I’d melted the motherboard with a tap of my finger.

I’d wait here for Lavinia then calmly tell her she wasn’t permitted to be anywhere around that fuckface, Richard Davis, when I wasn’t around. I already knew how she’d take this news, but it wasn’t open for discussion. She simply needed to agree that I was right. Okay, apparently the beast was still riding me hard, those darker urges to dominate and master still lingering close to the surface.

Until then, I had to keep him the fuck away from my woman.

“Come here,” he ordered. And it was definitely a command.

A melty sensation flooded my chest, dripping lower. I obeyed, enjoying the strange, foreign feeling of wanting to do what he told me.

His legs were set wide, his body relaxed, but his eyes weren’t. They were fierce with an emotion I couldn’t identify. I suddenly wished Clara was here, so she could tell me what was going on inside my grim reaper. I...

“You wore this swimsuit for me.” I made it for you. “Maybe.” He smiled, and my world tilted.

You have to understand. Gareth Blackwater was the broodiest, coldest, most untouchable man I’d ever met. Or so I’d thought. Now that I’d lifted that layer and stepped inside his private circle, a place he seemed not to allow anyone, I never wanted to leave.

And when he granted me smiles like this one that struck me near mute, I wanted to kneel in front of him and do anything he asked. Or commanded. Preferably commanded, actually. That thoug...

“Do you believe in monsters, Lavinia?” Heart hammering, I held his gaze, well aware of his magic buzzing in the room. Something had set him off, and it wasn’t my pushy questions.

How could I ever have thought him cold? I’d be lucky to not spontaneously combust the next time he touched me.

Funny thing was…I was more than happy to test that theory. More than willing to burn.

I loved Clara. She could be as bad as me or Violet. She just did it with a sweet smile on her face that made you think she truly was innocent of malicious intent. Don’t let her fool you.

I laughed at the sight of Mateo still holding onto her, like she might go poof in a cloud of smoke if he let go. All while Clara hugged and rocked a sobbing Evie.

“I think we need food.” Jules’ smile was a little wobbly. That’s how Jules showed her love. She fed us.