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

by Juliette Cross

“If I got angry every time a man was condescending to me with sweetie, honey, baby, or any number of belittling names to knock a woman down a peg, I’d be nothing but a ball of rage. Now let’s get back to business.”

The fact that she could brush his behavior off and return to our task so easily told me two things. First, men who treated women this way were pigs and should be taken to slaughter. And second, she was more bewitching than I ever realized.

“Sympathy is an unnecessary emotion, Lavinia,”

But she wasn’t mine to protect. Not yet, a voice whispered.

“We may be rivals, Lavinia. But it doesn’t make me want to fuck your brains out any less.”

“Hatred and hostility are strong emotions,” she continued matter-of-factly. “They get your heart rate up, heat the blood, make you sweat, drawing your focus solely to the one giving you these emotions. It’s very similar to desire. So, wanting to have sex with Gareth is perfectly normal.”

I blinked slowly, savoring her scent, then thanked my ancestors for giving me heightened senses.

Thank heaven grims didn’t have vampire or werewolf senses. My heartrate was going ninety miles an hour and the needy throbbing between my thighs told me he’d know exactly what I was feeling if he possessed those traits.

It was a stylized Eye of Medusa—a protection symbol—the iris a deep blue, the rest in black ink swirling with offshoots of little stars, moons, and witch sign.

“Why are you constantly implying that you’d like to have sex with me? To distract me from the campaign?” He mirrored my posture, easing his forearms onto the table and clasping his hands together. My gaze drifted to his badass ink. “Not at all. I was implying I’d like to have sex with you because I do in fact want to fuck you senseless. I’m glad to know that it was distracting though. Added bonus.”

“Also, loquacious?” I arched a brow. “Trying to impress me with your big vocabulary?” “Since you’re unwilling to check out my big cock, I thought it second best.”

The fact was I did not blush easily. It was him. But I sure as hell wasn’t about to admit that he got to me more than any man or woman I’d ever had a crush on. Yes, I had a stupid ass infatuation with this annoying, fine as fuck, grim reaper.

But now... Lavinia. It wasn’t just her body that I desired. I wanted her mind, her heart, and her soul as well.

The only thing that would quench this burn was to be buried balls-deep inside of her. Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure if that would even do it. I sure as fuck planned to try.

Mhmm sure. Until you realize the feelings are there

Murder was a bit much this early in the morning.

She had me utterly bewitched. Body and soul. I couldn’t walk away.

No one had made my monster stir the way Lavinia had. Not since that first time when he’d roared to life and broken bones.

“How do I stop it?” I whispered. She chuckled and sighed. “I think it’s too late for that. When a grim finds that special companion, their own lifeblood in another, the darkness won’t ever let them go.”

“Mark me well, Gareth Michael,” she said, aiming one of her hard expressions at me. The one that told me she meant business. “You are worthy of love, dear boy. And you have so much of your own to give.”

Then we both drifted off into blissful sleep wrapped in each other’s arms. Where we both belonged.

“She means something to you,” he said definitively. Not a question. She means everything to me.

Mateo leaned forward, straightening his cards on his side of the board game Gloomhaven.

Holy shit! No way!

I liked hanging with these guys. We were all quite different as supernaturals but also the same, if that made sense.

Like the rest of us, he’d chosen a Gloomhaven class that reflected his character in life. He was resourceful on the game board and off of it.

“Let me guess,” I said to Dev. “The girl is resistant to the monstrous god, but he woos her any way.” “Woos is a kind interpretation,” added Dev. “Kidnapping is more accurate.” “You’re both complete asses.” Ruben gulped down his sipping whiskey in two swallows.

Returning to the game, I realized that this foreign feeling that made me feel easy and relaxed without being locked inside my fortress of a home was contentment. And that warmth in my chest was spreading further at the thought of being seated next to Lavinia and eating dinner with her family.

Cold, antagonistic asshole was so much easier to manage than this man who made my knees wobbly and my stomach fluttery.

Clara turned a few shades of pink but then she lifted her head and said matter-of-factly, “That’s true. And since I plan to eventually kiss Henry Blackwater, quite often, I want to be sure the experience will give us both pleasure.”

Get it girl!!

“Yeah. I know I’m weird, but I tend to cry when I’m really happy.” His small smile was so tender, so dear. He lifted a hand and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “What do you do when you’re sad?” “I get angry and want to break things.” “What about when you’re angry?” “I bake something chocolate?” He smiled wider.

Everyone drank, then it grew quiet as Jules raised her glass, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “To Evie, our sister who is always there to selflessly help anyone who asks. I am so grateful for that day when you dragged a grouchy werewolf into our house and demanded that we help him.”

“Uhn,” I grunted, pressing my forehead to his chest. “You’re going to kill me, Gareth.” “No, indeed, Lavinia. I’m going to take care of you.” He removed both of his hands and cupped my face, tilting it up to look at him. “For as long as you’ll let me.” I grasped his wrists to keep his hands there, not to pull them away. “Okay,” I said softly. “Okay?” He arched that dominant brow, using that commanding voice. “For as long as you want me.”

Gareth was all beautiful, sharp lines and sensual grace and devastating intelligence. How did I ever not know he was the most perfect person in the world for me?

“What the hell kind of guy would do that?” “Heavens, Gareth. Where have you been living, under a rock?” “I’d never treat a woman like that.” I snuggled closer. “Which is why you’re the kind of guy who actually is welcome in my bed.” “I’m the only guy welcome in your bed,” he grumbled, sliding his hands to the small of my back and pressing me closer. “Or girl. I don’t share.”

“That sounds like you’re asking me to be your girlfriend, Gareth.” “I’m demanding it.” “Or what?” I laughed. He lifted his head to look down at me. “Or you’ll break my heart.”

I lifted onto my toes, holding his gaze as I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Then I’m yours.”

😍😍😍😍😍

I wasn’t going anywhere. I was right where I wanted to be. At the center of the universe of my grim reaper.

“I love you, Gareth.” My heart did indeed skip a beat. I heard it, felt it, as if my very soul held its breath.

“I love you, Lavinia. More than you could possibly ever know.” Her arms wound around my neck, pulling my weight more fully on top of her. “I know, Gareth.”

Never in my life had I ever imagined someone calling me silly and living to tell about it. But Lavinia? She could call me anything, say anything, do anything, and I’d remain right where I was. At her side, where I finally knew down to the depths of my jaded soul, I belonged.

When I glanced up from my notepad, I realized delightedly that he was still grinning like…well, like Devraj looked at Isadora. Like I was the center of his universe.

“Stop it,” I hissed, looking up at him over my shoulder. “Stop what?” “Being so ridiculously mushy. I can’t even think straight when you’re like this.”

Love is the best magic in the whole world.

“You are my heart, Lavinia. Without you, there is no life worth living.”

He was my mate. I felt it, soul-deep.

“We love with a love that is more than love.”