Authors: Rachel Carrington
"Do you always talk to yourself?"
His words caught her off-guard. “What?"
"Your lips were moving."
She expelled an irritated breath. “If I were you, I'd be more worried about the inches you're about to lose."
Jacob edged towards the door, keeping a suspicious eye on her. “Yeah. Okay. Why don't you just stay there? I'll be right back."
She trotted after him. “You're going to call the men in white coats now, right? I mean, you're going to tell the police to bring along the nut-nabbers.” Noelle tapped him on the shoulder as he tugged open the bedroom door. “I won't be here."
"You can't leave,” he responded in a pompous tone.
Praying she'd studied the lesson correctly, Noelle closed her eyes and felt herself whisking through the air. She heard Jacob's loud “What the hell?” and then she dropped back to her feet, coming to stand inches away from his face. “I
can
leave. I only stayed because I'm trying to help."
Her breast pushed against his arm, and fire shot into the centre of his eyes. She had his attention. “Don't make the mistake of misjudging me, Mr. Sanders.” Her voice was husky, sensual. Though never having had the opportunity to use her abilities in this manner, Noelle was well aware of the ways of witches.
They could intoxicate any man of their choosing and make them crave the touch of a woman's hand and the scent of her hair. And if she wanted, she could have Jacob Sanders crawling at her feet right now.
At least, that's what she should be able to do. Certain spells confused Noelle, but others she could remember in her sleep. The mesmerizing thing had never been one of her strong suits.
Jacob snagged her arm and shoved her away from him. “I don't know what kind of game you're playing, Ms. Bridges, but count me out."
Noelle let out a breathy sigh. “If you insist."
He stared at her for a long moment before wrenching the door open. “This is nuts. I'm fucking nuts.” He stormed out of the bedroom again and slammed the door behind him.
"Oh, this is going from bad to worse,” Jazz lamented. She turned her fretful gaze on her oldest sister. “Whatever shall we do, Emmie?"
Emmie tapped her finger against her chin with one eye closed. “I'm thinking."
"Well, think faster,” Heart snapped. “Our darling niece is attempting to raise the dead!"
Emmie's other eye popped open, and she peered down into the clear bubble which allowed her to see into other worlds. Right now, she had interest in one world only, that being where Noelle was waving her hands like mad woman in an attempt to remember a certain spell. Surely, Noelle knew her magic wasn't strong enough yet to raise the dead.
Bejesus, hasn't she been paying attention? A witch has to be at least three centuries old before even attempting such a spell.
And Noelle was less than a century old! Didn't the girl know what in the hell could happen if she started dicking around with things she didn't understand?
"What's going to happen to her when this man realises she can't do what she told him she'd do?” Wringing her hands, Jazz began to pace. “He is going to have her locked up. They'll throw away the key."
Heart clamped a hand on her sister's shoulder to still the travelling. “I don't believe they actually throw away the keys anymore, honey."
"I don't think they actually ever did that,” Emmie muttered before waving a hand in dismissal. “Besides that, there's no jail cell a witch can't get out of."
"But we're talking about Noelle,” Heart reminded her.
Point taken. Emmie glowered at both of her sisters in turn. “It doesn't matter. We're getting off track. We need a solution, not another problem."
Jazz leaned in closer to her sister's face. “Well, that's why we woke you."
"You mean, dragged me out of my wondrous intoxication, Emmie glared at the memory.
"Semantics,” Heart replied quickly, shouldering forward to stand in between Jazz and Emmie. She surveyed the oldest of the trio,"So, any ideas, now that you're sober?"
Emmie pursed her lips and began to rock back and forth. “Just one, and I don't think either of you are going to like it."
Heart sucked in a breath. “I know that look in your eyes, Sis,” she wagged a finger. “I know what you're thinking, and I don't think—"
"We're just going to have to go down there."
Jazz and Heart gasped in unison. “You mean, to Earth?"
"I knew it,” Heart snapped.
"Where else would I be thinking? Now, we'd better wear something appropriate. Why those mortals insist on dressing in such restrictive clothing, I'll never know.” Emmie bounced to her feet and immediately clasped one hand to her forehead. The hair of the dog hadn't helped as much as she'd thought it would. “But first, I must see to this damnable headache of mine."
"We can't go down to Earth,” Jazz began in a shocked whisper. “Why, the last time we were there, people tried to burn us at the stake."
Heart rolled her eyes. “That was hundreds of years ago. The mortals have evolved since then. Now, they no longer consider us a threat to society."
Emmie glared at both of her sisters. “That's because humans don't believe we exist. Now, do hurry up and find something to wear. I'd like to find Noelle and be home before Samhain, if at all possible."
Jazz swayed on her feet. “But—but, why can't we just bring Noelle back here? I mean, why do we have to go get her? If you can remember the spell to take us down there, why can't you just pop her right back up here?” She sounded positively frantic.
"Because sweet Ella seems to have concocted some sort of blocking spell. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts the little witch never thought we'd actually take our asses down to Earth. Once I'm there, I can figure out a way to undo the spell and rescue Noelle. Then I'll kick Ella's curvy little ass. Not necessarily in that order.
"Now, as I said, get ready. We're leaving in ten minutes.” Emmie swept past her sisters, her vivid red tunic crawling along the floor behind her. “And Heart, you may want to catch Jazz. I do believe she's about to pass out."
The woman was following him, even trailed him down the hallway and into the bathroom. He stopped to glare at her. “If you don't mind...”
Where in the hell are the police?
It seemed like hours ago that he'd called them.
She folded her arms, but didn't move. Jacob tried not to notice the way her defensive posture added to her tantalising cleavage. “I do mind. I need your help to resurrect your uncle."
Jacob took a growling step towards her and caught the scent of her hair again. Hormones punched him in the gut, nearly bringing him to his knees. His cock pushed against the front of his pants, and he took a staggering step backwards. Holy hell. What was going on? He'd never felt such a powerful attraction before. This was beyond common lust.
He eyed Noelle. “Did you just do something to me?” Although he didn't think she had, he could actually think of a few things he'd like her to do. Those pink lips were driving him insane, and he barely knew her. But scattered images tantalised him. Visions of tugging the sheet down below her breasts, cupping the golden globes in his hands, and tasting the sweet buds of her nipples.
Jesus. The woman might not be a true witch, but she could cast spells.
Noelle gave him a disgusted look. “I didn't touch you."
Suspicion narrowed his eyes. “You did earlier ... with your breast.” The reminder only served to make his cock harder. “Did you use some kind of a spell then?"
"I thought you didn't believe in witches."
Her words rankled, but the slipping sheet bothered him even more. The tops of her breasts were visible, and the round fullness was starting to make him sweat. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “I don't. You're absolutely right. Just go away. Please.” He added the last through clenched teeth.
"Jacob,” she began in a husky whisper that sent fingertips dancing down his spine.
Good God. She'd bewitched him. The mirrors in the half bathroom began to fog, and since Noelle had lowered her arms, he could now see the outline of her perfectly pert nipples pushing against the sheet. She'd wrapped it around her toga-style, but it did little to camouflage her luscious curves.
He clenched his hands into fists to keep from reaching out to her. “My name is Mr. Sanders."
She gave him a long, studious look while his cock grew harder with each passing blink of her tempting lashes. “As you wish, then. Like it or not, Mr. Sanders, I am a witch. And I can help your uncle."
"No one can help my uncle now."
"Do you know that for a fact?” Before he could stop her, she placed the palm of her hand against his chest. Every nerve in his body jangled, and he bit back a curse. Something was happening to him. Maybe he was coming down with the flu. Something was definitely coming up, though, and he couldn't remember the last time he'd been this hard so fast.
Looking down into those ocean-blue eyes, he started to feel different somehow. Not different bad. Definitely good. And hot. He couldn't forget the heat. Those moist pink lips wouldn't let him forget that.
And as sure as he was going to regret his next words, he knew he was going to have this vixen in his bed.
"What do I have to do?"
Noelle practically purred her approval and moved in closer. “I'll tell you that in a minute, but first, I'd like a taste."
Her words startled him, and before he could stop her, the witch had cupped the back of his head and dragged it lower, fastening her lips to his.
With a low snarl, he grabbed hold of her hips and brought her body into rough contact with his erection. He knew he'd never come before from just a kiss, but then, he'd never been kissed in quite this manner before. Noelle didn't just move her lips across his. She nibbled. Sucked. Licked ... encasing his body in a raging inferno before she lifted her head.
With a wicked smile, she dusted her hands together. “Now, then. Shall we get started?"
He already had, and he could barely fucking walk because of it.
"Ella!” Heart screeched as she stormed from room to room inside the picturesque house she shared with her two sisters. She figured if she hollered loud enough, their roaming niece would hear and make her presence known. “Don't make me come looking for you."
The mere thought of having to go to Earth made her nauseous, and she'd be damned if she was going to be subjected to the atrocities that—that planet offered. She shuddered at the thought.
The last time she'd been to Earth, she'd been groped by a man in a dirty linen suit, shoved down the steps of a subway station, and fondled inside the train. The fondling she hadn't minded so much once she'd gotten a good look at the man responsible, but being bandied around like a tennis ball wasn't exactly her idea of fun.
So if she was going to have to go to Earth, she damned sure wasn't going without making sure Ella knew of her displeasure. “Ella!” The name came out on a shriek this time.
Still, Heart only heard the whisper of the wind through the opened windows. “Ella, I swear, if I have to come looking for you, I'll give you warts and a long, pointed nose!” She paused. “And a flat chest. Now get your ass down here!"
Knowing how much Ella prided herself on her full bosoms, Heart wasn't surprised when the air shifted and light corkscrewed from ceiling to floor, prefacing Ella's arrival.
A dark-haired beauty with a sultry smile and a wicked sense of humour, Ella thrived on practical jokes and living life to the fullest. And she didn't always use her magic wisely. Which was exactly why Heart had called her home. She didn't have a doubt in her mind that the little wench was behind all of this drama.
Heart glared at the young woman. “What were you thinking? How could you do this to Noelle?"
Ella tilted her head to one side and grinned. “She needed to have some fun, learn to lighten up. She's been studying so much, trying to learn everything there is to know about being a witch, when we all know she just isn't cut out to be one.” She inspected her nails. “So I thought this little break would be just what she needed to clear her head."
"And you thought putting her in a dead man's bed would do that?"
Momentarily taken aback, the young witch frowned. “He wasn't dead when I put her there. He was snoring quite soundly. Hmm. The old goat must have croaked in the night."
Heart gasped. “Don't you dare speak that way about the deceased! Were it not for your own immortality, you could be facing the same fate."
"So what exactly do you want me to do?” Ella moved on to buffing her nails against her silk blouse, obviously unconcerned.
Taking two steps forward, Heart captured a handful of that same silk, dragging her niece in for a closer look. She hated that her eyesight was failing, but her magic didn't promise her a perfect body, just an eternal one. “You will go back down to Earth and reverse the spell."
Ella pursed her lips. “I can't do that now, Auntie. You know the rules. To reverse a spell would mean conceding defeat. Noelle will have to get herself out of this one."
"She's attempting to resurrect that ... that ... dead man!"
Rich laughter poured from Ella's lips. “Oh, that's rich! Noelle can barely keep a plant alive even with magical assistance. I think I should like to see this."
Heart began to tow her niece towards the door at the opposite end of the living room. “The Book of Spells is in the sitting room right where Emmie left it. I want your ass on that sofa, reading it. Don't move a muscle until you figure out a way to put an end to this nonsense. Right now, I have Emmie insisting we go to Earth to retrieve Noelle, and Jazz fainting every twenty seconds. I will not have my life disrupted in this manner. Am I making myself clear, my sweet?” She leaned in to emphasise her point. “If I'm not happy, you won't be happy."
She let go of the blouse and pointed towards the sofa. “Now, sit."
Ella straightened the wrinkles in the silk and grinned, apparently unaffected by her aunt's display of temper. “As I said, I can't help Noelle. But I do wish her the best, and from the sound of things, she's going to need it.” With a wave of her hand, she disappeared.