Her eyes flew open, her gaze clashing with Z’s across the darkened yard that separated them. He was watching her, fist pumping his thick shaft in time with the thrust of her fingers. It was overwhelmingly intimate, and it threw her over the edge.
“Shit!” Her climax swirled around her with the force of a hurricane. Lightening struck outside as a lamp crashed behind her. Her feet left the floor completely, but she didn’t care. She was lost in the power of the release, in the intensity of need in his expression that matched her own.
A blast of energy hit her like a sonic boom, knocking her to the floor. His climax. He’d let his magic brush against hers, let his storm merge with hers. She got to her knees shakily, meeting his gaze as the roar of the wind outside drowned out her beating heart.
He controlled the elements, too? Wizards couldn’t do that. They controlled people, yes. But not nature. Aunt Glin had always said that a wizard’s power was decidedly unnatural. Males didn’t possess the compassion and emotional capacity to connect with Mother Nature. It was why they were drawn to witches in the first place.
But that wasn’t stolen power he was wielding, and it was too similar to hers to be a coincidence. Not even her mother could do that. No one but Dorothy.
Until now.
He was still watching her. His expression tense, knowing.
Let me in, Dorothy. Stop fighting what we both know you want.
Dorothy took an unconscious step back. He couldn’t read her thoughts or control her actions, not as long as she was safe behind these walls. On the other hand, if she stayed here another day, she might not have the willpower to resist him.
Maybe she could find another haven, just until her aunt got back from her vacation.
Dorothy wrapped her arms around her body, her head shaking in response to the command in his gaze. She couldn’t give in. Not now. Not until she understood what she was dealing with.
Not when she wanted him this badly.
Wizards can never be trusted.
Chapter Two
“Since you’re headed this way anyway, I didn’t think it would be too much of a bother.”
Dorothy sighed and rolled her eyes. Looking for the nearest freeway exit, she dodged several speeding cars and changed lanes. “It’s not a bother, Emily. I just wished you’d called before I left. I’ve already passed the exit for the dessert shop.”
And I’m trying to avoid crossing paths with an evil, sexy sorcerer. No big.
“I just want everything to be perfect. This is your fault, you know. Your sweet tooth has obviously rubbed off on me.”
Dorothy stuck out her tongue at the phone resting on her passenger seat beside the unimpressed Suki. Emily had always eaten enough to feed a small village and never gained a pound, but Dorothy wasn’t going to mention it. It sounded too much like sour grapes.
“So, just get the chocolate rum cake…oh, and my dry cleaning on your way home, okay? I want to wear that white silk halter Georgio bought for me. The man was an ass, but he had amazing taste in fashion.”
Dorothy’s nose wrinkled. “Do you really need it tonight? I thought you said you were staying in?” Not that she’d mind if Emily went club hopping. Then she’d be alone at her stepsister’s apartment so she could wallow in her misery, safely away from the new bane of her existence.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “I forgot to tell you, didn’t I? Damn, I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on. I invited someone over for dinner. Don’t worry, I ordered more than enough food for all three of us. And afterwards, well let’s just say that I’m happy I put the surround sound in the guest room. You and Suki can enjoy the late-night talk shows, and I can enjoy…my date.”
A date? “Emily, you didn’t tell me you had a date. If you don’t want me around tonight I can—”
“What? No! You have to be there.” Her frantic voice softened to that fake, sweet, “I want something from you and you aren’t gonna like it” voice.
“Look, I know I was a witch with a capital B when you told me yesterday that your condo was being fumigated and you needed to stay at my place. But you’re family, and mi casa es su casa, right? Plus, I really think this guy is the one. As my future bridesmaid, I’d love for you to get to know him.”
The one? She’d never said that before. Not since high school anyway.
She supposed if it got awkward she could just go back home, maybe brick up her windows so she wouldn’t be tempted to watch Z in yet another sordid sexual encounter. “Okay, Emily. If you’re sure I won’t be in the way.”
“Of course not, sis. In fact, you could say you’re the real guest of honor. He’s just table decoration for us to admire.”
She was sucking up too hard. It pretty much guaranteed tonight wasn’t going to be fun.
She doesn’t have anyone else, Dee.