“Do you like it?”
“I do, but I don’t recognize the composite.”
“This is an earthen floor made of sand, clay, straw and crushed rock. Very, very old school.”
“Huh. I like this better than the stone I had laid at Caldion.” He caught her elbow and drew her to a halt. “Is it spelled? Is this a witch thing?” He’d spoken brusquely and knew his prejudice against her kind was showing.
She gasped softly and stared at his hand for a moment, though she didn’t seem distressed by his touch.
Her freesia scent rose in a sudden wave and his nostrils flared. The smell of her moved quickly through his body. Desire flowed.
He knew one thing for sure. Kiara wanted him and right now, the way his body was responding, his thoughts drove the same direction.
He felt compelled to relinquish his hold on her, but he didn’t want to. After a long, tense moment, he finally released her.
She switched to telepathy. You can touch me, Warren. I don’t mind. It just surprised me because it feels magical.
He stared at her, his thoughts jumping around from wondering if she’d be-spelled the floor to whether she would share his bed for the day. Damn, but he wanted to be there, under him then beside him. He wanted to fall asleep with his hands full of her breasts, his body pressed up tight against hers.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a woman in his bed all day. Years. Definitely not since he’d come to Savage eight years ago. He’d avoided anything long-term since his arrival. When he needed sex, he never took a female to his bedroom. He went to hers then left shortly after.
What was it about Kiara that made him think about doing things he’d long since sworn off? Had she somehow used her witchness to turn his head?
He didn’t reach for her again, instead he gestured to the floor. “You didn’t answer my question. Did you add a spell to these compounds when you laid the floor?”
“No, but I thought about it. I even took time with each of the properties, talked to them, felt them. But what returned to me was that this earth was enough for the wolves and it was what they needed.”
He held her gaze then once more stared at the floor. He felt his wolf call to him. He’d need to go wolf soon, to shift and to run. He wanted to feel this floor beneath his paws.
He could sense it as well, that the earth-elements were enough. As he focused, his instincts confirmed there was no spell attached to the floor. What he couldn’t understand was how he knew that?
She finally gestured for him to follow her and began moving toward the far end of what was a long foyer. Hallways branched off both sides and soft lighting lined the walls. The hall ceilings were arched and covered in fist-sized, water-smoothed stones, also a light gray. He was stunned by what she’d created.
At the far end of the foyer, a large, floor-to-ceiling wall fountain created a mist that humidified the air. The sound of falling water added to the overall feeling of a refuge intended to heal.
The witch had done well for his people.
There it was again. His people. Not hers.
She was a witch.
She belonged to Elegance Territory.
He needed to remember that.
So, what the hell was she doing, setting up shop here, a secret, hidden place, in Savage?
Another short, arched hall, this time to the right, led into a dining space with several square, cloth-covered tables and large comfortable chairs. There were even fresh flowers and Spanish guitar music playing in the background.
“Have a seat.” She gestured to the table midway down the room. “I’ll be right back.”
He sat down after choosing a chair that would have a good view of each doorway. It was an old, self-protective habit. He would be able to see in a split-second anyone coming through the doors. A strong position in a room had saved his ass more than once.
While he waited for her, her drew his cell from his pants pocket and contacted his second-in-command at the Caldion compound. He trusted Alessandro implicitly.
He related what had happened at the station, then asked, “Is it true Julio’s spies are all around the compound?”
Alessandro confirmed it. He also said he’d been in contact with both Roberts and Fergus, and that Warren was not to worry. Caldion was on lockdown until further notice.