Hey everyone!
Soar releases in just
five weeks. I cannot wait to share this new Pteron story with you, but for now, here's another teaser.
I took the outstretched cup from
her. I sipped the coffee, and she was right. “Very good.”
“I wonder why they call it a
storm?”
“I don’t know, but I doubt they’ll
tell us. They’re pretty secretive about recipes here.”
“Oh.” Some disappointment crossed
her face, and I knew I’d get the recipe sooner or later. “Well then we might
have to come back.” She accepted the cup from me and took another sip. After
she gave off another of those small moans, I got a little suspicious.
“Would you excuse me for a minute?”
She nodded, going in for yet another sip.
I found the witch that owned the
place, the same one who’d seated us. “What did you put in our coffee?”
She smiled. “You shouldn’t have
tasted anything different, sir.”
“But she’s tasting something
different, isn’t she?” I nodded over my shoulder.
“I thought I’d help you out a
little. Push things in the right direction.” She rolled her tongue over her
teeth.
“It’s an aphrodisiac spell?”
“The spell only affects women. I
know the Society rules about using magic on Pterons.”
“Now what do I do? I can’t take it
away from her, but I can’t let her drink it.”
“Why not? You can take her home
after this.”
I shook my head. “This better not
happen again or I’ll close this place down.”
“You could thank me.” She wore a
playful look, and I was certain this wasn’t the first time she’d used the spell
on a customer.
“Thank you?” Witches were usually
okay, but this one was earning a spot on my bad side.
“For helping out. It’s been too
long. Allie’s gone, it’s time to find someone new.” She spoke as though we were
close friends and she knew exactly what I was going through. The truth was we’d
only met a handful of times.
I knew the action was done with the
right intentions, but it really put me in a bad place. Now even if the
opportunity arose I couldn’t ask Casey back home. I sure as hell wasn’t going to take advantage
of her that way.
“Relax, Toby. It only works if the
girl’s into you already. If she isn’t, it will be useless. If it works well you
know you’ve got her attention even without the spell.”
“I could kill you for this,” I
muttered before returning to the table to find Casey with a nearly empty cup
and half the pot of crème brulee.
“Sorry I started on this without
you.” She pushed the dish toward me.
“It’s okay.” I put an arm behind
her and she happily snuggled into my side. I figured letting her get close
wasn’t taking advantage of her.
“I’m glad you asked me out.” She
ran a finger down my chest, and even through the cotton of my shirt it made me
shiver with a mix of anticipation and need. “I’ve wanted this a long time.”
“Me too, but it’s getting late.”
“Are you ready to go home?” Her
words were innocent enough, but her eyes weren’t. She wasn’t planning on
spending the night in her own bed, which made it that much more important that
she did.
“Unfortunately I have to run into
work. I’ll make sure you get home safe first though.”
“Really? That’s not fun.” She
pouted. Then she looped one leg over my lap and straddled me. Her fingers moved
to my shirt again, but this time they didn’t stop at my chest. I stilled her
hand before she could start playing with my belt buckle.
“How about we go out another night?
Maybe next week?” I wasn’t against using her state to my advantage by lining up
a future date. Hopefully she’d remember we made one.
“I’d love to, but do we have to
wait that long?” Her teeth nipped my ear. “Can’t you just put off work a little
bit longer?”
“It’s going to be a busy week for
me.” And a painful night. I’d never hated my jeans more. “But I’ll see you at work.”
“At work?” she purred into my ear.
“Can’t it be at play?”
What kind of spell had they used?
Casey was ready to go right there at the café. I had to cool things down and
fast.
“Not yet.” I carefully moved her
off my lap and stood up.
The physical separation seemed to
help a little. Her face relaxed, and she rested her hands at her sides. “Okay,
hopefully the week will go fast.”
“You and me both.” I wasn’t sure
how long the spell would last, but hopefully a week would give it enough time
to leave her system.
I sat on the opposite side of the
cab and gently pushed her back over to her side every time she got too
close. The look the cab driver was giving me in the rear view mirror was
priceless. He’d thought I’d lost my mind. I’m sure it looked that way.
Generally it wasn’t my practice to push away a sexy girl who was trying to get
into my pants. Knowing her desire was accentuated by magic didn’t make it
easier.
