Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Callie almost loses her balance but recovers quickly. She sets her face, swallows hard, and brings her arm up. Her fingers press into my chest. A second passes before she hits me with magic, and in that second, all I feel is the warmth of her skin against me.
The magic hits me like an electrical shock. It’s the closest my heart has come to beating in nearly two thousand years. I jerk back, letting go of Callie’s neck. Eliza rushes forward and flashes her fangs.
“Eliza.” I only have to say her name for her to know that she needs to stand down. This witch is a ticking time bomb that would quite literally light up the entire fucking office.
Or even the entire bar.
She’s magnificent.
I should rip her throat out before she has the chance to conjure another flicker of magic. I can see myself doing it, can imagine how it would feel to tear into her skin and pull back, ripping it right off her body. It would be warmer than her touch, and she’d bleed out in under ten seconds.
But for some reason, I don’t want to hurt her.
I speed forward again, and Callie takes a quick step back. Her heels slip and she starts to fall. I don’t think, but just act. I throw out my arms and catch her, wrapping my arms around her slender body.
“Thanks.”
Fuck, she’s warm. I steady her, and she pushes me away.
“Listen,” she starts, rubbing her forehead. “Don’t let your vamps feed on unwilling people on your property anymore and I won’t report you to the authorities.”
She’s beautiful, powerful, sassy, and a little annoying. Just when I thought I’d never meet anyone interesting ever again…
I plaster a fake ass smile on my face. “How kind of you. And I won’t show the security footage of you acting like a human taser.”
She just stares at me, but instead of looking worried or scared of being exposed, she looks amused. “Maybe you should.” Then she bursts out laughing.
Eliza looks at me with wide eyes. “Something is seriously wrong with her.”
I think I’m going to agree with her. Maybe not wrong but there is something clearly different about this woman.
“You know what,” Callie starts. “I’m already a bit of a black sheep in my family and that’s saying something. I’m just going to go home.”
“You’re not driving.” She’s too drunk to drive.
“No, Mom, I’m not. I’ll call an Uber.”
I know an opportunity when I see one. I’m attracted to this witch. I want to fuck her and I want to taste her. She won’t willingly do either, and I never force myself onto a woman. But I can trick her into spending an hour in the car with me so I can try to find out more.
If she’s as powerful as I think, then it’s in my best interest to know everything I can about her. And if she really is that much of a threat…maybe I should kill her.
Chapter
Three
“I’ll take you.”
“Why…why would you do that?” Callie blinks again, and it’s like the use of magic and the consumption of alcohol are hitting her all at once. I step toward her and look her in the eyes. I can’t hold her spell bound, but I don’t need magic to get her to do what I want. I look her up and down again, making no attempt to hide the lust in my eyes.
“I don’t live nearby,” she says, voice coming out breathy.
“I don’t mind a drive. And more importantly, I don’t want to be indebted to a witch. You did me a favor stopping Adam from draining that girl. Now let me take you home.”
Callie swallows hard and takes in a deep breath, causing her breasts to rise and fall again.
“Fine. After this, we’re even-steven?”
“Sure.” I hold out my hand. “Your keys?”
“Why do you—oh right.” She takes her purse off her shoulder and pulls out a key fob. “Someone will bring it to me?”
“Yes, in the morning.”
“The sun is out in the morning.”
“It is? I had no idea,” I gasp, taking the keys and setting them on my desk.
“You’re an asshole,” she retorts.
“I’ve been told.” I start for the door but Eliza zooms forward and blocks my way.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” she whispers, speaking in French.
“I can handle one little witch,” I reply and then smile. “Which is exactly what I plan to do.”
Eliza rolls her eyes. “Always thinking with your cock will get you killed someday.”
“It hasn’t yet.” I kiss Eliza’s forehead. “Lock Adam in the cell and leave him for me to handle when I get back.”
She steps aside and I lead Callie through the bar and onto the street. The Taproom isn’t far from my house in Lincoln Park. It only takes me a minute to get from here to the house, but will take Callie longer since she has to walk at human speed.