Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“You’ve never been good at being vulnerable,” Lucy points out.
“No. I’m not good at it at all, and I don’t like it. So, of course, I ran away from it. And, added to that, I needed to heal. Physically, I was a mess.”
“Of course, you were,” Breena says. “Your body went through a huge trauma.”
“Yeah, and I had depression and some PTSD. I got some therapy in California in addition to all the classes I took. I think I had to find myself again and figure out some stuff before I could come home and be any good to anyone else.”
“Don’t do that again,” Lucy says sternly. “If some big shit goes down, we help each other.”
“I won’t. Goddess willing, it won’t happen again, but I’ll never shut you two out. I can promise you that.”
“Good.” Lucy nods, sipping her drink.
“Now, I need your help.”
They both look at me in surprise, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Yes, I know, I’m asking for help. But damn it, I need some advice.”
“I’m all ears,” Breena says. “What’s up?”
I fill them in on Xander living with me and watch as their faces change from interest, to surprise, to smugness.
“So, he’s living with you,” Lucy says thoughtfully. “How…convenient.”
“He’s not sleeping with me.”
“Lorelei, you didn’t make him sleep on that horrible, tiny twin bed, did you?” Breena says, horrified.
“I was going to, but then I took pity on him. He’s in my bed, and I’m on the twin.”
“And what do you need help with?” Lucy asks.
“You guys.” I set my cup aside and rub my hands over my face in agitation. “I don’t know what’s happened, but my walls with Xander are slipping, crumbling, and I’ll be damned if I’m not…catching feelings.”
“What kind of feelings?” Breena wants to know.
I eye her speculatively. “You’re going to make me spell it out, aren’t you?”
“Well, you’re the only mind reader here. So, yes,” Lucy chimes in. “What kind of feelings are you catching, Lora?”
“The fuzzy, sexy, jump-your-bones and climb-you-like-a-tree but also red-cartoon-hearts-exploding-over-my-head feelings.”
I bury my face in my hands. When they don’t say anything for a long five seconds, I peek out from between my fingers to find them both grinning at me.
“What?”
“You’re meant,” Breena says simply.
“But—”
“No buts,” Lucy interrupts. “It is what it is. You could fight it. You could go back to California or go to Zimbabwe, but it won’t change what is. You and Xander are soulmates in the most real sense of the word. It would make sense that your heart would open back up to him as you heal.”
“He thinks we should give it another try. And when I said it was bad timing, he disagreed. Said our bond is stronger when we’re together.”
“Absolutely,” Breena agrees, nodding her head. “There are few bonds stronger than that between two fated people. It absolutely makes you more powerful and a force to be reckoned with.”
“I don’t have time for romance,” I object. “I need to help lift a curse and kill the bad guy. There’s no time for dates and stolen kisses.”
“There’s always time for stolen kisses,” Lucy points out. “And if you’re stopping at kisses, you’re not taking full advantage of that hot man. Lorelei, he’s gorgeous. If I weren’t so in love with my husband, and if you weren’t tethered to him, and, well, a million other reasons, I’d cast a love spell on Xander myself.”
“Ditto,” Breena agrees. “And I was bitter for a long time that he doesn’t have a brother. An identical twin brother.”
I can’t help but laugh, relieved that all the tension from the hurt I caused them is gone.
“He really is the very definition of sexy.” I worry my lower lip between my teeth. “You guys, I admit that I haven’t had sex with anyone but Xander—”
“Like, ever?” Lucy blinks rapidly. “With no one else?”
“Wow,” Breena breathes.
“I was always meant for him,” I remind them. “Anyway, I know he’s the only one I’ve been with, so I don’t exactly have a yardstick to measure against, but the sex with Xander is insane. Like, I’m shocked the earth doesn’t shake, the heavens don’t weep, and the oceans don’t heave. Wait, the oceans do heave. We’ve had sex on the water a lot.”
“Define a lot,” Breena says, leaning closer.
“He used to take me out on his boat at least a few times a week. You get a sea witch and a crazy powerful eclectic witch having sex on the water, and well…it’s wild.”
“I’m so jealous right now,” Lucy murmurs, and I laugh.
“So, what, exactly, do you need advice on?” Breena asks. “Because it sounds like you know exactly what you want. You want to bang the hell out of Xander.”
“I really do.” I nod dreamily. “But we have a history, and if I get hurt again, I don’t think I’ll survive it.”