Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten Read online

  “I understand.”

  “Ready?” she asked.

  We got out of the car and walked toward the front door. Brian, one of the younger MacIntire pack members, stood on the steps, looking surprisingly stern.

  He nodded to us. “Ms. Smythe, Ms. Gayle.”

  Just the night before, I’d chatted with Brian during the engagement party. He seemed like a young, flirtatious shifter, but there was no trace of the wolf I’d met last night. His face still looked young, but his eyes were hard, guarded. He appeared formidable and cold.

  The smile on my face faded as he opened the door and stepped to the side to let us pass. I glanced over my shoulder at him, suddenly wary. Brian winked, his eyes once again warm as they had been the night before.

  Still feeling unsettled, I returned my focus to the task ahead of me. Belinda seemed to know where we were going, walking through the foyer to the hall that led directly to the back of the house. She knocked on a door to the left.

  It opened almost immediately by none other than Finn.

  Chapter Five

  If he was surprised to see me, Finn didn’t show it. He gestured for us to enter. I realized that we must be in Lex’s study, only it was bigger than any study I’d ever seen before. Three of the four walls had built in bookshelves, all filled with books. A polished cherry table was a few feet from the door, surrounded by twelve chairs, most of which were occupied, and a fire burned in the fireplace on the far end of the room. There was an ornate desk that matched the table set at an angle in the left corner.

  Conner rose from the head of the table. “Ms. Smythe.” He looked surprised by my presence, unlike Finn. “Kerry, what are you doing here?”

  Before I could answer, Belinda spoke, “Kerry is my successor.”

  The room fell silent, all eyes turned to us. I wanted to fidget under the scrutiny, but forced myself to remain still. Showing weakness or discomfort in a room full of vampires and shifters would be a very bad idea.

  Conner smiled at me. “Congratulations, Kerry.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Please, have a seat. As soon as Lachlan arrives, we’ll be ready to begin.” Conner remained standing as Belinda sat at the table.

  I leaned in to speak in her ear. “I’ll sit on the sofa so there will be room for Lachlan and his group.” I also wanted to be far enough away that I could use the truth amulet discreetly.

  Her only answer was a nod.

  I walked around the table to the sofa, settling in the corner and crossing my legs. I glanced at the vampires seated around the table and my eyes met Finn’s. The expression on his face was disconcerting. He studied me intently, as though he were trying to figure out what I was thinking. Unconsciously, I ran a finger over my necklace. Another amulet was set in the pendant and it prevented others from reading my thoughts through natural talent or spell. In Finn’s case, his vampire powers of mind-reading and persuasion were rendered useless. His gaze rested on my neck and I lowered my hand. Shit. Now he knew why he couldn’t read my thoughts.

  Finn’s smile was decidedly smug when our eyes met again. I rolled my eyes and went back to ignoring him, which is exactly what I had done last night after Belinda and I returned to Donna and Conner’s engagement party. Instead of annoying him, my refusal to acknowledge his existence seemed to amuse him greatly.

  Conner, Finn, and Lex were all Council members. After Donna’s kidnapping and near death, Conner had killed one of the original Council members, Vanessa Santino, for her part in the plan. The power-hungry bitch had been replaced with Gabriel Crow. Before he was turned he’d been a Cheyenne shaman. Gabriel wasn’t as tall as Finn, but his demeanor made him seem larger. His dark eyes seemed as hard and cold as black ice. While his face was too harsh and his bones too sharp and prominent to be handsome, he was a striking man. His black hair was cut short and hugged his skull.

  The final member of the vampire Council was a female who had been turned in her forties. I did not recognize her, but knew Conner would make introductions shortly. I assumed he was waiting for Lachlan and Calder to arrive.

  There were supposed to be seven members on the Council, but, with the upheaval and distrust among the community, I assumed that they were leery of bringing in two more members until it was over.

  There was another knock on the door but Calder opened it before Lex could move to answer it. He and Lachlan entered the study, their expressions neutral.

  Lach greeted Lex with a nod and a simple, “Lex.”

  He and Calder greeted Conner and Finn as well and I felt a whisper of awareness run down my spine as Lachlan’s gaze shifted to Belinda. There was something in his eyes that I didn’t recognize, yet it didn’t seem malicious. I didn’t think he and the High Priestess had met before, but maybe I was wrong.

  With everyone present, Conner did as I expected. He introduced Gabriel and the female vampire named Johanna. Once polite greetings were exchanged, everyone took a seat.

  Casually, I pretended to toy with my bracelet, making sure that the amulet was turned toward me and not visible by the others. I regulated my breathing and heart rate as my nerves jangled. Typically, I loathed subterfuge, but I also understood that this was necessary. If I allowed my anxiety to get the best of me, everyone in the room would know something was going on. Vampires and werewolves could literally smell fear and hear the heartbeat of a person nearby. Those were the traits of a predator.

  As the meeting began, I watched everyone, including Conner, Lex, and Finn, for signs of deception. Though I didn’t think any of them were lying, I used the amulet to evaluate their truthfulness periodically.

  I also listened to what they discussed. Undoubtedly, Belinda would want to know my thoughts on the suggested changes. I knew Conner, Lex, and Finn were eager to establish good relations with the witches and wolves, and it seemed Lachlan and Calder were open to that as well. Gabriel and Johanna were difficult to read. While they didn’t seem completely opposed, I could see they were hesitant.

  Finally, the meeting began to wind down. During the last half hour, I’d desperately needed to pee. After catching Belinda’s eye, I slipped out of the room and down the hall in search of the bathroom.

  A few minutes later, I finished washing my hands, checked my make-up in the mirror, and left the little powder room. My mind was still back in the study, thinking about everything I’d heard. It seemed that the vampires and werewolves were serious about establishing a relationship between one another and the coven. Perhaps there was hope.

  Lex’s home was a maze of halls and rooms and, as I wandered through them, I quickly became lost. Irritated, I stopped and tried to get my bearings. Turning on my heel, I headed back the way I came. When I rounded a corner, I hit a boulder. A warm boulder that smelled like vanilla and spice. Son of a bitch.

  All the air left my lungs and I stumbled over my feet. Strong hands closed over my arms, keeping me from falling flat on my ass. While my dignity was shredded, at least my tailbone was saved.

  “Careful.” Finn was standing too close, his thumbs caressing my biceps.

  “Sorry.” I knew my voice was insincere, but I was shaken. Throughout the meeting, every time I looked up, Finn had been watching me. He had done the same last night when Belinda and I returned to the party.

  Though he always watched me, this was different. Before, I felt appreciated….wanted. This felt more like a threat, as though he were waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

  “You’ve been avoiding me.” Finn’s voice was mild when he spoke, but there was an underlying tension to his words and in his muscles.

  I shrugged. “You haven’t given me much choice.”

  His eyes brightened, beginning to glow, and his grip on my arms tightened. “Why are you so stubborn? You want me, I can feel it, so why are you resisting?”

  I tried to pull away, but Finn only followed me. “You know why,” I whispered. I gasped when my back hit the wall. This infernal vampire was constantly backing me against an immoveable obj
ect.

  “That argument won’t carry any weight for much longer and you know it. Any day now, the coven will have a truce with the vampires and wolves. Old hostilities will no longer stand in the way.”

  I smirked, ignoring the press of his body against mine as he crowded closer. “You think it’s that simple? The elders of the coven are not so easily swayed. Just because there is a truce between us, doesn’t mean that all the tensions between the supernatural communities will be resolved.”

  Finn moved even closer, his torso plastered against my chest. He lifted a hand, his fingers gliding along my cheekbone. His thumb brushed my lower lip, tugging it down and pressing into my mouth and between my teeth. I could taste his skin, salt and spice. It took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to suck his thumb deeper into my mouth. While reason told me it was a horrible idea to extend a blatantly sexual invitation, my hormones were all on board with it.

  “I think you are reaching for any excuse to keep your distance.”

  When the man was right, he was right. “I don’t need excuses, Finn. I don’t want to be close to you.” It almost hurt to let that lie fall from my lips.

  The fire in Finn’s eyes flashed, almost painfully bright. “Your mouth says one thing, Kerry, but your body says something else.” He lowered his head, his stubbled jaw brushing my neck. I shuddered, though I tried to keep still. His lips tickled my neck slightly as he spoke again. “I can still taste you, you know, and hear your moans when you come.”

  I felt as though every cell in my body stilled right before it exploded. “What did you just say?” A hot wave of anger washed over my skin. I put my hands to his shoulders and shoved. “I can’t believe you snuck into my dreams and…and….” I couldn’t even bring myself to say it. A little voice whispered in the back of my mind that I had no right to be angry because, on some level, I had known it wasn’t just a dream.

  Finn was completely unmoved after my push. “I didn’t sneak. You invited me.”

  Though I was more angry with myself than Finn, my frustration got the best of me and I let it flow to my hands and out my fingers. I felt the bolt of heat and electric spark leave me, shooting through his body. He stiffened.

  “Oh Goddess, Finn, I’m sorry.” No matter how it happened, what we shared two nights ago had been consensual. I had no right to be mad at him.

  He smiled. “Prove it.”

  “What?”

  “Prove how sorry you are,” he answered, his smile growing wider and revealing that his fangs were fully extended.

  “And how do you expect me to do that?” I asked. When he opened his mouth, I narrowed my eyes. “Think very carefully about what you’re about to say. I could probably set your entire body on fire with very little effort.”

  He chuckled. “How about a little kiss to make it better?”

  “Stop pushing me, Finn.”

  His hands framed my jaw, thumbs tipping my chin up. “I think it was you pushing me a few moments ago.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “C’mon, Kerry. Surely, if you’re that unmoved by me, you could kiss me with no problem.”

  I scoffed. “What? Are we twelve? Next you’re gonna double dog dare me.”

  Finn’s thumbs met under the center of my chin. He leaned forward enough that our lips nearly touched. I could literally feel the heat of his mouth on mine.

  “I double dog dare you,” he whispered right before he kissed me.

  Damn, but the man could kiss. Any resistance I might have dissolved beneath his lips. Finn’s hands moved from my face, down my back to grip my ass so he could lift me off my feet.

  Shocked, I turned my head, panting so heavily I could barely speak. “Finn, put me down. I’m heavy.”

  He dragged the tips of his fangs along my collarbone, causing goose bumps to break out on my arms. “No, you’re not. Wrap your legs around me.” Finn moved his hips so the hard ridge of his cock rubbed over my clit.

  I moaned and lifted my legs, circling his waist with my thighs and locking my ankles together behind him. He rolled his pelvis, grinding the length of his erection against me over and over again. It was almost ridiculous how quickly he brought me to the edge of orgasm with a kiss and a few thrusts of his hips. I hadn’t been this horny since dry humping was a regular occurrence in the backseat of my first boyfriend’s car.

  Dear Goddess, what in the fuck was I doing? Despite what Finn might think, the coven elders would never accept a High Priestess with a vampire lover. They were convinced vampires either wanted to control or turn witches. Then there was the fact that he pushed his way into my dreams constantly, undermining my will to keep my distance. It was manipulative.

  Despite the fact that I was one breath away from an orgasm so strong it would incinerate my underpants, I tore my mouth away from Finn’s, dropped my legs, and pushed at his shoulders. I could practically feel his frustration as he released me, but he still let me go.

  “There’s your kiss. I need to return to the meeting.” I was glad my voice wasn’t shaking as much as my thighs.

  I vaguely heard his low, growling laugh as I hurried down the hall. I still had no clue where I was going, just that I needed to put some space between myself and the sexiest man on the planet, fangs or not.

  After a few wrong turns and backtracking, I managed to make my way back to the study. Finn was already there, looking completely unruffled. There was no sign that he had been seconds away from bringing me to orgasm five minutes ago. I wanted to zap him for that alone, especially since I was pretty sure I had no lipstick left and my hair looked as though it had gone a few rounds with a weed whacker.

  Conner and Lex exchanged looks after I entered, both of the handsome bastards were smiling smugly. Belinda gave me a questioning glance but I gave a slight shake of my head.

  “I’m glad you’re back,” she said. “We were discussing what safety precautions the coven and the pack should take until the Faction is dismantled. Conner and Lachlan suggested that you and I stay with shifters or vampires until a safe house can be arranged.”

  Scowling, I asked, “Why would we need a safe house, Belinda? The coven has been protecting itself for centuries without the help of vampires or wolves.”

  However, it was Conner that answered my question. “You know we have information that suggests the Faction already has a warlock among their ranks and they are in search of stronger witches. You and Belinda are the strongest in the northern hemisphere.”

  “Why would they want us? They can’t compel us.”

  Lex’s face was harsh when he chimed in. “No, but they can torture you into submission.”

  I felt a stab of fear near my heart. “Belinda and I are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves,” I argued. I turned to the High Priestess. “Right?” Her face told me all I needed to know. “Seriously? You want to stay with Conner or Lex until they find a place to hide us? If the Faction has a warlock, what’s the use of hiding? They’ll find us eventually.”

  Belinda sighed. “Kerry, we have strength in numbers. What intelligence we have of the Faction suggests they are still a relatively small group. They won’t risk coming for us if they think the collateral damage would be too high. The vampires have their own security details and the pack lives together just outside the city. It will be safer for both of us. You and I both know that the knowledge we hold would be coveted by the Faction. Only the High Priestess and her successor have access to certain information.” She left out the fact that we were also two of the most powerful witches in North America and that alone made us valuable.

  I bit my lip against further argument, tasting blood when my teeth sank too deeply into the flesh behind my bottom lip. Fucking hell, she was right.

  Confident my arguments were done for now, Conner spoke up. “Lachlan has offered Belinda the pack’s protection.”

  I nodded. “Okay, so am I staying with you and Donna or Lex and Ivie?”

  “No, you’re staying with me.”

  I looked
over at Finn, saw his triumphant expression, and lost my ability to control my tongue. “No fucking way.”

  Chapter Six

  I couldn’t stop the self-satisfied smile that spread across my face as I pulled down the long driveway of my mother’s country home. After the meeting ended, Lachlan had taken Belinda to her home so she could pack a few of her things. Finn insisted on following me to my loft in order to “protect” me. More likely, he wanted to make sure I didn’t give him the slip.

  I had anyway.

  I managed to lose him in the crazy traffic that was part of everyday life in Dallas. I didn’t bother to go by my apartment because I knew that was the first place he would check. Instead, I pointed my car east and headed out of the city. On my long drive, I called Saundra Abrams, the assistant manager at my store and asked her if she could reschedule the clerks for the next few days because I would be unavailable. Though war was brewing, I needed to be able to pay my bills. She was worried and curious, but I managed to evade most of her questions and calm her fears somewhat.

  I knew my little house in the country would be the next place Finn would look, but I intended to have a few surprises waiting for him. I was sick and tired of the way he used my attraction to him against me. Somehow, over the last three days, I realized I could no longer deny that I wanted him. He’d managed to sneak past my shields. That was why I was so easily angered by his attitude and melted beneath his touch.

  However, that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to make him work for it. I had a feeling that women came easily for Finn, in every sense of the word. Maybe it was selfishness or pride, but I wanted to be different from his past lovers. I wanted him to truly see me.

  My mother once said, “People appreciate the things they have to work for. If it comes too easily, then it can be just as easy to let it go.” I knew, in this instance, that her advice was spot on.

  I climbed out of my car, groaning when I realized that the cooler weather that moved through a few nights ago had been followed by warmer air. The temperature had to be in the mid-sixties. A bank of dark grey clouds was building in the west, probably the leading edge of another cold front. It wouldn’t be long until those clouds built into a storm.