Chapter 20

Winston

My time in California hadn't been wasted. On the flight back to the café, I'd been lost in thought, thinking of what to say to Willow, and how to apologize. I knew part of this going forward was earning her trust again.

I thought back on that moment when I'd told my mother everything that had happened. Of Willow, and what kind of woman she was. Strong, intelligent, beautiful. Of what we had done with the spell already.

My mother had been furious at first. The anger had radiated from her, and I'd been worried she was going to confine me to my room and make sure I never left again. I was thankful for my brother. He'd been a rock, sure and strong, not moving in the face of her arguments, which were many. I shouldn't marry a nonmagical person who was clearly obsessed with magic - she'd started the relationship by using me, and would never stop. Why couldn't I consider Willow's best friend instead? Wouldn't I regret these choices I was making? How dare I perform a spell with a nonmagical person, when I wasn't even sure of what it would do?

To be fair, she'd had a few fair points on that last bit.

My brother counteracted the more irrelevant ones. The fact that my brother already had children with a witch, who were witches, had helped. The legacy was at least safe guarded to continue. What did I matter? Not a pretty argument when you think about it in those terms, but one we made regardless.

My aunt had been the final nail in the coffin of defeating my mother's arguments. She'd called and informed my mother that she was being ridiculous. Good things would come from this if I didn't screw it up, and if my mother didn't as well. After telling my mother to shut it for the final time (her words, not mine), she'd launched into her own idea of what we should do.

That idea had led to me staying in California longer than I intended. I'd thought about calling or texting Willow… to let her know that I wasn't ignoring her. But I hadn't known what to say until I could give her all of it. So I'd held off and hoped and prayed she'd still be willing to speak to me once I'd returned. I'd messaged both Charlotte and Lyzzie daily to check on the café and let them know a timeline of when I was returning. Other than that, I'd stayed busy.

The flight home wasn't enough time to mentally prepare myself for everything. Yet my heart couldn't wait any longer. I'd gone far too many days without seeing Willow. I'd even googled her picture on the university webpage to show my mother and brother… and saved it to my phone.

I landed early in the day, and went straight to the café. The place was booming, but Charlotte and the new hire had it under control. Charlotte beamed at me, but relayed the story of Willow stopping in that first morning, and that they hadn't seen her since. I thanked her and went to the kitchen. I put in a loaf of prepared bread in the oven, and then went upstairs to the apartment to shower and make myself presentable.

Then I texted Willow.

And when "On my way" came through, I nearly locked myself in the bathroom in panic. Instead, I went to the kitchen, lit a candle, and waited.

Willow walked through the café door looking tired, and I felt a sadness that I had been a part of that. She was beautiful, though, and it took all my willpower not to rush over and kiss her in greeting. Never mind the sweats and ponytail, she looked as hot as any other day I had seen her.

I had to do this right. I needed to wipe away that hurt and pain from her eyes.

I'd baked bread as soon as I got back, and set a peppermint candle burning. I could see her slightly smile as she stood there, and I knew she liked it. When the door closed, with a very loud click in the silence, she jumped a little.

A smile crossed my lips at that. I realized we were still standing in silence and gathered all the courage I had found over the past few days.

"First, I must apologize. I should have corrected my mother. No matter how much of a pain she can be, it was wrong to let her think something of you that was not true. It will never happen again. No matter how much my mother and I fight, there was no excuse for it, and I was wrong. That said, I also want to further apologize for all future dealings with my mother… because I know her.

"I promise I have no qualms in being with you because you are not a witch. I do not care. I think of nothing but you, from the moment I wake to the moment I sleep, and even in my dreams. You are with me and have been present in all my thoughts and desires, every second of every moment, since the first time I laid eyes on you. If such a thing as soulmates exist, then I know you are mine, and I am yours. I did not need a spell to confirm it."

I could hear Willow breathe in deeply, and I walked forward a bit.

"Willow, I love you. I know we haven't known each other long, and I know there is still so much I can learn about you. But it doesn't change how I feel, no matter how much I fought it because of my past. I ran away from being pressured into a relationship I didn't want for my mother. I didn't want to run headlong into one either. But it never felt like that, it never felt wrong with you."

Willow shook her head. "Then why did you leave?"

"I went to see my mother. She hadn't responded back to me about the spell. And I had a lovely aunt who was kind to call and knock some sense into me."

At that Willow smiled. She knew Maggie well enough to know what that had been like.

"I knew I'd never have a fair argument with my mother on the phone. I also knew that you needed answers, and the best place for me to get that was in California. You didn't want to speak to me, and I didn't blame you. So I went to earn you back."

Willow started to shake her head at this, but I kept going. "I explained who you are, what you are to me. I told her I was wrong to let her think otherwise. My brother went as well and fought with me. He supports us, and together… well, I won't say my mother is happy that I am not with a witch—I won't lie to you. But between my brother, me, and my aunt calling, she's realized she no longer has a say. And that's more than I can say about our past arguments."

Willow started to talk, but I held up a hand, and said, "Wait. There's more."

I picked up a manilla envelope that had been on the table. "This is all the research my mother found on both spells. We figured out the rest of the second spell. And I got my mother to relent on the first one being published."

Willow audibly gasped at that one.

"What? How?"

"Well, my aunt helped with that one. She had already come up with a plan after talking to me. Intuition has always been her best magic, and she knew I'd need help. We all did the spell. My brother and sister-in-law volunteered to do it together, thankfully they glowed the same. Then we pulled in some random groupings of people - none of whom were in a relationship already. No one else glowed the same, except for a random couple my aunt tried on the cruise.

"Were there different colors?" She asked, intrigued.

"Yes. Colors of the rainbow. Mainly though, my point being, it um, didn't have the same effects on people as it did you and me, except for the same or different glowing hands."

Willow looked down at her hands, and a blush crept up her chest and cheeks.

"Just us, huh?"

"I think that had more to do with the fact that I wanted to devour you from the moment we touched. My brother has been with his wife for years, and they have cooled off a bit, so he says they might have done it in their prime."

Willow laughed. "I might need to add that bit to the warnings."

I laughed a little too. "I'd appreciate keeping the rest out of it."

"Oh, I don't know. A good spice scene might sell my textbook to students at a much higher rate."

I choked a little, and she laughed harder.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Gosh, the department would kill me. It's okay."

Taking a chance, I walked closer to her. I gave her the folder of information. "I'm sorry. I'll do whatever I can to make it up to you, from this day forward, if you will forgive me, and give me another chance. Willow, I love you, and I want to keep loving you for the rest of our days."

Willow's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she looked down for a minute. Then she looked up at me and took the last step needed to fully close the distance between us. I could feel her body pressed up against mine.

She smiled, slow and mischievous, and said, "I have a few ideas to start."

And I was lost, once again.

I was against her in a second, kissing her with all the pent up worry I had had for the past few days. I'd dreamed of nothing but her, and now I wanted to do all the things I had been fantasizing about.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, going into my hair and grabbing. I felt her up against me, and my body responded. She groaned, and I decided we should vacate the kitchen before we had a repeat of the first time.

I pulled back and looked at her flushed face. With a smile, I pulled her hand from my hair and took her with me upstairs. She followed without saying a word.

In my bedroom, I turned her around against the bed, and leaned into her again. I started nibbling down her neck and decided there were just way too many layers between me and her skin. With a few quick motions, I had her top off.

"Sorry, no cute bra this time," Willow said. She seemed embarrassed.

"That is really the last thing on my mind right now," I said, leaning into her. She could feel how much I wanted her.

"Trust me," and I went back to kissing her all over, as I unhooked her bra and it joined the rest of the clothes. Then I dropped and started pulling off her pants. Her moans urged me on, and when I licked the top of her thigh, she grabbed my hair again, and held me there. I eased her back onto the bed, and began apologizing in the best way I could.

When she had orgasmed twice, she pulled on me, and moaned out "in me. Now. Please."

"As my lady commands." I said and kissed my way up her body to her mouth. As I kissed her again, I plunged into her, thrusting and creating that glorious tension in both of us. As I got close to coming, I slowed down. She growled at me, her nails digging into my shoulders.

"Shh, I want you to come again," I said, kissing her mouth once more. Then I plunged hard, over and over, and as she came, I did too.

I lowered myself off to the side, and she rolled over and curled into me.

"That was a good first apology," she said, her voice almost a purr.

"I'll work on making the second one great," I said, and she groaned at me.

"Sleep first. At least a nap."

I laughed and pulled her even closer against me, wrapping my arms around her. She was tucked against me, and I tucked her head under my chin. She cuddled against me, snuggling, and I grabbed the blanket on the side to cover us. Within a minute, she was breathing in a way that let me know she was sleeping. I closed my eyes and just soaked in the feeling of happiness and perfection I felt holding her. She fit against me like she had always been meant to be there.

I awoke in the middle of the night and watched Willow for a minute, remembering everything that had happened. With a smile, I started kissing her, gently, slowly, and with the utter worship I felt for her body. When she moved slightly, I knew she had awoken. She let out a little moan that lit me up.

With intention, I kissed every inch of her body, from her face down to her feet, and started my way back up. Her skin was warm from being under the blanket, and I could feel her flesh responding to my touch. Willow reached out to me, dragging me back up to her, and kissed me, deep and long. Her hands ran down my body and grabbed my shaft, rubbing up and down.

I growled into the kiss and pulled back. "I'm supposed to be apologizing to you here."

"You can't have all the fun," she whispered back, and shimmied down before I knew what she was doing. When I felt her lick the tip of me, I nearly fell on top of her. I groaned as she continued to use her mouth on me. It was a strain to hold myself up and keep myself from yanking her back up.

With my own deep moan, I finally pulled away and got off the bed. I grabbed her legs and pulled her to the end of the bed, spreading her legs as I did.

"My turn."

I lowered myself to my knees and licked up her thigh. Then the other. I could hear her gasping. Looking up at her, I made my way to the center of her, and began apologizing in earnest. Based on the noises she was making, I was certainly on my way to being forgiven.

"Winston, if you don't stop now and fuck me, I'm going to be too ramped up to do it," Willow growled, and I responded immediately.

We moved together, bringing us both to the edge, and then together over it. I watched her as we tumbled together and knew this was who I wanted to be with for the rest of my life.

I lay down beside her, and brushed her hair from her face. She turned to me, running her own fingers through my hair, and kissing me gently on the lips.

"I love you, Willow. I know we've only known each other for a short time, but there is no doubt in my mind that I want to be with you forever."

"I love you, Winston."

We kissed again, sweetly and slowly. I pulled the cover back over us once again. Then together, we both passed to the land of dreams, knowing that tomorrow, we'd have each other.

When my alarm went off at 5 am that morning, I heard Willow groan.

"If that has to continue, I may never stay the night here again. Or I might murder you. One or the other."

"Noted." I laughed, turning off the alarm, and stretched. She jolted out of bed.

"I have to send in the manuscript. I've got to look over all of this and fix it. Oh, I have classes today. I've got to go."

I barely had time to process any of this before she was up, dressed, and nearly out the door. Bleary-eyed, I followed, and she turned back around. She pecked me on the lips, said "Thanks, text you later," and was gone.

She hadn't even had coffee.

Charlotte had apparently told Lyzzie something about yesterday, and she just held a thumbs up at me when I walked out.

I didn't even want to know what they had discussed. I also had the sudden urge to make sure my room upstairs was soundproofed.