30. Ben

30

BEN

If watching Stella work her magic was hypnotizing before, that holds nothing to now. This is her completely in her element, crafting to reach a solution. She’s like an unstoppable force of nature. A goddess of chaos prepared to destroy anything in her path to find what she’s looking for.

Even if it’s currently escaping her.

She had a long conversation with Rowan’s brother, the ward master. I was surprised the man fit in this back room, but they spoke in depth about ward symbols.

My understanding of magic crafting could fill a thimble, but it seems like somehow the fae charm makes one of the symbols in witch wards…disappear? Makes the ward not see them? It’s pretty confusing, but I’m not the one who needs to understand it. Stella is running a hundred miles an hour. The ward master left with a harsh grumble about figuring out how to craft a ward without the symbol in question, but Stella isn’t waiting for him.

Four prototypes have failed so far, but she doesn’t let up. When I stop her to eat lunch, I fear for my balls, but she shoves a protein bar in her mouth and guzzles a bottle of water before disappearing into her task again.

Connors is probably the wise one to walk the perimeter and watch the surroundings of the bookshop, but I’m fascinated by my witch. Because she is mine, even if for only a little while. I rub my chest, wondering if I’d give the same designation to a certain gargoyle when I’m distracted by the buzz of my phone which I silent before Stella can glare at me.

She gets testy about distractions when she’s like this.

I glance at the text message, expecting it to be Kalos, but freeze in surprise that it’s Stoneheart. Think of the Devil…

Stoneheart: Does she seem okay?

I frown and glance at Stella, thinking of the odd mood she’d been in this morning. Apprehension tickles the hairs on my neck. Something happened.

Me: Why wouldn’t she be?

It takes no time for his answer.

Stoneheart: No reason.

Bullshit. I blow out a breath, unsure how much of a right I have to demand a truthful answer. That’s incorrect. He’s given me the right. He involved me in this. Before I can inform him of that he sends another text.

Stoneheart: If you could keep her from the penthouse until five, it would be appreciated. I have people working on the bedroom.

I blink in surprise. Stella’s workshop comes to mind. He’d masterfully created that space for her. Is he doing the same with their bedroom? Does he feel guilty?

Me: Is it a surprise?

Stoneheart types for a moment before pausing and then starts up again. There’s another pause, and my lips tip up when he finally sends the message because it’s only four words.

Stoneheart: Just keep her busy.

So it is a surprise, but the gargoyle doesn’t want to treat it like one for some reason. Curiouser and curiouser. I’m wondering in what way he fucked up, but Stoneheart isn’t going to tell me, and Stella will tear my head from my body if I disrupt her right now with such a question.

I sigh, a part of me enjoying this interplay as I go back to watching our witch.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Stella sits back, stunned.

Is this a good fuck or a bad fuck ? It sounds different from the other fucks she’s recited today. I’ve come close to interrupting her again just for her to take a break because she’s been at this nonstop, but I haven’t come to the point of wanting to incur her wrath again for anything less than necessary.

“I did it!” Her grin takes up her whole face.

“It works?” I ask.

“It works!” she shouts. Her happiness is so bright pulls me toward her like I’m some wilted flower, and she’s the sun.

All day her intensity and presence has wrapped around me, snaring deep hooks in my chest. Her brand of vibrant chaos summoning me as any being of energy would be. It’s only now that her attention is on me that I give in to the tug.

She throws her arms around my neck, and I don’t know who kisses who first, but her plush lips devour mine hard .

Stella’s emotions overflow as she grasps my shirt with one hand and the back of my neck with the other. The kiss is all radiance and fire. Her joy transitions to need as quickly as the spark of an ember.

I fall into her kiss, meeting her outpouring with my own. Relief and hunger whip up in my soul.

Her legs wrap around my hips, and I press her into the worktable. My cock is heavy, grinding in the cradle of her thighs and zipping sensations up my spine. She moans and breaks the kiss to take a breath. “Fuck,” she says, and I don’t need an interpretation guide for this one. It’s all tasty need.

There’s a sound from the front of the store, and I freeze. We’re exposed. Stoneheart hasn’t gone out of his way to hide our arrangement, but if the news truly gets out, it will cause complications.

He also hasn’t given me permission to take this past a kiss without him.

I nip her lower lip before pulling away.

“No,” she pants in complaint, and I shush against her lips.

“Later, love,” I say without a thought.

“Please,” she whispers and rocks her hips.

I huff a laugh. “I’m saving us both from punishment, temptress.”

Her expression does an odd thing at the reminder that we aren’t the only ones in this relationship.

Ah, yes, Stoneheart fucked up somehow.

But she fixes her face quickly. “We need to tell him about the charm. Let’s go.”

“Now?” I ask, looking at my watch. It’s almost five.

I send a text to Connors let him know that we’re leaving, and he’s in the clear to head back.

Maybe if Stoneheart had been more forthcoming with his plans, I’d be better at following his orders. Or maybe, even though I’m saving Stella from punishment, I have no wish to save myself.