Chapter 8

ARSEN

Today has been a massive drag. I am never this busy, but kids keep coming and going. I guess it's because the semester is about to end, and my seniors are worried about starting college.

I get it, I really do, but I've been spacey all day and I blame it on Rus and whatever we did the other night.

Waking up in my bed with Astor on the couch was a surprise, but the weird dream and taste in my mouth wasn't.

I have been suspicious for a while now about magic and if it exists. When Wynter was dating Erick there were a few times I'd noticed funny things she would do.

She's told the world she's psychic, but I think it goes deeper than that and though Rus has tried to hide himself, he's slipped up a few times after a night of drinking.

Talking about his home with unicorns and dragons and whatever other nonsense fell from his inebriated lips.

At first I just thought he was crazy and my inner psychologist wanted to study him, but then he started to do things that stood out to me.

A lot like Wynter did. For instance, one night he made it rain in my shower because he didn't like the type of shower head I had installed.

How do I know it was raining? Because there was thunder and lightning accompanying the light summer storm, plus Rus left the door wide open. After he saw me peeking, I woke up in my bed, so it could have been a dream, but I doubt it.

My grandmother always said she could see people's auras and I had a friend or two growing up that supposedly were imaginary, but I think they were spirits.

Groaning, I close the file on my desk and open the drawer, slipping it inside. My phone rings, but I'm done for the day. I think it might be a night to grab a few drinks with Astor.

Locking my office, I pull out my cell and dial his number. He doesn't answer, so I leave him a message telling him to meet me at Brews & Books. I wonder if Wynter's there again.

Seeing her the other night I didn't realize how much I missed her. She was always meant to be mine, but Erick swooped in and stole her the weekend I was home sick with the flu.

I'm glad that asshole is out of the picture now. Maybe I'll finally get a shot. Seeing her that day broken hearted and waiting hours after everyone left for her fiance to still show… The broken nose he got was well deserved.

Leaving the school parking lot, I drive home to shower and change. When I pull up to the small house I own I'm surprised to see Astor. Parking next to his truck, I roll my window down.

He's on the phone with someone and he's laughing about something.

"He just got home. I'll ask him and call you back." Ending his call he looks over at me and grins.

"So, how do you feel about taking a vacation?" he asks and I open my door.

"I have a few more days left of work, but I could probably swing that. What did you have in mind? I'm assuming that it was Rus on the phone?"

He nods and climbs out of his truck, meeting me at the front door. I put in the code and turn the knob.

"Yeah, he's in New York and said he found the woman of his dreams. So he's wanting to have a camping trip for his bachelor party."

"Wait, what? Like I know he's a little psychotic, but he just met someone? In the two days since we saw him? And New York. Astor that's three days away!"

Tossing my keys in the dish on the counter, I walk right to the fridge for some beers. Looks like we're hanging here tonight instead of hitting the bar.

"Say we did drive to New York… I mean we should at least go to talk some sense into the guy. For all we know he's been bewitched or something."

Grunting, I open the fridge and grab the drinks. I don't have many groceries so takeout it is.

I hand Astor a beer, then open up my kitchen drawer that holds all the menus.

"Pick something. I'm going to take a quick shower and think about it."

Leaving him, I take my beer and walk to my room. Drinking, I think about Rus and how eccentric he is. To meet someone and propose doesn't shock me. Sounds exactly like something he would do, but Astor is right, we need to try and talk him out of it.

If he really loves this girl and she feels something for him then why the rush? It's not like he's gotten her pregnant or something, and even if he did, marriage isn't always the answer.

Walking into the bathroom, I place my almost empty bottle on the counter, strip and step inside, shutting the glass door. I haven't turned the water on yet. Closing my eyes, I think about the one woman that would possibly have me dropping all my inhibitions and marrying on the spot.

My cock hardens, and I grip it tightly, grunting at how good it feels. I haven't fucked anyone in a few months or felt the desire to jack off. Work has been stressing me out, and it's not like I even want to try Tinder again.

The last date was a disaster. For starters, the girl I was supposed to meet at the restaurant, catfished me. She didn't look anything like her photos and okay, I could have looked the other way on that.

I'm not a shallow guy, but then I came to find out she brought her two kids and her ‘brother' who was really her husband. They were desperate for a night out and didn't have the money for a date, or someone to watch the kids.

Yeah, that was my last Tinder experience.

Thinking about curves and long dark hair, I picture Wynter in this shower with me. On her knees with her pouty lips open and tongue sticking out, just begging to suck my cock.

It's embarrassing to say that with four hard strokes, I'm coming all over my shower tile. Turning the water on, I sigh and quickly rinse off. Using some of the vanilla blackberry body wash that I may have bought because it reminds me of Wynter, I wash myself, then rinse again and shut the water off.

The silence hits me and I look around. When I bought this place I imagined having a wife and kids here. It's been five years now and the space is too much.

Maybe I should just sell it and move into the same condo building as Astor.

Opening the shower door, I grab my towel and wrap it around my hips, then grab my beer and walk into my room.

The chill from the AC has me rushing to throw on some sweats. I don't bother with a shirt.

Not like I'm going anywhere and it's just my twin here.

Leaving my room, I find Astor in the same spot I left him. "Okay, I've narrowed it down to Chinese, Thai, or burgers," he mumbles, pointing to the menus on the counter.

He looks exhausted. Maybe a vacation would be a good thing. "You pick," I say, passing the kitchen to sit on the couch.

Opening the center compartment, I grab the remote and pull up Scrubs. We recently started watching it again.

"Hey, can you bring me my phone?" I shout to him, and he grunts.

"Okay, I ordered the pizza burger and got your bacon and swiss with a side of sweet potato fries," he says, walking into the room.

He has my phone pressed against his ear, holding it with his shoulder and he's ordering our food with his phone in his hand.

"No pockets," I mutter being the sarcastic ass I am.

"Huh?" he asks, then scoffs when he realized what he did. "Fuck, bro, I'm exhausted. This case at work is taking all of my mental capacity."

"Shit, I'm sorry. School has been crazy too… Okay, fuck it I'm in. Let's go to New York and see what crazy Rus got himself into."

WYNTER

Finishing up at the diner, Cirrus excuses himself after eating an absurd amount of food. I'm assuming he's going to be sick, but he leans over, surprises me with a kiss, then pulls cash out of his ducky pajama pants and drops it on the table.

Pulling out his phone, he winks at me, then struts out of the diner not caring that everyone is staring at his crazy ass.

Liv plops down in his vacant seat and wiggles her eyebrows at me. "Girl, where did you find him? He's one of a kind."

"That he is," I mutter, then laugh. This morning has been a whirlwind and I still haven't even processed what happened in Spells Hollow yesterday or the fact that I had my brains fucked out last night.

Five times he made me come. If he wasn't already planning to stay here, I might have chained him to the bed with that licorice rope he used on me. That was seriously hands down one of the hottest moments of my life.

"Are you guys together?" Liv asks as she steals some of Cirrus' leftover bacon.

"Kinda. I mean he basically proposed, but I've only known him a few days, so…"

"Ugh, to be young and in love. I remember those days."

"Liv, can I get a refill hon?" a young man asks from the counter, holding up his empty mug.

"Sure thing, Jordan." She looks at me and winks. "I'd say yes, and then chain him in my basement so he didn't try to get away. That one's a keeper."

Rolling my eyes, I nod and look out the diner's window as she leaves me to get back to work.

Ruth watches me through the glass and I frown, thinking back to how she warned me yesterday.

I don't get any magical vibes from Liv and her, but their eye colors, one white and one blue, make me think they might have a little magic in their ancestry line.

Getting back to my room, I find I'm a little upset that Cirrus isn't there. After being dismissed so often from guys I'm finding that I like his attention. Even if it is a tad jarring at times.

Walking to the bathroom, I strip off the ridiculous outfit he dressed me in, but I don't toss it in the trash like I originally planned.

It's rather comfortable and makes my ass look good. Plus, it was sweet of him to make sure I was warm.

Folding it, I place it on the counter, then turn the water on. I'm sticky between the thighs and I know I should worry about not using a condom, but for some reason I feel safe with Cirrus and if that premonition was true I'm bound to have his baby at some point.

It's not like I'm getting any younger. I've always wanted to be a mom.

Ugh, I'm sounding as insane as Cirrus now.

After quickly showering, I dress in some shorts and a hoodie. I want to go back to Spells Hollow. Even if it does make me physically sick to return.

Those poor people. They didn't deserve to succumb to the ministrations of a mad man.

All those innocent children whose only fault was to have powerful magic, and Melisande, I can't imagine the pain and heartbreak she had to push to the side to try and save her coven and lovers.

She wasn't just powerful, she was strong and fearless. I just wish she had a better outcome.

And how fucking dare Morfran curse her lovers' families. As if he didn't dole out enough torture.

A knock on my door pulls me from my musings. Not bothering to move from my spot on the bed, I mutter a spell to open the door.

Fuck. Magic is meant to stay hidden around mortals. The door swings open and I jump up, pretending I did it the old fashioned way.

"Oh, praise Satan, it's just you."

Cirrus raises an eyebrow and shakes his head.

"Naughty purple poppy. Though I have a feeling this town isn't one we need to hide our magic in."

"Doesn't matter. I shouldn't let my mind become so clouded that I forget the rules."

Holding out his hand to me, I take it and let him lead me to his truck. He doesn't open my door this time or offer me help into the seat.

He looks smug when I glance back at him. "See, baby, I'm teachable. You didn't want assistance last night, so today I'm not even going to attempt it. Though I'm itching to treat you like the princess you are."

Sighing, I laugh and roll my eyes. "Being a gentleman is fine, Cirrus, it was the trying to buckle me I had an issue with."

Before I can even finish my sentence, he moved me aside and opened my door with a big smile on his face.

His violet eyes shine, and I find myself grinning along with him as he takes my hips into his large hands and lifts me into the seat.

"Thanks," I breathe as he leans in and kisses me silly. Pulling away, he groans, licks his lips and backs away.

"Delicious, love, but that has to wait. We have a curse to break."