Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten (20 page)

T
wo weeks later,
Belinda and I were sequestered in Finn’s solarium, arguing over the prophecy and the coven. After days and weeks of fruitlessly searching for some tidbit of information that would help me decipher the prophecy of the Five, I was ready to call it quits. Obviously it existed and it was coming to pass. However, none of the books I’d found regarding its foretelling seemed to have any suggestions or spells to help us win the coming war.

Belinda disagreed, saying we had to keep reading and searching, that the answers we needed were out there. The only thing I’d managed to find of any interest was the spell that linked the life-forces of two people. The High Priestess was not as excited about it because, historically, it had been used by black witches to control other witches, vampires, and werewolves. Still, something about the spell intrigued me, so I tucked it away in one of my notebooks for further study. I was certain there were positive uses to be found. Though she wore an expression of tight-lipped disapproval, Belinda didn’t stop me.

Once it was settled that we would continue researching the prophecy, the High Priestess began my training as her successor. While I suggested we had plenty of time and perhaps should wait until we were safer, she seemed determined. Her intensity was disconcerting. Belinda was the most composed person I knew and yet she was sometimes impatient and snippy with me, which rarely happened over the years, even when I tried jerking her chain.

During the coven meeting two weeks ago, she had performed the ritual which would clearly name me as the next High Priestess. Though it was merely for show, it was an important part of the process as it demonstrated her faith in my abilities to do the job well.

Once the meeting was over and she and I were on our way back to Finn’s house to discuss the next step, I suggested that perhaps she should rethink her choice. At the time she didn’t respond. However, I mentioned it again today and Belinda became agitated.

“It’s too late to back out, Kerry,” she insisted. “Even if there was another suitable candidate, there’s no time to train anyone else.”

“But it’s obvious that the elders don’t want me as the High Priestess. They’ll fight me tooth and nail and likely ignore any suggestions I make or treat me with complete disrespect. This isn’t going to work.”

Belinda rubbed her forehead absently as though her head ached. “You can make it work, Kerry. I never said this would be easy. You’ll have to deal with initial mistrust and weak confidence, just as most new High Priestesses do. Be patient and start with the younger witches. Many of them grew up with you and don’t give the rumors about your father much credence. You can work your way up to the elders.” She paused, seemingly gathering her thoughts. “I don’t think you’ll have as much trouble as you expect, though. There are at least three elders in the coven who have admitted I made the right choice after your display at the meeting.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes, really. Now, we need to discuss what actions will be taken to establish civil relations with vampires and werewolves. I know that much of this wasn’t resolved in the meeting after your demonstration, but we need to have something to present to the coven in regards to our future.”

After several more long hours, Lachlan came into the study as the sun was setting. “We need to leave,” he stated abruptly.

Belinda began to argue. “I’ll only be a minute-”

“No. You’re tired and Kerry’s tired. This discussion can be continued another day.”

“Lach, I said just a minute.”

Glowering at her, he growled, “One minute. I’ll wait outside.”

After he left the room, I smiled tiredly at Belinda. “He’s right. We’re both exhausted and stressed.”

She sighed. “I know, I know. It’s just that there’s not much time and I want you to be prepared.”

I cocked my head to the side. “That’s the second time you’ve said that today. Why do you think we’re running out of time?”

Her expression shut down, blocking me out and making it impossible to tell what she was thinking. Woodenly, she answered, “When the fighting starts, you need to be able to do everything that I do, Kerry. You will need to be able to take over without a hitch should anything happen.”

“Nothing will happen,” I insisted.

She touched my hand lightly. “In war, you never know what tomorrow will bring.”

Belinda seemed to shake off her pensive mood and started gathering her things. She left several ritual and spell books that outlined the ceremonies that were performed on the Sabbats, equinoxes, and solstices. Then Lachlan came back into the room, a stern expression on his face, and she was gone.

Feeling vaguely unsettled, I wandered out of the solarium and went in search of Finn. I found him in his study, stretched out on the sofa in front of his fireplace with a glass of red wine in his hand.

I paused in the doorway and just stared at him for a few moments. In the last weeks, Finn and I had fallen into a pattern. We usually got up around the same time every morning and took turns making breakfast. Then we each spent a few hours in our respective offices before meeting in the kitchen for lunch. Sometimes I would go back to the solarium to practice spells or read the texts that Belinda had given me or I would carry the spell books and rituals into his study and read on the couch while he worked at his desk. Then we would eat dinner together, watch television or make love, and then fall asleep together. It was idyllic and exactly what I used to imagine my future marriage would be. Though I’d never thought I would end up falling for a vampire.

One afternoon a few days after the coven meeting, I paused in my reading and looked over at Finn, who was studying something on his computer screen.

“I just realized that I have no idea what you do for a living.”

He glanced at me and laughed. “Well, after so many years of working and trading stock, I don’t really have a job except managing my money and investments, which keeps me busy enough.”

“But Conner and Lex own businesses and work every day. Shit, forget I said that. That’s not how I meant it.”

He was still grinning at me, completely unfazed by my awkward statement. “Well, I doubt Conner or Lex work as much as they used to now that they have found their mates. Also, the Council has kept me busy enough for the last few decades.”

He did have a point there.

The amusement faded from his expression. “It can be daunting, to see the centuries stretching out before you and never knowing if you’ll always be so lonely.”

Feeling slightly saddened, I rose from the sofa and went over to his desk, sitting in his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my cheek on top of his head. “I didn’t know that you felt that way.” I threaded my fingers in his rich brown hair. “I’m sorry.” And I was. I was sorry for everything; his solitude, what he’d had to endure as a newly turned vampire, and the horrible way I’d treated him for so long.

Finn hugged me closer. “Don’t be. I won’t be lonely any longer.”

Since that afternoon, our relationship lost a great deal of its turbulence, mostly because of me. I stopped fighting my feelings and began to relax my guard. Each day was easier than the last. He still irritated me with his bossy behavior and I frustrated him when I wouldn’t fall in line, but we managed.

Now, I stood in the doorway to his study, watching him stare into the fire, a peaceful look on his face. He looked happy.

“Are you going to stand there and stare at me all night or come sit?” he asked without turning his head.

I wandered over to the sofa and stretched out on the cushions with my head resting on his thigh. I sighed in contentment as he began to run his fingers through my hair in slow, steady strokes.

“You do that quite often, you know,” he murmured.

“Do what?”

“Stand in doorways and stare at me. It’s a little creepy.”

He jumped and chuckled when I pinched his leg. “Whatever. You love it.”

“The way you look at me? Yes, I do love it.”

We sat in silence, enjoying each other’s company, until my stomach growled loudly. I felt my cheeks heat as Finn laughed and patted my hip.

“I think that’s my cue to feed you dinner,” he joked.

I sat up. “That’s promising. What are we having?”

“Steak, baked potatoes, and broccoli.”

“Sounds perfect.”

We made dinner and ate together, mostly in comfortable silence. Finn wasn’t the sort of person who spoke unless he had something to say and I found myself mirroring his behavior, which was probably a good thing. I had a tendency to say things without thinking about the consequences. Perhaps he was a good influence on me after all.

After dinner, we washed the dishes together.

When we were done, I couldn’t resist teasing Finn. “So, what’s for dessert?” I asked.

“You.” He charged me and I may have squealed before trying to run.

Laughing, he caught me before I’d gone more than two steps and carried me up the stairs so quickly I was dizzy.

I shrieked when he stopped at the end of his huge bed and tossed me toward the center of the mattress. I couldn’t stop giggling as he pounced on me. Straddling my hips with his legs, Finn stripped his shirt over his head and did the same with mine. I tried to wiggle away when he moved off of me in order to unbutton and unzip my jeans.

Chuckling, he rolled me onto my stomach and gave my ass a playful smack. “Stay still.”

Before I could crawl away or even turn over, Finn whipped my jeans and underwear down my legs, leaving me in only my bra. When I tried to get up on my hands and knees, he pushed me back down with a hand between my shoulder blades. In a blink of an eye, he’d unsnapped my bra.

As soon as he released me, I scrambled up the bed and sat with my back against the headboard.

Eyes bright, Finn shoved his pants and boxer briefs down his legs. “Get back here,” he ordered, smiling.

I shook my head, crossing my arms over my chest to hold my bra in place. My eyes moved over his body, starting at his shoulders and moving down over his chest and tight abdomen, finally resting on his hard, thick cock.

With a low growl, he lunged forward and wrapped his fingers around my ankle, dragging me across the bed so that I was sprawled on my back. Still laughing, I tried to shove his hands away as he pulled my bra from my body.

As Finn began to take teasing nips at my neck and breasts, I gasped, “That tickles!”

He grinned and continued to torment me, completely ignoring my squeals and the wild thrashing of my body. This was the first time I’d ever laughed with a lover during sex and I was surprised at how much fun it was.

When he lowered his head to my nipple and sucked, I twisted both of my hands into his hair and yanked. My skin felt overly sensitized and the sensation of his mouth was almost too much. Finn lifted his head, grinning at me, and grabbed both of my wrists, pinning them to the bed by my head. Then he continued to lick and suck at my nipples while I writhed beneath him, begging him to stop yet unsure if I truly wanted him to.

Without releasing my wrists, Finn used his knees to nudge my thighs apart and slid his cock inside me. Every nerve ending in my body felt as though it had been touched by a live wire, overwhelming my ability to process what I was experiencing. My back arched when he slid his tongue over my breast and I could swear I felt it in my clit.

“Finn!”

His response was to slide almost completely out of my body and thrust forward. My vision clouded over as Finn stretched my arms above my head, transferring my wrists to one hand. With the other, he tilted my chin up and to the side, baring my neck to him.

Placing his lips to my ear, he whispered, “I’m going to take you hard and fast, and there’s nothing you can do but lie here and take it.”

His words had the same effect on me as a physical touch. All amusement was gone now and only the desperate desire for climax remained. As Finn plunged inside me, my knees hooked over his widespread thighs, I felt my body tighten unbearably. I jerked beneath him as his mouth moved from my ear to my throat, burning like a brand against my skin.

My body felt taut, suspended just beneath the peak. Muscles trembling, I tried to move my hands, to lift my hips, anything to help relieve the ache between my thighs. Then, at last, Finn sank his fangs into my throat, releasing me from the terrible tension. I cried out as the orgasm slammed into me, helpless beneath the force of my climax and Finn’s restraining hands.

As the orgasm slowly receded, I lay beneath him, panting, with my hair draped across my face. I realized that Finn had released my hands and I wrapped my arms around his torso, cradling him closer while he ran the tip of his tongue over the bite on my neck. Though he was heavy, I tightened my grip on his body when he tried to roll away.

“Stay with me for a little while,” I whispered.

Tucking his face against my neck, Finn pressed a kiss to my throat and slid his arms beneath my body to hold me closer. Together, we basked in the afterglow, exchanging kisses, touches, and softly spoken thoughts.

Much later, after I pulled on panties and a t-shirt, Finn pulled me into his side, running his fingers through my hair. Not for the first time in the last two weeks, I realized how much I would have lost if Finn hadn’t kept up his relentless pursuit over the past few months. Something about him, about his very essence, brought me a sense of peace, as though I finally had another person in my life who would remain there unconditionally. I hadn’t felt that since my mother died four years ago.

I let the deep contentment wash over me as I drifted to sleep, letting go of the last vestiges of my defensive walls. I was safe with Finn.

Or so I thought.