Writing Witchy (Witch Hunters) (6 page)

“Where are we headed?” she asked as he backed out of her driveway.

“Fleet Park. I haven’t been there before. I don’t often take Bear to parks because he gets enough exercise in the backyard. This is a treat for him. New areas to sniff, and a change in scenery. It also entices him to get more exercise.”

At the park, he reached into the backseat to clip on Bear’s leash.
It was an excellent day for a walk. It was cloudy but the rain held out for the duration of their trip around the park. Bear was well behaved. Keith only had to discourage him from digging twice. He enjoyed Imani’s company and he was glad he’d asked her to come.

Back at the car, Bear jumpe
d into the seat quicker than Keith anticipated, spinning him around so that he and Imani became entangled within the leash. The soft, plump mounds of her breasts were smashed into the wall of his chest. Keith couldn’t stop the groan that welled out of him. His hands were pressed to her back. Her hip brushed against his groin and she gasped, her eyes flying up to his. “Sorry,” he said. “I can’t help it.” For an instant, he could see the heat of desire in her gaze before she looked away.
She wanted him.
She might not be ready for sex. But she wasn’t immune to him. The knowledge did nothing to help his erection to subside, but it made his day.

    ***

Something was wrong. Imani had been quiet throughout dinner. Keith’s earlier elation had crashed and burned. He was afraid to ask her about the mood change, fearful of the answer he might receive. He walked her to her door. She pulled out her keys and paused. “Keith, I think we should take a break.”

Damn it.
“May I ask why?”

She wet her lips and carefully avoided his gaze. “It’s nothing you did. I think we’re seeing too much of each other too quickly. Maybe in a couple of weeks
…”

“This is because I got a hard
-on at the park. You’re an attractive woman. I can’t control my body’s reactions to you. But I can control what I do. My promise to not to attempt to seduce you stands.”

Imani’s hands flew to her cheeks. “I don’t want to talk about your body.”

Keith laughed. “Are you blushing?”

“No.” She dropped her hands. “And this has nothing to do with…what happened at the park. I just think we should cool it
for a bit.”

He wanted to rail at her
, and at the unfairness of it all. “Please reconsider.”

“I’ve been thinking about this throughout dinner.”

Keith shook his head. He strode towards his car, but anger wouldn’t let him leave without having his say. Whipping around, he retraced his steps. “You’re lying to me and you’re deluding yourself. There’s a spark between us. You gave me one condition and I’m abiding by it. You can’t change the rules just because you want me.”

“I don’t! I never said
…”

“
You do, but I know that doesn’t mean you’re going to hop into bed with me.” Her expression remained mutinous and he didn’t know what else to say to her. He tossed up his arms and let them fall. Finally, he cupped her elbows and drew her to him. He kissed her forehead, careful to keep it light and devoid of passion. “I’ll call you.” He got in his SUV and backed away.

Keith reviewed their date on the drive home but was at a loss as to what he could have done differently.
Just when he thought they might be growing closer, she does this. He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to overcome her fear of intimacy.

At home, Bear greeted him at the door, jumping up to put his paws on his abdomen.
Keith rubbed his soft head and scratched behind his floppy, short ears. “Good boy, Bear.” He dropped to his knees and Bear began licking his face. “Well, at least someone wants to kiss me.”

Sighing with resignation, he realized that he might have to call his brother for advice again. Sean knew women far better than he. But he was reluctant to ask for his advice. It was embarrassing having to ask for his younger brother’s help. Only a year separated them, but Sean’s primary interest had been women since he turned fourteen. Keith loved women as well, but his motto was quality over quantity.

He dug his phone out of his pocket. Just as he awakened the screen, it began ringing. He didn’t recognize the number but he answered anyway. “Hello?”

“Keith? Hi, this is Harlow.
Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

“Can I come over?”

“Well…
I guess.” It had been awkward between them since she’d last visited him in Seattle. Prior to her attempt to seduce him, he’d had no notion that she wanted anything more than friendship. They’d had a nice dinner out and he’d driven her back to her hotel. Conversations with Harlow were always fascinating and he’d gone up to her room so they could continue talking. But then she’d gone to get more comfortable…and come back naked. He’d never stammered so much as he had at that moment. To this day, he didn’t know what he’d said to her. He’d stuttered and stumbled his way out of there and they hadn’t spoken since.

Harlow materialized in front of
him. Her transportation was flawless. She was a powerful witch. He’d admired her knowledge and her abilities. A smile stretched her full, red lips. “Hello, Keith.”

He put his phone on the television console. “Hello, Harlow.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets, uncomfortable and unsure of how to act around her anymore.

“Aren’t you going to offer me a drink or at least a seat?”

He cleared his throat. “Of course. Um, have a seat.” He waved a hand over the chair Bear had stained, causing the dirt to disperse. With a mental command, he sent the grime and dog hair to his backyard.

“Impressive,” she said with a grin. She smoothed her dress, a curve
-hugging black velvet affair that flowed down to her ankles, and ignored the chair he’d cleaned to sit on the sofa instead. She patted the spot next to her.

He sat but she made a move toward him
, her breast pressing against his forearm. Hopping up as though the fabric of the couch were on fire, he asked, “What would you like to drink?”

“Do you have wine? Any color will do.”

“I might have something. I’ll check the kitchen.” He hurried off and began searching the cabinets. He seemed to recall his publisher sending him a bottle. Beer was his drink of choice so he’d shelved it somewhere. Keith found it in one of the lower cabinets behind a large jar of peanut butter.

“Looks good,” Harlow purred behind him.

Keith stood abruptly, bumping his head on the underside of the counter. “Shit!” Rubbing the back of his head, he turned to see her staring at his ass. He bit back another curse. Plunking down the bottle of wine, he said, “You didn’t have to get up. I would have served you.” He took out wine glasses and then realized he didn’t have an opener. Touching a finger to the cork, he willed it to rise.

“But then I would have missed the view.”
She tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder. Her smile was positively wicked.

Keith felt himself growing angry. She was taunting him. Her dark gray eyes were full of mischief. She’d never come on to him like this before and it was making him damned uncomfortable. “What’s going on with you?” When he got ready to pour, she took the wine from him.

“It needs to breathe.” She sniffed it and her perfect nose wrinkled in distaste. “You’ve let it get too hot. This is little more than vinegar.” She looked at the label. “Shame. This was a really good vintage. And it will be again.” She tapped the bottle three times. “There. Now it’s perfect.” She filled the glasses to the brim and handed him one. She clinked her glass against his. “To old friends.”

He sipped as she did. The wine was indeed very good.
“So, what brings you to town?”

“You, as always.” She swirled her wine, studying the liquid as it sloshed around. “Mm. This is delicious.”

“Would you like to see my flowers?”

Harlow shook her head. “Keith, you have to know why I’m here.”

“Hell, Harlow, I don’t know what the last time we were together was about. I thought….We’ve never been more than friends. You’ve never shown any interest in me.”

“Keith,
I turned thirty this year.”

“Me, too.” 

She nodded. “And I’d like to be married.”

He saw no point in playing dumb. Evidently, she thought they’d make a good pairing. “But we’re not soul mates. What would happen if you found your mate after we married?”

She scoffed. “I found my mate a year ago.” Her lips curled in disgust. “He was pathetic. My God, Keith, he couldn’t even transport. He wasn’t studying or practicing his magic, much like your brother. Only he has none of the raw talent your brother has. I can’t believe that the universe would have
me
mated to that…
weakling
.”

“But don’t you feel drawn to him?”

“Not more than I can ignore. He’s constantly seeking me out, trying to get me to bond with him.” She shrugged, as if to say ‘Who could blame him?’ “We dallied once, but I was certain to make him use protection.” So, she’d prevented a bond from developing. The exchange of fluids during sex bound mates together. Three times was enough to give mated couples the ability to share thoughts. Stronger bonds might be cemented even quicker. It saddened him that his and Imani’s bond would never reach that level since she wasn’t a witch. Hell, what was he thinking? He couldn’t even cuddle the woman without her throwing up a blockade. It was beginning to look doubtful that they would ever share anything more.

“Are you sharing dreams?”

“We were. I worked a small spell to block him from visiting me. Of course, the simpleton can’t figure out how to get around it.”

He couldn’t believe that she’d deny a true mate. Harlow was always so traditional. She
reveled in the history and old ways of their kind. The bond formed between destined mates was one of a kind. Setting aside such a gift should not be done lightly. While he was mulling over her revelations, she moved closer. She pressed a hand to his chest and hemmed him in, her arms on either side of the counter. Since she was under average height, a few inches shorter than Imani, and he towered over her, it was laughable that she would even attempt to corner him. “Harlow, don’t.”

“Keith, I know you find me attractive.”

“You’re beautiful, it’s true. But it won’t work between us.” She was model pretty and sexy to boot, but he wasn’t physically turned on by her.

“Of course it will. I thought it over. We make an attractive couple. You’re the most talented witch I know. Mated, we’d be unstoppable.”

He gripped her upper arms and put her away from him when she tried to press her body to his. He should have known. This was about power. She wouldn’t have overlooked tradition without a strong reason. “Harlow, are you even attracted to me?”

She shrugged. “Of course. You’re very handsome.”

“Yes, but you’ve never acted on it.”

She sighed and threw her hands up. “You didn’t see him, Keith.
His ineptitude is appalling! Even the simplest of spells stumps him.”

“Together you’d be stronger.”

“He doesn’t deserve me,” she sneered. “We, on the other hand, would be perfection.”

“I’ve found my mate, Harlow, and I have no intention of turning my back on her.”

She paused. “Is she worthy of you?”

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation though he knew that according to Harlow’s definition
Imani was anything but a suitable mate.

“As beautiful and as talented as
I am?”

He nodded
, though to him Imani was more beautiful. He loved her rich chocolate skin and gold eyes. But looks didn’t really matter. Imani was
his
. He would always be compelled to be with her.

“Yet you haven’t claimed her. Why not?
She’d be a fool to reject you.”

“We’re getting to know each other.”

She made a humming sound before picking up her wine glass and emptying it in one gulp. “Show me your flowers.”

He almost released a sigh of relief. “Of course.” He led her out back to his garden and they spent a pleasant half hour discussing various flowers, herbs and potions. While he didn’t practice potions, Harlow did and
he was curious about her work.

It was as she was leaning over the passionflower he’d planted yesterday, that she glanced up at him from beneath her lush lashes and asked, “So when do I meet her?”

“Meet who?”

“Your mate.”

“You don’t,” he said firmly.

She straightened to her full height, her head barely coming to his chin. “Surely, you’re introducing her to your friends. How else will you get an impartial opinion of her?”

He shook his head. “I don’t need one.”

Harlow smiled and shrugged casually. “If you say so. But I would like to meet her eventually….”

Keith didn’t trust her sudden nonchalance. Harlow could be incredibly stubborn. It was one of the reasons she was so successful at whatever she did. So he nodded and said, “Of course.” But he had no intention of letting her anywhere in the vicinity of Imani until they were bonded.