Witches (Runes series Book 6) (22 page)

“Damn, you’re tough.”

“No, I have a boyfriend who will make you wish you were never born if you mess with me. Now, how far have you read?”

“Halfway, and it’s the hardest book I’ve ever read. His writing is so weird.”

“Mr. Gentry didn’t ask you guys to read other books by Hawthorne to understand his style?”

“Nope.”

I sighed. “Okay. I’ll explain as we read the chapter you were supposed to cover.”

Fifteen minutes became thirty. Then forty-five. He was sharp, but not afraid to say he was lost when he didn’t understand something. When we finally stopped, an hour had passed. He tried to apologize, but I brushed it off.

“As long as I didn’t confuse you,” I said, getting up.

“No, you were perfect.” He took my hand and covered it with his, then studied me with half-lidded eyes. “I hope you don’t mind if I borrow your copy of Hawthorne’s Short Stories. I promise to take good care of it.”

I could see why he had so many girls chasing him. Those long lashes shading moss-green eyes, the lop-sided grin, and his tendency to be touchy-feely could make any girl think she was the center of his universe. Too bad all his moves were wasted on me.

I eased my hand from his. “Sure. I’ll get it.” I headed upstairs. When I came back he was talking to Femi and Mom by the bar. I walked him to his truck, his dog trotting quietly beside him. Once again, I was surprised by how friendly the dog was towards me.

I waited until he was inside the truck before repeating what I’d said at the beginning of our session. “Explain to your friends what’s going on without making our tutoring session into something it’s not. And quit flirting with me.”

“What did I do?” he protested, then spoiled it by smirking. “I can’t help it. There’s something about you. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

As long as his memories weren’t coming back, I was fine. And if they did, I hoped he assumed it had all been a dream. Mom and Femi gave me strange looks when I came back inside.

“Watch out for that one,” Femi said. “He’ll break your heart.”

“Not mine.” I kissed Mom’s cheek. “Goodnight, Mom. Night, Femi.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Mom said.

“Tutoring,” I said.

“Why didn’t you tell Torin?” Mom asked.

I turned and faced them. How did she know that? “I will. Right now he’s busy with other things.”

“Whatever this is, I hope you get it out of your system fast,” Mom added.

“Sheesh. I’m tutoring someone who might fail a class. Nothing more.” I turned to go upstairs and almost stepped on my cat. “Onyx! Quit lurking around.”

She hissed as I headed upstairs. I knew she was behind me, but I just ignored her. I changed into my pajamas and headed to the bathroom.

As I brushed my teeth I tried mimicking different people, experimenting with changing facial features and hair color and length when Onyx hopped onto the counter and perched herself near the sink. She watched me with those annoyingly intelligent eyes. I could feel wheels turning in her head. When she didn’t make snarky remarks at the people I mimicked, I knew she wanted to talk.

“Out with it,” I said.

He’s a handsome young man.

“Don’t start.”

He flirts too much.

I ignored her.

I know why you’re doing it.

I couldn’t ignore her anymore. “No, you don’t.”

The pretty, uh, Andris one said you have to choose a side.

 
“You weren’t at Torin’s. How do you know that?”

I heard your thoughts. Sometimes I hear you even when you’re not talking to me.

My jaw dropped. “You eavesdropped on my thoughts? That’s invasion of privacy.”

We’re linked, Raine. Deal with it.

I flicked my toothbrush and splashed her. She just shook herself.

You shouldn’t worry about choosing sides. I’ve watched you and Torin deal with worse situations and win. You’ll make the right choice.
She hopped off the counter and went back to the bedroom.
Splash me again, little girl, and I’ll scratch your eyes out.

I grinned. She was right. I was stressing over nothing. Torin and I would fix this. The lights were still off at his place. I hoped his talk with Andris was going okay. We had enough to deal with without them being pissed at each other. I went back to my bedroom, turned off my lights, and crawled into bed.

Sometime later, he entered my room and Onyx growled. Silly cat. I shushed her again and went back to sleep. I heard her growl again, then a man’s voice. He didn’t sound like Torin.

~*~

When I woke up in the morning, Onyx was a dead weight on my chest. Torin’s side of the bed didn’t look like he’d slept in it, yet I was sure he’d come into my room the night before. There was something about last night I tried to remember, but it eluded me.

“No sleeping on me, Onyx.” I lifted her off my chest. “Or on my bed.”

Not even if it’s for your own protection?

“From what?” I looked out the window. Torin wasn’t in the kitchen. Weird. “No one can walk in here without runes lighting up like a Christmas tree and warning Torin.”

You’re so naïve. One day you’ll kiss my paws and thank me. For now, I forgive your arrogance because look what Torin gave me.
She angled her head, so I could see the collar and the tag.
I’ll be the envy of all the cats in Asgard.

The collar was bedazzled and the platinum star had what looked like real diamonds. I turned it and read the inscription, Onyx and my phone number. “Your name is officially Onyx.”

Depends on whether I respond.

I grinned and rubbed her head. “It’ll grow on you.”

You may want to check on Torin. He looked bad when he stopped by this morning.

My stomach dropped. “Bad how?”

Like he’d been up all night
.

Had he spent the night fighting
Draugar
again? My eyes went to his bed when I entered his bedroom. He was asleep on his stomach, a pillow covering his head as though he was trying to block out the light. He was shirtless as usual, but there were no marks on him or weird smells. Still, he never slept late.

“Torin.” The mattress dipped when I knelt on it. I lifted the pillow, but he mumbled something and turned his head the other way. “What happened?”

“Go away, Freckles.”

“You’re going to be late for school.”

“Don’t care.”

Not the response I was expecting. I went and yanked open the curtains. Morning rays streamed into the room. He groaned and muttered, “Close it.”

“What about California and teaching? What happened last night?” I grabbed the pillow covering his head, but he caught my wrist before I could fling it aside. A slight tug and I landed on top of him. I sniffed. He smelled different.

I lifted the pillow and frowned. Was that lipstick on his cheek? The corner of his lips had more color. He’d been kissing some girl. Change that to girls because his other cheek had a darker shade.

Anger slammed into me. He was so dead.

He opened an eye and squinted at me. “What time is it, luv?”

I pushed him. “Where were you last night?”

He smirked. “Andris and I went to some of our old haunts. Good memories.”

I marched to the bathroom. I didn’t think I was the jealous kind, but enough was enough. I was ready to take our relationship to the next level and he’d said no. No to me, and obviously yes to some other women. Jerk.

Hoping my voice didn’t betray my soaring rage, I called out, “Really? Like what?”

“There’s this club in Paris we used to hang out at a few years ago. Nothing’s changed. Do you like your leather jacket? I bought it in Milan before we hit a string of clubs.”

I dumped the contents from the small garbage can on his bathroom floor, put it in the tub, and turned on cold water. “What leather jacket?”

Silence.

I walked back to the door and peered at him. He’d dragged a pillow over to cover his face again. Let’s see if he sleeps through this
.

I marched back to the bathroom and got the water. Without stopping to weigh the consequences, I closed the gap between the bathroom and the bed, lifted the bucket, and dumped the water on him.

Onyx screeched and jumped off his bed. In my rage, I hadn’t seen the cat. Torin came up swearing, arms and legs flailing.

“Hel’s Mist, Raine! What was that for?”

I threw the bucket at his head, but he deflected it and sent it flying across the room. “I hope that cooled your raging libido, you jerk. Next time you feel an urge to sleep with someone, jump off a cliff because I will kill you in so many ways you’ll wish you’d never met me.”

I started for the mirror portal.

“Sleep with another woman? What are you talking about?”

I turned and pointed at him. “You do not want to go there with me, Torin. You do not want to act innocent and outraged.” I shook my head when he opened his mouth. “One more word from you and I swear, I will snap your neck.”

He raised his hands. “I don’t want to fight with you, Freckles. You know how I feel about—”

Too late. I raced toward him, engaging my other runes seconds before I flew at him. I landed on the bed and heard the frame crack. The drenched bedding soaked my pajama top and bottoms. I whipped around to see him at the end of the room by the bike posters. How the heck did he move that fast?

He smirked and a fresh dose of anger flooded me.

“Some girls kissed me at the club. Not exactly my fault.”

I got off the bed, pissed and humiliated that I’d lost it. “Stay away from me.”

“Freckles…”

I lifted my hand toward him and curved my fingers, focusing on his neck. “I don’t have to touch you to break your neck, jerk face. All I have to do is twist it from here.”

Blue flames leapt in his eyes. He was getting pissed. Good. “Do it.”

He was pushing his luck. Even his arrogant stance, arms crossed and legs apart challenged me to do my worst.

“I will not sink to your level, Torin.”

“And what level is that? You drenched me already. And last night, you were so busy flirting with that shits-for-brains Beau you didn’t even see me come into your house.”

For one second, I was too shocked to react and just stared at him. “Oh. Do not make this about me. I was helping him study, while you… You allowed some girl to place her lips all over you and worse, you didn’t even have the decency to wipe away the evidence. I had to see it on your stupid face.” I whipped my hand toward him, but he disappeared, leaving behind an air portal.

His laughter reached me from downstairs. “Crazy witch,” he called from downstairs. “You’ll have to catch me first.”

I created an air portal and he turned and cocked an eyebrow at me. That arrogant gesture made my blood boil. He was removing eggs and bacon from the fridge. I closed my eyes and projected images and thoughts into his head.

“Explain to me what’s going on with Beau while I make us break…”

His body relaxed and his eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fell into a deep slumber. He landed on the kitchen floor. I barely stopped the eggs from falling on him. I should have let them.

Grinning and feeling a little better, I placed the eggs on the table and bent down to check on him. He was out cold. “You don’t mess with a witch, Valkyrie.”

Andris was waiting for me when I pulled up at school. “You’re the last person I want to talk to,” I said, walking right past him.

“Then you shouldn’t have texted me and asked me to wake him up,” he said, following me. “He’s pretty pissed with you right now.”

My stomach hollowed out, but I ignored it. “Well, tough.”

“I’d be worried if I were you.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not you.” I stopped suddenly. He almost bumped into me. When I faced him, he took a step back.

“No, Raine. Do not use your crazy witch powers on me,” he warned.

“He deserved it, you don’t. You were being your usual man-whore self. However…” My eyes locked on the girl walking toward us. With the baseball cap low over her forehead, it was hard to see her face, but I recognized her outfit and backpack. Amber. Did my mojo work on her hair? Because if I wasn’t mistaken, she was wearing a wig under that hat. I lifted my chin and the hat lifted from her head. She grabbed it and hurried past us. Okay, so I can throw down with bad Witches.

“What are you plotting?” Andris pulled my attention back to him.

I glanced at Andris. “What?”

“Amber. You got a gleam in your eyes when she walked past us. Just because you’re pissed at Torin doesn’t mean you can take it out on everyone.”

“Amber already got what she deserved. The curse will lift when she learns her lesson.”

“Raine, you’re headed down a dark—”

“Where was I?” I asked, cutting him off. “If you ever take Torin to one of your brothels, I will do things to you that you’ll never forget.”

He grinned. “On a normal day I’d be thrilled by that threat cause whenever a lover says that, they usually mean much more enjoyable things. You, on the other hand, are scaring me.”

“Good, because he’s mine Andris. No woman touches my man.”

He realized how serious I was and stopped smirking. “Okay. I get it, but you need to calm down because your eyes have started to glow.”

I shrugged. “So?” Then the sound of Torin’s Harley drew closer.

“Now they’re glowing brighter.”

That was because the person responsible for pissing me off was finally here. “See you.”

“You’re not going to talk to him?”

“Nope.” I glanced over my shoulder, but Torin had already started toward us. He wore a look that said he would mow down anyone who stood in his way.

I ignored him and continued into the building. Andris stayed behind to intercept him. Hopefully he would calm Torin down.

As if the Norns were plotting against me, Beau and his friends were in the hall. As soon as he saw me, he called me over. Not just by waving. He called out my name and drew the attention of everyone in the hall.

Men! I was so not in the mood to put up with their bullshit. Still, he was my first case, so I needed to play nice. Image was everything to him. I glanced over my shoulder just as Torin entered the hall. His eyes volleyed between Beau and me, and I could read the warning in them from across the hall.

Bite me, Valkyrie.
I walked to Beau and his friends.

Beau caught my arm and pulled me closer. “Tell them.”

If he had noticed that I stiffened, he didn’t show it. “Tell them what?”

“How you helped me appreciate Hawthorne’s writing style. Without her, I would not have known that the letter A becomes more than a symbol for adultery.” He grinned at his friends, who watched him with slack jaws. A few girls inched closer.

I’d asked him to explain to his friends our association, not announce it to the entire school. “Huh?” one of his friends asked.

“You see, Hester changes the meaning of the letter by her behavior. The townspeople end up forgetting what it means and even grow to respect her. I’m telling you, it’s like the letter has a life of its own.”

 
The discussion became heated as more people chimed in. I didn’t have to look over my shoulder to know that Torin was close by. A delicious shiver scuttled through me, a reaction I was unable to control whenever he was around.

“What do you think about the ending, Beau?” a girl asked.

“Babe, if I knew that answer, the lovely Raine and I wouldn’t be hanging out after school.” He glanced at me, and the smile disappeared from his face. His hand dropped to his side. “St. James.”

“Hardshaw.” Then Torin slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me back against him. My backpack slipped from my shoulder, but he caught it and took it from my hand.

I wanted to create some space between us. I really did, but the heat from his body had a way of wrapping around me and screwing with my senses. The conversation continued around me, but I didn’t hear a thing. I was too aware of Torin’s silent presence. Most guys would cause a scene when they thought another man was poaching their girl or if they had a fight. Not Torin. He let his presence do the talking.

He lowered his head and whispered, “We need to talk, Freckles.”

I shivered as his warm breath teased my neck. I swallowed, turned my head, and whispered, “Not now. We’re discussing Hawthorne.”

“You knocked me out,” he added.

“You deserved it.”

He groaned. “You have five seconds to leave with me or I’m carrying you out of here.”

I blinked. “You wouldn’t dare!” Of course he would. “Don’t embarrass me, Torin. Please.”

“Time’s up, luv. Excuse me, guys,” he said and scooped me up.

Before I could protest, he turned around and cut across the hall, past snickering students and sighing girls fanning themselves. Idiots. Couldn’t they see he was being a total ass-hat? I had no choice but to put my arms around his shoulders and try not to throttle him. I even pasted on a smile for our audience.

I leaned closer to his ear and vowed, “I’m going to kill you for this.”

“You were ignoring me and I hate being ignored,” he said, nodding at his friends.

“He’s so romantic,” a girl said as we walked past them.

“I know. I want a guy just like him,” another added.

Seriously? They didn’t even try to keep their voices down. He lowered me down by my locker, looked at the other students nearby, and they actually took off as though he’d ordered them to leave.

“Put your bag away and take the books you need. We’ll talk while I walk you to class.” I glared. “Or I’ll carry you. Take your pick.”

I hated that I actually had to put my books away just like he’d said. It made it seem like I was obeying him. I slammed the door shut and started for the hallway.

“So no apology?” he asked.

“I don’t feel like talking.”

“So that’s a no. Fine. I’ll do the talking while you listen. The way it’s supposed to be. Why? Because I’m older and wiser.”

I clenched my teeth. He was pushing his luck.

“First, let’s make something clear. You are never to use your powers on me again.”

I made a face. How I wish I could stop him from talking. Listening to him made me feel worse. I guess I shouldn’t have knocked him out.

“If you do it again, I’ll spank you.”

I stopped and looked at him, my eyes wide. “You wouldn’t dare.”

He smirked.

I waited until a few girls walked past us and threw him adoring glances before whispering, “I hate you.”

“You adore me,” he shot back.

He was so lucky we weren’t alone. I walked ahead. Cora entered the hallway, saw us and shook her head. “Hey, you two. Why is everyone whispering about you?”

“He decided he didn’t like me talking to Beau and carried me out of the hall like I was his personal
property
,” I said.

Cora laughed and high-fived him. “Way to go, Torin.”

Disgusted by both of them, I hurried toward my class. He caught up with me before I entered the class. “Freckles…”

“Not now.” I disappeared inside the classroom.

Ellie and Amber were talking in whispers, probably discussing Amber’s hair. I knew I should feel some guilt, but I didn’t. Let her enjoy her new hair for the rest of the day. Maybe I’d fix it. But with the mood I was in, I doubted it.

Kelly, the girl whose hair she’d laughed at didn’t seem to be having any problems holding her head up. In fact, she was looking at Amber and Ellie as though she knew something was wrong.

“Morning, guys,” Torin said and my eyes flew to the front of the class. What was he doing? “Mr. Quibble is running a little late, but he said you need to read the next chapter in your book. Raine, may I see you outside?”

A buzz filled the class. Of course, no one was going to read the chapter. A late or an absent teacher often meant ‘pull out your electronics and get online’ or catch up on the latest gossip. As for my boyfriend…

Torin was behind Mr. Quibble’s absence. He was bratty when he didn’t get his way. He still stood at the front of the class, waiting like some king who’d summoned his minion. Worse, other students noticed I was still seated and glanced my way.

Grinding my teeth, I got up and walked past him into the hallway. He closed the door behind him. For once he wasn’t smirking. If he had been, I would have sucker punched him. And no one would have noticed because the hallway was empty.

“What did you do with Mr. Q?” I asked.

“I slipped him sleep runes.” He smirked. “He’s having a short nap in the boys’ restroom. Don’t worry; I’ll wake him when we’re done.”

In other words, my English class depended on me. From his expression, he was dead serious. “Torin, you just can’t go around runing teachers to get your way.”

He shrugged. “I just did. Now, are we talking or just standing here for the entire next period? I warn you though. I could do this the whole day. From class to class, until we talk.”

I yanked my arm from his hand and marched to the nearest door, which happened to be the girls’ restroom. Thankfully, it was empty. He locked the door and just stood there.

“Well?” I asked.

“That’s my line. You owe me an apology.”

I laughed, scoffing at the idea. “Then we’ll be here the whole day because I will not apologize for putting a whammy on you. You don’t go out and make-out with some girl behind my back.” My voice rose. “You don’t kiss or touch them. You—”

“Belong to you, body and soul,” he finished, closing the gap between us, eyes flashing. “From the moment you opened your door and stared at me with those gorgeous hazel eyes, I’ve thought of no woman but you. I’ve wanted to touch and kiss no one but you. I’ve
waited
for you. I’m
still
waiting for you.” He angled his head, the smile on his lips turning predator-ish. “Maybe that’s the problem. I haven’t given you a reason to believe I’m crazy about you, or need you, or crave you.” He cupped my face and I swallowed.

“Torin,” I started to say, not liking the direction of the conversation.

“Shh. I’m not done. I’m going to show you.” His mouth captured mine in a searing kiss that drove all my protest and anger from my head. His tongue slipped between my lips to caress mine as his arm circled my waist and pulled me to him. Every inch of his body and every muscle pressed against mine. Soft and hard complementing each other. He reached down and pulled my leg around his waist as he inched me backwards until my back was to the cold, smooth surface of the mirror.

“Engage your runes,” he ordered.

I did, all of them. Not caring which ones. My arms circled his neck, never wanting to let go. He’d taken over all my senses. I breathed him. Tasted him. Felt him. Thought of nothing but him. He trailed kisses along my neck.

“I want you, Freckles. Only you. No other woman will do.” He punctuated each sentence with a kiss. “Do you want to know why?”

I couldn’t speak.

“Yes or no?”

“Yes,” I gasped.

“Because no woman makes me feel and want and need the way you do. Your response when I do this,”—his hand slipped under my shirt. I gasped and trembled as he showed me how easily he could control my body and reduce me to a blubbering idiot—“is pure and honest and breathtaking.”

He went into hyper-speed and undid the buttons of my shirt, his mouth replacing his fingers, my silk bra offering no barrier to his tongue and teeth. I was panting, adrenaline pumping through my veins. This was what I’d wanted. To have him kiss me like he couldn’t get enough.

“I’ve never wanted to break rules for anyone, but you,” he whispered. He lifted his head as his hand inched lower, past the waistband of my jeggings. I gasped. He’d never done this at school. “Engage your invisibility runes.”

I did, my heart pounding so hard I was sure it would stop. I whimpered when his touch became bold. He licked my lower lip with his tongue, then took it between his teeth and bore down so hard I was sure he broke the skin.

“Look at you.” He tilted my chin until I could see our reflection in the mirror. “You’re beautiful. Breathtaking. And you are mine. Body and soul.” Then his words became naughty and descriptive, and I realized that I loved it. Loved every second of his wickedness and every seductive whispered word that left his lips. He pushed me to my limit and beyond, until my existence ceased to matter, except as an extension of him.