What the? He marched up and pulled the bag from her head.
You? she gasped. Lifting her bound hands, the fingers of which having been completely wrapped up with thin white cording, she asked, What in all the moons?
What is the meaning of this? he asked Inego (of the twosome, the one who he suspected had more brains). I asked you to bring me the most powerful witch in Paris.
Shes it, boss. We saw her save a boy in the park. Didnt even have to twitch her nose to do it, either.
Did John verify it?
Yep. He picked her out before that happened. Said his witchy radar was going off the scale and told us to check her out.
Ed stepped back from the witch and noticed she looked as surprised as he. Though that could have something to do with the ropes and the rough treatment she must have received when brought here. If John Malcolm had verified her power, then it was possible. Hed had no idea she was so powerful.
On the other hand, she had bound him with nothing more than a few words.
Well, well. This could get interesting. If not...uncomfortable.
What are you up to? she asked. I thought you hated witches. Called us vile.
Indeed he had. Not the best way to start a working relationship, but he could manage. I needed to speak to you, he said. Could he really do this? Did he need a witch? Especially one so distracting as this one?
So youyou kidnapped me?
This is not a kidnapping.
Though when she shook her bound hands between them and gave him an incredulous gape, he couldnt deny it did look nefarious, if not downright cruel.
Now you know what it feels like, he said reactively. To be bound.
Her jaw dropped, stupefied. He couldnt help a vainglorious smile. So he wasnt keen on condescending to her sympathies. The witch had bound him. And it had hurt like hell.
To his men he said, I didnt tell you to tie her up. I just asked you to bring her to me.
Shes a witch, boss. We had to tie her up or shed put a spell on us. Malcolm told us the marks on her fingers cast spells if she can use her hands.
Ed considered that one and conceded with a nod. True. Good call, men.
Oh, I am so out of here. The witch backed away, bound hands beating the air with her words. Most powerful? Maybe. Most pissed off? You better believe it.
Glitch rushed to grab her by the arm and she struggled, kicking her high-heeled shoe and landing the pointed toe on his thigh. Yikes. That had to hurt. Glitch yowled and hobbled off, clutching his wound. Inego grabbed her other arm.
Enough! The minions glanced to Ed.
The witch pleaded with her thrust-up hands. I can still throw magic with my hands bound. But Ill be much more compelled to listen if you treat me with respect.
Indeed. But could he trust her? Shed once already used witchcraft to soften his anger and make him kiss her. Her mouth was a pretty pale pink today. And those eyes. Had he ever gazed into such vivid green eyes? There were things in them. Mystery. Adventures. Worlds.
Hell. No. He wasnt gazing.
Ill count to three, the witch threatened. Then Im bringing out the big magic.
Boss? Glitch asked on a worried wobble.
What kind of minions are you? Ed said to them. Youre frightened of one little witch? You managed to get her here without taking harm.
Im going to have a bruise, Glitch whined and clutched his thigh.
Where did I find you two? Ed muttered, pacing before the threesome.
Right. Hed rescued the dastardly duo from exile to Daemonia after both had been caught with their proverbial fingers in the cookie jar. Working a V-hub and selling vampire blood to their fellow demons. They were two stupid lunks who had needed direction and a purpose. Which he was trying to give them.
And the best way to lead was by example.
Ed thrust out some minor magic in a black curl of smoke that melted the ropes bound about the witchs hands. My men should not have been so cruel. I apologize.
Yeah? Too little, too late, buster. This is nuts! She turned and marched out of his office, the tight skirt she wore luring his gaze to the sensual wiggle beneath the pale green fabric. Yeah, so gazing was good. Real good.
Inego and Glitch cast him wondering stares, which blew his gaze off course.
Idiots, Ed hissed. He strode after the pissed-off witch. What was her name? Tamatha!
Instead of turning right to go down the hallway to the elevator, shed unknowingly taken a left and now stood like a captive doe before the wall where his secretary normally sat. At least the secretary was spared this scene, though. She was out having a baby demon that could very likely be born with scales, thanks to her affair with a dragon shifter.
Im so sorry. Ed walked up to her and tried to put his hands on her shoulders to calm her, but she slapped at his wrists and hands. Tamatha, please, I want to talk to you.
They put a freakin plastic bag over my head!
He managed to pin one of her shoulders against the wall and worked to wrangle her opposite wrist, to calm her, to make her listen to him. And to be prepared should she try to fling more magic his way.
I could have suffocated!
Indeed, he had best give more detailed instructions next time he sent his men after such a pretty, delicate creature who Ouch!
Pressing his forehead to the wall beside her head, he rode out the pain of a direct hit from her pointy-toed shoe to his shin. Damn, those things were sharp! He was probably bleeding. He didnt want to risk looking because he still had her in a loose but compliant hold.
Sorry, she said softly. I didnt mean to hurt you. Im not cruel. But you bring up my defensive instincts.
When her hand stroked over his cheek and temple, a wave of strange desire shivered through his system.
Tamatha, he gasped. A lush tide of delicious warmth overtook his muscles and his body melted against hers. He could not...resist. Oh, goodness and light.
Bracketing her face with his hands, he kissed her like hed never kissed a woman before. Sweetly. Reverently. With such a longing that it must have shown all over his skin in the shivers he felt riding the tattooed surface. Her breath spilled over his lips and entered his pores. Her aura of lemon perfume surrounded him with a sticky sweet allure.
He was falling, succumbing, slipping into a strange kind of submission...
Realizing he was once again kissing the witch, Ed abruptly broke the connection. Ah hell. He looked at his hands, still gently bracketing her face. And there, on her face, the glint in her eye as the curve of a smile tickled onto her perfect lips. What did you do to me?
Me? Youre the one who keeps kissing me. I didnt do a thing but get kidnapped and roughed up by your henchmen. And then you pressed me up against the wall and had your way with me. She cast her glance aside. Not that there was anything wrong with your way. Which is why I havent wielded magic against you. Yet.
I believe I should be thankful for that. Why is it every time I see you I want to...to...?
Hurt me?
I dont hurt women. I just want to he made a motion to shove but curved his fingers away from touching her push you away. Witches are vile.
So youve said. Repeatedly. Great way to kill the mood, buddy. She shoved his chest, but he didnt step away from her.
Hurt me?
I dont hurt women. I just want to he made a motion to shove but curved his fingers away from touching her push you away. Witches are vile.
So youve said. Repeatedly. Great way to kill the mood, buddy. She shoved his chest, but he didnt step away from her.
Yes, but if you are so repulsive, then why do I end up kissing you every time we meet?
She tilted her head and tapped a finger on her lips. Those luscious, sweet, soft lips demanded more thorough attention. And so he would see to it they had it.
Ed again kissed her, this time pushing his hands through her hair and caressing the softness that spilled over her shoulders in waves of unnatural silver. Goddess hair, he thought. Not of this realm. He pressed his body along hers. To feel her, to take her all in...
Ahem, she muttered against his mouth, and he sensed her need to push him away, when all he wanted to do was get closer than close. Inside her. Intimately. Her gaze veered over his shoulder and to the door of his office.
Ed glanced around behind him. Glitch stood in the doorway, observing with a smirk and dancing gaze. The idiot didnt need to say a thing.
What luck that the most powerful witch in Paris was also one who attracted him like no other and promised to give him dreams that would keep any sane man begging for more. She was a witch, but she wasnt one of those nasty witches his mother had warned him about. She couldnt be.
But then, that was the same thing hed thought about Witch Number Two before shed tried to enslave him.
Ed gripped Tamatha by the wrist and pulled her toward the office, but she planted her feet and tugged.
We need to talk, he said hastily.
Im not going in there with those creeps leering at me. A plastic bag, she reiterated. Seriously!
Releasing his hold on the stubborn witch, Ed gestured toward the idiots. Leave. Go do...that thing I needed you to do.
What thing, boss?
Inego shoved his partner out of the doorway. You know, that thing. Sure, boss. Were out of here.
There is no thing, Glitch argued as they strolled down the hallway.
Exasperated by his employees incompetence, Ed pushed his hands over his hair, and then remembering his guest, he took a moment to vacillate on what he was about to do. Make nice. With a witch. Because he needed one.
First, he had to determine if he could trust her.
He gestured to Tamatha that she enter his office. Please?
With an impertinent lift of her chin, she strode through the doors, quickening her pace as she passed him and walking to the center of the black marble floor that stretched far too long to his desk. This office was too large and ostentatious, but hed got the rental for a steal because a mass murder had taken place in it a few years ago. He had sensed the malefic vibrations in the airand still did on occasionand hed had it smudged more than a few times, but that never seemed to clear the negative energies.
I dont know your name, she said. You know mine. Tamatha Bellerose.
Bellerose, he repeated, but didnt recognize the surname. Pretty, like its owner. My name is Edamite. You can call me Ed.
Edamite? Ive never heard that form of the name before. I would say glad to meet you, Ed, but Im not terribly thrilled about this situation. She cast her gaze about the room, briefly noting the few items displayed on the wall. Generally my dates are a bit less...kidnappy.
She shivered and embraced herself. The blouse she wore was a sheer, filmy black thing that showed a glimpse of the black lace bra beneath. And on her arms, beneath the sheer black, he made out a tattoo, but couldnt remark its design. Smaller symbols had been inked on the midsection of each of her fingers. Spell tats, no doubt. And there at her neck was a white ink symbol he recognized. A vampire ward. Smart witch.
He rubbed his forearm where beneath the shirt was the witch ward. It usually tingled when a witch was near. And it did now. But why hadnt it when hed run into her the other night?
Cold? He passed her by and walked to his desk, intent on maintaining his calm and not rushing over to steal her into his embrace and devour her again. What was up with that? He was not lusting over a witch. That way lay trouble.
Something awful happened in this room, she said, her gaze still taking the area in. Have you smudged the place?
Half a dozen times. Never seems to chase away whatever morbid stuff remains. Ive given up on trying.
I could do it for you and it would work. Whoever has smudged it previously wasnt bleeding into the very pores of the stone beneath our feet. Earth magic is required. Murders, she said suddenly and with knowing. I dont want to stay in this room much longer.
Okay, fine, Tamatha, but give me two minutes, please?
If thats how long it will take for you to explain why you had me kidnapped, then...go.
It wasnt a Ed surrendered the argument with an exhalation. My men are assholes. I apologize for their ineptitude. To get to the point... He spread out his hands before him. I need a witch.
He didnt know if he could trust her yet. What was he saying? Why hadnt he a plan? Damn, she was so gorgeous. Hed say anything to have another kiss.
Really?
Well, well. She lifted her chin and assumed a haughty pose, which was made all the more attractive by the tight skirt and slender gams and that curly goddess hair that Ed could still feel crushed between his fingers.
Well, well, what? he asked.
Im studying diabology and demonomancy. It so happens I need a demon.
You mean to study? To put under a microscope and observe?
Oh, not like that. Maybe a little. Textbooks and dusty old grimoires are excellent resources for learning, but Im more of a hands-on kind of girl. I would love to have a demon to talk to and ask questions. Learn things.
He smoothed a palm over his hair. She was annoying and she was appealing. And he wasnt sure which side was going to win out, but she was the only witch he had right now. And apparently a powerful one. He wanted to play her carefully, lest he became one of those demons from his mothers faery tales. They had never survived to the end of the story.
I dont do the bug-under-the-microscope thing, he offered.
You want a powerful witch? You gotta bargain, buddy.
So that was the way of it? The magic hed felt filling the atmosphere in the Montparnasse cemetery had been incredible. Immense. He needed dark magic to fight it, but more likely, light magic to win against it. And Tamatha looked like a witch of the Light.
Are you a witch of the Light?
She nodded. Mostly.
Well, she was honest. And her hair spilled like liquid silver over her shoulders. It was gorgeous Ah! He had to focus.
You said you are studying demonomancy? Thats controlling demons. How do I know you wont try to control me? Er...again.
Id never do such a thing. Ive never summoned a demon, either. Its wrong to exert your control over others.
He lifted a brow at that one.
She shrugged. Well, you know, I have to practice my spells. The binding was a reaction.
So you said. But it was an exertion of control.
Guilty. I do have a thing for keeping things orderly, which Ive been told is also a means of control. She glanced around the room. Id show you my OCD magic, but this place is spotless. Too cold.