Chapter 22
I should’ve jerked off before picking Ava up. I’d considered it, but eventually decided to abstain, knowing that she’d receive a larger dose of magic this way.
But I also don’t want to walk around this get-together with a raging hard-on.
Gods, that witch will send me to an early, sex-induced grave.
I drag in deep breaths through my nose and think about taxes. Having to fill out all those boxes, and gathering all my receipts, and knowing I did everything above board but still worrying the IRS will audit me because I might have accidentally filled out one of their endless forms incorrectly.
My dick softens, and I let my hands drop away from my face. And despite spending the last few minutes trying to clear thoughts of her from my mind, my eyes immediately search for Ava among the gathering.
A decent number of Elementals are here today. I spy plenty of Squids, and the fiery Byrne sisters linger by the cornhole boards along with my cousin August. He lifts his hand when our eyes meet, and I wave back. As far as I know, he’s the only Ice Elemental—or Snow Cone—in all of Phoenix. There are Airheads and Stoners and Petal Pushers drinking and laughing and relaxing as the afternoon sun shines down on us.
Damien lets so many of us into his home.
I haven’t even invited Ava back to my place.
Why haven’t I?
A double knot tightens in my chest. One from the idea of having someone in my house who’s not related to me.
But the other from the worry that Ava might read into the lack of invite. She has more reason to worry about me, and yet she told me where she hides her spare key and asked me to check on her kitten.
Ava continues to let me into her safe space, but I haven’t shown her the same vulnerability.
I search with an edge of urgency now, wanting her in my view. Wanting to reassure her that I’m not trying to keep any of myself from her.
Any part of me she wants, she can have.
The black of her bikini strap stretched over a pale shoulder catches my attention. Her blonde hair appears a shade darker as the strands hang in a wet curtain down her back.
While I watch, she raises a can to her lips.
And across the pool bar from her, Damien leans forward, as if the guy only wants to get closer.
I’m off the lounge chair and diving into the pool before I remember to take off my hat and shoes. As I paddle toward my witch, I send a wave behind me to carry my sandals and baseball hat to settle on the side of the pool. Maybe they get there, maybe they don’t. Doesn’t matter as long as I reach Ava before my friend woos her with his charm and handsome face and responsible personality.
I rise from the water like a surprise sea monster right beside Ava’s seat and let out a not-at-all-breathless, “Hey guys! What’re you talking about?” as I attempt to lean a casual elbow on the bar.
Ava’s eyes are hidden by her opaque sunglasses, but her plush mouth pops open in a surprised O. I’m so tempted to dive in and kiss the fuck out of that soft mouth, but I’m trying not to be too desperate and overbearing.
Just a little bit needy.
“Sammy,” Damien says with a smirk. “Where’d you come from?”
“You invited me,” I point out, knowing he’s trying to draw attention to my awkward entrance. We’ve been friends far too long for him to let things slide. “Are you losing your memory in your old age? What are you now? Eighty?”
Damien’s smirk deepens, and I can see him coming up with exactly the right words to reveal to Ava how immature I truly am, which will have her reconsidering things.
Things like letting me rub sunscreen onto every inch of her body. Things like asking me to watch after Kraken when she has to work late. Things like climbing behind the wheel of my car and letting me believe that wherever she goes, the witch will take me with her.
I head him off. “What did I miss? What’s the hot Elemental gossip?”
Damien’s thick black brows creep up, but he lets my topic change slide. “Actually, you two are. Well, Ava specifically.” He re-trains his attention on the witch at my side, and she shifts on her watery seat. “People are buzzing about the stunt you pulled here with Sammy’s arm.”
In response to his comment, a small zing goes through my forearm, as if the limb remembers how magic mended it back together. I’d still be in a cast today if Ava hadn’t intervened.
“That was pretty spectacular,” I agree as I wrap my perfectly functioning arm around Ava’s waist.
“You all have magic, too,” Ava mutters before taking a long drag of her drink. I can’t help thinking this conversation makes her uncomfortable. But before I can do another abrupt topic change, Damien continues talking.
“We can play with the elements, sure.” To emphasize his point, Damien waves his hand, and the pool water at his side swirls and rises, a thin column twisting in the air before it falls down with a slap. “But you healed a man. And that break was nasty. Your magic is useful.”
“My magic is finite,” she grinds out.
Damien leans forward. “That can’t be right. There’s always fuel for magic. And you can use yours to keep us safe.” He tilts his head toward the gathering, the group of mythical beings surrounding us. “You could be our on-call healer. So no one has to risk a human doctor. We don’t get sick, but we do get hurt.”
“That must be nice,” Ava mutters so low I almost don’t hear. But I do, and my memory brings up the pained expression on her tightly drawn face as a migraine ravaged her head and body.
Damien doesn’t know about how Ava paid for healing me. There’s a thrumming eagerness in my friend’s voice, and I realize he’s been planning this. This conversation with Ava. Maybe the guy is attracted to her. Maybe he’s not.
But one thing I can tell for certain is he wants to use her.
“Damien,” I snap, my voice taking on a harsh note I never use.
Two sets of surprised eyes flick to me.
“Ava is a witch.” I glare at him. “Not an Elemental. Things work differently for her.”
“But—”
“You will not guilt her into being your on-call doctor,” I inform him. “You don’t know what it costs her.”
He frowns, his attention returning to Ava. “You’re not fueled by your emotions?”
Tight-lipped, she shakes her head, not going on to explain how she needs to draw from others.
And that she needs her magic for herself.
Damien sighs and straightens, combing a frustrated hand through his hair. “That’s…” He sighs again. “I just want our kind to have options. Safe ones.”
From my angle, I watch as guilt tightens Ava’s face. I press closer to her, tightening my hold and trying to convey support for whatever response she wants to give.
Ava leans a shoulder into me, then, after unclenching her rigid jaw, she mutters, “If it’s serious—like Sammy’s arm bad or worse—you can call me. But I’m not a doctor. I’m not a healer. I’m a librarian.”
Damien’s expression softens and he gives Ava a hint of his charming smile, which has me crowding even closer to her side, holding her warm wet body flush against mine.
“Thank you,” he says. “I promise only to get in touch if it’s an emergency. Can I grab your number before you leave?”
Ava rattles off a string of digits I had to wait months and gift her a cat for. Damien climbs out of the pool, presumably to add Ava as a contact on his cell.
“Let me know if he tries to sext you,” I growl against the smooth skin of her shoulder before tracing kisses up her neck.
She chuckles, and I relax at the sound.
“I don’t think that’s his plan.” Her tone shifts mournful on the last word.
“You don’t have to heal anyone.” I wrap my arms tighter. “You need to take care of yourself first.”
Ava nods. “My mom always liked the saying don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm. That’s what I reminded myself of whenever people asked me to heal them in the past.”
I cup her cheek and push her sunglasses to the top of her head so I can gaze into her liquid silver eyes. “You set yourself on fire for me.”
She offers me a sad smile and a shrug. “I didn’t think about it. You were hurt. I didn’t want you to be, so I did something about it.”
“Don’t do that again,” I tell her. “I can go to the hospital. If something weird comes up on my charts, I’ve got enough money to make the forms disappear.”
Her mouth twists in a sardonic expression. “Your money is another form of magic, huh?”
“Basically.” I lean in to pepper her snarky mouth with worshipful kisses. “Promise me.”
Ava reaches up to trace a finger over the line of my jaw until she reaches the point of my chin. “No.”
“Ava.” I try to make my tone scolding. But I’ve never had a good intimidation face.
“I promise,” she whispers, and I think I managed it, but then she keeps going, “only to heal you when you’re topping off my tank.” Then the evil witch palms me through my swim trunks. My hips rock into her touch, and I swear I can feel magic infusing her skin where I hold tight to her.
“I want you to keep that magic for yourself,” I groan against her neck.
Maybe I should be concerned about this situation. I’ve worked hard to distance myself from people who use me for my money, and now here is a woman in my arms who is literally part succubus. She’s not after my wealth, but Ava is still using me for my lust.
But she’s offering to give it back if I need it.
I don’t want her to, though. And I don’t care if she does use me. Uses every last drop of power she can glean from me.
All I want is for her to want me along with the using.
Her hand slips away, and I let out a grumbled protest.
“There’s at least thirty other people around this pool, and while I may dance in next to nothing, I’m not an exhibitionist,” Ava tells me, a teasing note in her voice. “Let’s see if we can behave ourselves.”
I half forgot we weren’t alone. The only way I can hope to keep some composure is by releasing my tentacle-tight hold and slipping onto the underwater stool beside Ava’s.
“Fine.” I steal a sip from her seltzer, and she flicks water at me in laughing revenge. Then I ask her about her extra-long days at the library and try not to get pissed off at her unsupportive administration or turned on by how she eagerly gestures when she talks about finding sources for a particularly tricky research question.
“I’m hoping now that the summer break has started for most colleges there will be more applicants for the director position.” Ava leans back in the water to wet her hair again, and I could swear I feel the moisture tracing through the strands.
The word summer catches my attention, and before I consider if it’s a good idea, I ask “Would you want to come to my parents’ house for the summer solstice?”
The witch’s sunglasses are back in place, but I can feel her slow blink at me.
I clear my throat and sit tall. It’s only weird if I make it weird.
“They love the holiday. Go all out for it. Get way too much food and have a massive party at their house.” And though I had fun during the solstice when I was younger, the past few years have felt like going through the motions.
But if Ava came with me, everything would be new.
Ava tilts her head. “You want me to meet your parents and their friends?”
“Yes.” I want to introduce you to every corner of my life.
“They won’t mind if I’m there?”
“Not at all. Honestly, they won’t even realize you’re there until I introduce you. That’s how packed it gets.”
And even after I introduce her, it won’t be long until she slips from their minds.
I love my parents, but they’re like fast-moving rivers, constantly rushing through life and moving onto new things.
Ava gives a slow nod. “Okay. I’ll spend the holiday with your family.”