Chapter 19
19
JOSEPHINE
I ’m slow to wake up, lost in the most delicious feeling. I’m surrounded by heat. There’s a weight on my back and another on my butt. My body is languid, and nothing hurts. All the aches I live with constantly are just…gone.
I burrow down into my bed. Bristles scrape over my cheek, and the weight on my butt clamps down.
No, not weight. A hand.
I freeze, my brain taking way too long to chug to life. I’m not in my bed. My nose is pressed into the crook of a neck. My hand is on the very bare and defined muscles of a man’s chest. As if I need any more indication that I’m lying on a person and not a bed, the massive erection that just happens to be perfectly slotted between my thighs would be a dead giveaway.
I don’t want to open my eyes yet. I’m not sure if I think it will all go poof and disappear, but I’m lingering in this limbo for a moment longer.
What happened last night? Snippets come back to me. The new moon ceremony, my mother’s anger over my magic, and the extreme fatigue afterward. Shit. I collapsed in the woods.
Ava called Roman.
I barely hold back the groan. She didn’t. Shit, that’s embarrassing. Except he came, didn’t he? And…he’s still here. I crack open an eye, only to find Roman looking at me.
“I was wondering how long you were going to pretend to be asleep.” His voice is quiet, like he doesn’t want anyone to hear us.
“I was trying to figure out if I fell asleep on a flagpole or if there was just a man beneath me.”
Roman’s chest rumbles with a soft chuckle. “I’ve been accused of a steely gaze before, but the rest of me is all organic matter.”
I close my eyes, smiling. I trail my fingers over his chest through the light smattering of hair there. It’s such a gift to touch someone without pain. Roman’s shirt has been hiked up, and my hands have worked their way underneath the fabric. Did I do that in my sleep?
Roman sucks in a breath, and I lift my eyes to him again. The gaze staring back at me is hot enough that my face flushes. I pull my hand away, embarrassed that I thought it was okay to maul him. Roman’s hand captures mine, pressing it back to his chest. His heart beats hard and fast under my fingers. What is this connection between us?
“Thank you for coming for me last night,” I whisper.
“I could have you coming for me this morning, too.” He grins back at me.
The loud clearing of a throat has my eyes going wide. Roman’s fingers flex on my butt, pressing me against his hard dick. I stifle a groan and lift my head enough to see over the back of the couch. Ava is sitting on a stool at my kitchen island, sipping a cup of coffee.
“Don’t let me interrupt.” She lifts her mug and takes a slow drink.
“If she doesn’t, I will.” My head whips around to where Stellan is splayed out on the floor. A pillow from one of the chairs is shoved under his head, and a throw blanket that’s too short to cover his feet lays over his body. “I always thought I’d be into voyeurism, but it turns out, it’s not my kink.
“Your friends are annoying,” Roman says as I scramble off him, my entire body heating with embarrassment. I nearly step on a still-sleeping Piper. She’s the heaviest sleeper I’ve ever met and is snoozing through all the conversation.
“We also have excellent hearing,” Stellan groans from the ground. An arm thrown over his eyes.
Ava’s mouth forms a silent “wow” as she points to a disheveled Roman Blackthorn. On my couch. I nod because, yeah, a sleep-rumpled Roman is delectable.
“I think you’ve all officially seen that Josephine is safe, and I haven’t molested her. You can leave now.” Roman is stretched out on my couch, his arms under his head. There’s a dark shadow on his jaw that, combined with the shirt that’s riding up and displaying very firm abs, makes my head swim. He’s far too hot to be sleeping on my couch and grabbing my butt. What is happening?
“It might be a stretch to say you didn’t molest her. I saw where your hand was creeping,” Stellan grumbles.
“Okay.” I cover my face with my hands. “Okay. That’s just great. Yep. I think everyone should go so I can die alone of embarrassment.”
Ava chuckles, sliding off her stool and setting her coffee cup in the sink. She crosses the room to stand over Stellan and kicks at his side until he snatches her foot. She hops around but manages to wiggle free and deliver one more kick. With an exaggerated groan, Stellan gets up, tossing his pillow back on the chair and neatly folds his blanket. Ava squats down by Piper and wakes her much more gently. It takes a lot longer for her to rouse.
Stellan walks over to Roman’s side, clapping him on the shoulder. “We’ve been evicted. Time to go.”
“Stellan,” Piper warns in her soft voice, barely awake but already being the voice of reason. Ava grabs Stellan’s arm and tugs him away.
“We’ll let the two of you talk things through.”
The door clicks shut behind them, leaving the apartment glaringly quiet in their wake. Roman’s presence almost swells, taking up extra space. I scramble off the couch, escaping to the kitchen. I need something to do other than panic at Roman being in my apartment.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Sure.” Roman pushes off the couch, taking the seat Ava was previously occupying. His hair is messy from sleep. He looks so human. Obviously, I know he’s human, but he always looks perfectly put together. Like he doesn’t have the same flaws as the rest of us do. It’s nice to see him this way. It’s also a reminder that I probably look like hell.
I’m still in my jeans and T-shirt from the night before. There’s a hair tie around my wrist, and I gather my long hair in a ponytail. There are still flyaways, but it’s got to be better than it was before. At least I wasn’t wearing any makeup last night, so the only raccoon eyes I’m sporting will be from the permanent bags I can’t get rid of. Although now that I stop and think about it, I feel…great. The exhaustion that literally crippled me last night is gone. The small aches and pains that greet me every morning are absent. My magic pulses in my chest, a warm glow that’s brighter than I can ever remember it being.
I rub my palm over my sternum as I turn away from Roman, confused about how different things are from last night. I’ve never woken up the morning after a new moon ceremony and felt like this. My eyes dart over to Roman, who’s watching my hand like he wants to replace it with his.
I spin away from him, grabbing two mugs out of the cupboard, then fill them both. I slide one across the counter toward Roman, feeling his eyes on me the whole time. I need a shower and my toothbrush. Coffee isn’t going to help that, but Ava made a fresh pot, so who am I to let it go to waste?
“Cream? Sugar?”
“Sugar, please.”
I push the bowl of sugar over to him, along with a spoon.
“You drink it black?” He raises a brow and lifts his cup for a sip, wincing and then blowing on the coffee before taking another drink.
“Just like my heart,” I joke.
“I doubt that very much.” Roman sits back, crossing his arms as a frown mars his face. “Can I ask what happened last night?”
I pick up my coffee and take a big gulp, burning my tongue. I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“I guess I assumed your coven’s new moon ceremony was similar to ours.”
Our coven leaders don’t share a lot of information about the Tenebris coven, unless it’s to curse them or talk about how evil their dark magic is. To hear them talk about it, the Tenebris coven are a bunch of abusive, self-serving narcissists, but that hasn’t been my experience.
Still, I know next to nothing about their ceremonies or coven traditions. I always assumed they were vastly different from ours.
“Ours, uh, is supposed to be a gathering to renew our magic.”
Roman nods, but his mouth is pinched.
“And my family uses it to strengthen our particular magic as well.”
Roman frowns, reaching out to grab his coffee and take another drink. “How so?”
“Well, we hold hands, kind of like you and your brother.” I smile at him, but he doesn’t reciprocate. “And our magic sort of flows to one another.”
“I was joking about that bit.” He’s still frowning. “I’ve not heard of this power sharing between family members. That must be specific to the Lumen coven.” There’s a slight tone to his voice that has me frowning. I don’t love a lot about my coven, but that doesn’t mean someone else gets to make comments about it.
I trace the lettering on my coffee cup. Ava got it for me as a joke. It has a cactus on it and says, “Can’t touch this.” It came with a set. The one that says, “I don’t give a succulent,” is currently in my sink from Ava’s coffee.
My family and I have shared power for as long as I can remember. Now that Roman’s talking about it, I can’t help but think about the rest of our coven. I’m usually in so much pain during the ceremony that I don’t pay attention to what anyone else is doing, but he’s right. It isn’t typical. None of my friends and their families power share. Granted, Ava doesn’t talk to her parents, and Piper tries to avoid hers whenever possible.
“You’re right. I don’t think it is normal.” A pit forms in my stomach.
“But last night was different? Normally, you get a boost of energy?”
It should feel like Roman is prying. Asking too many invasive questions for someone I don’t know all that well. I guess I’m a fool because it feels protective, like he’s concerned for me.
“I don’t, actually. I’m always a little drained after the new moon ceremony, but nothing like last night.”
Roman hums, sucking in his bottom lip and looking lost in his thoughts. I’m struck dumb for a moment. He’s so incredibly handsome. His dark hair is messy, and his shirt rumpled. His sleeves are pushed back, showing off a fair amount of bronzed, muscled forearm. I turn away, using the excuse of refilling my coffee to give myself a moment to cool down.
When I turn back around, Roman’s eyes dip to my chest before traveling down to my hips and thighs. I don’t know what he sees because there’s nothing special about my body. Add to that, sleeping in my clothes all night after collapsing in the woods, and I’m sure I look like a banshee. I touch my ponytail.
“I need a shower. Badly. I’m just going to…” I point down the hall toward the bathroom. “Um, help yourself to whatever. Or if you need to go, I get it.” I clamp my mouth shut to stop blubbering, spin on my heel, and escape to the bathroom.
I press my back against the closed door and drag in a deep breath. My body is tingling, and I can’t tell if I’m nervous, excited, or turned on right now. All I know is that Roman Blackthorn is looking like sex incarnate and is sitting in my kitchen. How is this happening?
I shower in a daze. Everything that happened over the last twenty-four hours runs through my head. Questions about the power-sharing my family does, the extreme fatigue that hit me this time, and the fact that Roman showed up when Ava called him. Then let me sleep on him like a body pillow all night long. Not to mention, the thoughts I had about the Mother and the Crone, like we were missing something by not including them in our ceremony.
Roman barely knows me. He’s a dark witch. Common sense says that he would have told Ava to get fucked and hung up on her. Instead, he’s sitting in my kitchen, drinking coffee out of a cactus themed mug and giving me looks that make me burn.
“Crap.” I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body. I didn’t bring any clothes in here. That’s fine. I’ll just sneak across the hall to my bedroom.
Steam billows out when I open the door. I swear to the Maiden, it parts and reveals Roman like a dark God. I clutch the top of my towel. Whether it’s to hold it in place or rip it off so I can offer myself up like a sacrifice is anyone’s guess.
Roman takes one step, closing the distance between us. I tip my head back, my eyes locking onto his stormy gray gaze.
“I have to go, but I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.” He shakes his head and steps away. I should let him leave and run over to my bedroom to get some clothes on. Instead, my feet follow of their own accord until we’re standing in my living room. His coat is gripped tightly in his hand. His gaze dips down my body and his throat bobs as he swallows.
“Okay, goodbye. And thank you. You didn’t have to help, but I appreciate it. I’d probably still be out in the woods this morning, if not for you.”
Roman drops his coat back on the chair and cups my cheek in one hand, his other curling around my waist and pulling me in closer. I clutch my towel in one hand, but my other floats to his chest. I nearly close my eyes in pleasure. Will I ever get used to this casual touching? The sensation of his warm hand, the tight grip just above my hip that doesn’t hurt but feels incredible. The way his chest rises and falls under my hand.
“I did need to come.” Roman’s voice is low, teetering on the edge of feral.
“Okay.” I exhale the word in agreement.
Roman watches me as he lowers his head and brushes the barest of kisses over my mouth. He doesn’t deepen it. His entire body is tense, every muscle flexed like he’s fighting to stay still. My magic hums, pulsing in waves and pressing against my skin.
I ache. For him.
I grab the back of Roman’s neck and pull him down, deepening the kiss with a desperate sound. He groans into my mouth and I drink it down, instantly wet. He slides his hands down my back and under the towel to grab my ass and drag me against his body. Fuck my towel. I let go so I can use both hands to feel his skin, pushing them under his shirt. The way his muscles bunch and flex under my touch makes me shiver. The towel drops to the ground and Roman makes an inhuman sound.
“Fuck, what are you doing to me?” he murmurs against my lips before diving back in and kissing me until I’m dizzy.
What am I doing to him? He’s the one making me lose my mind with one kiss.
Roman’s head lifts and the hint of a smile curls up the edges of his lips. “What is this?”
I turn my head to see what he’s talking about. My eyes go wide at the sight of the giant mirror in my living room.
“The…ah…last tenant left it.”
Roman’s hands move to my hips and he turns me around so quickly I squeak out a surprised gasp. The reflection in front of me is mortifying. I’m completely naked, no make-up, hair a wet tangle, and Roman is a dark, beautiful man who is still fully clothed. I shift my arm to cover my chest, but Roman’s hands are there first, cupping my breasts while he leaves a trail of hot, damp kisses along my jaw and down my throat. My head rolls back against his shoulder, and I shiver, the feeling of his mouth and fingers setting off fireworks everywhere they touch. The embarrassment of a moment before is gone.
I arch my back, my hips rolling against Roman’s hard dick. He bites down on my shoulder, his tongue lapping at the spot a moment later. His fingers tease my nipple while his other hand slides down my stomach, but I turn to face him.
Roman frowns down at me, then licks his lips like he’s chasing the taste of me.
“I want to touch you.” My fingers fumble at his fly, while his trace a line up my waist and across my back.
My breath hitches as I work his jeans and boxers down his hips. Roman hisses in a breath as his cock springs free, heavy and hard. His fingers drag through my hair, and he presses a kiss to the juncture between my neck and shoulder, making me arch into him. I wrap my hand around the length of him, shivering at the raw groan he unleashes against my skin. I move my hand, sliding it down and back up. Roman lifts his head from my shoulder to look down at where my hand is working his cock. I stare too, mesmerized by the sight of his twitching abs and flexing muscles.
Roman’s hand fists in my hair and he kisses me hard and deep while I stroke him. He groans against my lips, his hips rocking into my hand. His hand presses against my stomach and slips between my legs.
“Fuck,” Roman groans, his head dropping to my shoulder again. I’m so wet my thighs are coated. Two fingers carefully slide inside. Roman’s mouth is everywhere: on my shoulder, neck, jaw, capturing my mouth in another deadly kiss.
He works his fingers in and out, sliding them out to circle my clit until my knees are trembling. For a moment, I forget that my hand is wrapped around his dick. I stroke from base to tip. Roman pulls his mouth from mine, tipping his head back with a long groan.
“You’re going to make me come.”
“Good.” I laugh, but it quickly turns to a gasp when his fingers slide back inside and his thumb presses against my clit.
Roman’s free arm wraps around my waist, holding me up when my hips start jerking. I squeeze his cock, and hold on to his shoulder with my other hand. My nails dig into his skin, and he comes, his orgasm hot on my hand.
“Fuck. You’re perfect,” Roman growls into my ear.
Right then, I imagine what it would feel like to have him saying that to me while I’m on my back and he’s buried deep inside me. To have him fucking me with wild abandon. I cry out, my orgasm shredding through me. For a moment, it feels like I’m outside of my body, floating in a sea of complete pleasure. Then I’m earthbound once again and it’s even better. Every inch of my skin hums with satisfaction and my magic buzzes with a pulsing warmth in my chest.
It takes a few minutes for reality to set back in. I’m naked in my living room, in front of my giant mirror. Roman’s pants are halfway down his ass, and I need another shower. He picks up my towel, handing it to me before he pulls up his pants.
“This is the worst timing, but my brother is waiting for me outside.”
I cringe and wonder how long he’s been out there.
Roman takes a step back only to come right back to me. He presses a kiss to my lips before walking away. Just before he leaves, he calls over his shoulder. “Try not to get in any more trouble, Jo.” Roman uses the nickname my friends call me, and I sink against the wall, wondering how I’m going to survive whatever the hell we’re doing here.