Live To Tell

Just following on from the Billy's got a lot to catch up with, I thought I'd give a little teaser of Addicted to Witch. The excerpt sort of speaks for itself...


Excerpt Magic Excerpt

He lifted the jumper from her torso and gave pause to admire her, briefly wishing he lived in a time of the Renaissance artists who would have fallen to their knees in gratitude for a muse such as her. They would have been allowed to look, feast their eyes, but never, ever allowed to touch. Only him. His hand slid inside her jeans and he hardened instantly at his discovery. Scalp tingling at the tug she gave on his hair when his fingers slid inside her, he curved them with insistence. His mouth touched her neck, the swell of her breasts and back to her lips. She tasted like ecstasy, he thought, his mouth trailing to her earlobe, biting down as she began to tighten around his soaked fingers.

“Auden,” she gave a gasping cry.

Satisfaction pulsed through his sex at the need in her voice. He wanted her to give herself completely to him, like she had only a few hours ago.

“Auden, stop.” She pushed at his shoulders, her eyes round with surprise, looking just beyond his shoulder as her orgasm took her. With Helena still shaking beneath him, his fingers caught in the grip of her body, he turned his head. His heart froze. Romely stood there, her mouth parted in horror.

“What are you doing?” Romely whispered.

Helena struggled from underneath him and righted her clothing. “What’s going on?”

Auden opened his mouth to speak, and found his throat closed up. Goddamn you, Romely! 

She turned to Helena. “Do you know he’s in a relationship? With me? We have been for years.”

Helena looked at Auden, her eyes narrowed. “Is that true?”

No! He wanted to scream. Not a sound emerged from him.

Romely spoke again. “We’re trying to work things out. At least I thought we were. Do you like stealing other women’s men?”

“Wait a minute.” Helena got to her feet. “I didn’t know. I’m not psychic. I didn’t see or hear anything from Auden that you even exist.”

“But I do,” Romely said. “He can’t get away from that simple fact. I do exist. He and I are meant to be together.”

“I’d dump him if I were you,” Helena said harshly. “He obviously didn’t think about you once.” She turned back to Auden, her palm connecting painfully with his cheek, the sound echoing in the hallway. “You don’t seem like a coward. But I know better than anyone how appearances can be deceptive.” She started up the stairs. “I’ll just get my things and leave.”

Romely inclined her head. “I think that’s best. I can give you a lift to the station, if you like.”

Helena’s mouth parted in surprise before she said, “I’ll be all right. Thanks.”

As Helena hit the top step, Romely spoke. “Well, that was really inconsiderate of you.”

“Fuck you, Romely.” Auden blinked the water from his eyes, caused by Helena’s slap. She had a right to be angry; he wished he could correct her. He wanted to change her mind so badly. This was such bullshit.

Romely snorted. “If you had, it’d be a different story now, wouldn’t it?”

Furiously, he got to his feet, fully intending to strangle the life from her.

“Ah ah!” she held up a hand—preventing Auden from moving any closer. “You still don’t understand, do you? Even after all this time. You are mine. Just as I’m yours.”

“I don’t want you!” he shouted.

“I don’t believe you. We can do this dance for eternity, or you can start thinking smart. No more girls like that.” Romely gave a sneer. “She seems scared of her own shadow. Why would you waste your time?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” He sat back down on the step in defeat. “You’re a sith.” Her mouth tightened in disapproval. “We can carry this on as much as you like. I’ll still hate you.”

Her eyes danced with joy. “You know where that comes from, don’t you? It’s only the other side of love.”

He sent her a look he prayed conveyed how fucking stupid he found her. “It comes from the fact you have stolen everything good in my life because I don’t see you as anything more than a spot I could bleach out. You’re strong, but you can’t change our rules. You can’t make me love you.”

“I’m leaving you alone to get there by yourself,” she sighed. “You will. Just, focus.”

“Lift the curse.”

“No, Auden. It’s for your own good.”

“What do you know about what’s good for me?” he asked, perplexed. “That’s the problem, Romely, you don’t know me. You just have this fanciful idea about me that isn’t true.”

“It is! You just won’t admit what you are. I know you deep down. I saw it all those years ago. I saved you from a life of waste.”

“And keeping me a prisoner in my own home isn’t waste of life?”

Romely’s temper flared. “If you weren’t fucking strange women, you’d be meditating on how to make yourself a better man, the man that deserves me!”

“Oh Jesus Christ, no!” he bellowed.

Romely watched him, wide-eyed. He hadn’t displayed that much emotion to her in years. She gave a small shrug. “Then we’re back to the beginning.”

Helena hurtled down the stairs. “I’ll post the clothes back to you,” she said, barely looking at him.

No, don’t leave, please!

“Helena,” he started, before Romely locked his jaw with a single look. Helena murmured an apology to Romely.

“How will you get back to the house?” he ventured.

Still not looking at him, she indicated the door. “I’ve called a cab. It’s waiting outside.” Her gaze lifted, connecting with his own. “Oh… Go to hell.”

There was his salvation, walking away from him. Romely closed the door behind her and turned back to him. “How shall we work through this?” she asked with an expectant smile. “I mean I’m upset, but I forgive you.”

The lights inside the house dimmed, the clouds darkened the sky. Every single piece of furniture in the vicinity rose from the ground and launched toward Romely. With a scream, she held up her hands as the furniture exploded into dust. Covered in powdered wood and grit, she heaved at him, “You did this to yourself!”

“Get out.” Not waiting for further argument, he trudged upstairs to his bedroom and closed the door. His hand tightened on the handle and he slammed the door into the frame again and again and again until the wood splintered and the handle came away from the door altogether. He threw the handle to the carpet and lay down.

Closing his eyes he envisioned Helena, looking like a fairy princess, hunting for rosemary. No. He wouldn’t allow this. There was no way he’d give her up. He’d had the briefest taste of freedom on Helena’s lips, and he wanted it all.

Now was not the right time to defy Romely’s curfew and get up to London. But he absolutely would. Find Helena and try to get around the impossibility of his situation. He had to.