“Apparently, every female aged ten to ninety did,” Magic said grumpily.
“I don’t know how I feel about dating. Vulcan was a huge part of my life, and he’d want me to be happy. But my happiness was him and the kids. Now it’s just the children. Even though Vulcan and Kanon have been gone for two years, and Aster a few months, I’m trying to find a balance.”
“Does that have to be alone?” Magic asked.
“No. You can’t replace Vulcan, just as he couldn’t replace you.”
Magic turned towards me. “I don’t want to step into Vulcan’s shoes. Jody. I’d like to create my own future with you and the children.”
His lips met mine, grazing them gently. A shiver ran through me; they were so familiar despite the years between us. I leaned into the kiss as Magic pulled me closer. A small moan escaped as Magic nibbled my bottom lip, and I opened.
This, my body remembered – this sensation of being alive. My hands clenched on his Henley, and Magic’s musky scent of sandalwood and pepper surrounded me. The kiss deepened as I plastered myself to his chest. It was broader, firmer, and I began exploring as Magic plundered my mouth. Our tongues met, grazed, and electricity shot through me. Heat pooled between my legs, my nipples puckered, and my skin tingled wherever Magic touched me.
“Magic,” I whispered against his mouth.
“Never thought I’d taste these lips again,” Magic murmured and kissed me once more.
When we finally broke away from each other, Magic held my eyes. “I won’t push Jody, but I want everything I lost. You, us, the tribe of children you come with.”
“You’re insane.”
“Well, we always knew that,” Magic quipped, and I laughed. This felt good. Familiar despite the years. Was there a chance for us again? Time would tell.
Magic
“Fire in the hold!” I bellowed as Jesper lobbed a grenade.
Lars cursed and threw himself aside as Oskar went the other way. The grenade blew, and glitter exploded everywhere.
“Pretty!” Laila said and then shrieked as another exploded, and she got splattered with paint.
It had been a week since the date with Jody, and she’d asked me to watch the tribe as she headed into town. I’d happily agreed, although I didn’t think Jody had this in mind. The kids fuckin’ loved it—even Laila was having a blast. The glitter grenades were painted a lurid purple, so they knew they were safe.
“Can I use that?” Jesper asked, pointing to the grenade launcher I’d brought. I’d spent the week in my arms room adjusting weapons to be kid-friendly.
“Sure.” I showed Jesper how to load up and let the boy go nuts.
“What can I have?” Jerrik asked, ducking a missile.
I studied him, and Jerrik waited patiently. “Here,” I said, handing him a repeating crossbow and a magazine with twenty bolts in it. Jerrik grinned and raced off.
“And me?” Henrik inquired. I handed him a paintball gun, and the kid ran off whooping. Laila came over and collapsed next to me as the boys waged war on each other. She didn’t seem bothered being covered in paint.
I tossed a grenade in Lars’s direction and watched as it went ‘Boom!’ and Lars shrieked. It was just a sound grenade, but his reaction was worth it.
“That’s mean,” Laila murmured, but grinned.
“Stick with me, kid.” I winked. “I’ve a few nasty ones.”
“Yeah, that might be wise,” Laila replied.
I waited until Oskar neared and then launched one with two black stripes. It detonated, and a faint mist rose from it. Oskar gagged and turned green. Jesper, who’d been close, also heaved, and I laughed.
“What was it?” Laila demanded, giggling
“Stink bomb,” I cackled. Lars was laughing and pointing, so I threw another. Lars took to his heels but didn’t move quicklyenough, and it exploded. A wail like a banshee erupted, and Lars yelled and covered his ears.
“These are so cool. How did you design them?” Laila asked. Happy to talk to my daughter, I began explaining.
