“Hold both of my hands and let me read you.”
“You’re not talking about mind-reading are you?”
She chuckled. “I wish. That would make things a whole lot easier. No, I’m just talking about gleaning whatever I can psychically. My mind forms pictures. Then maybe you can fill in the blanks.”
He nodded. “What do I need to do?”
“Just hold both my hands and face me.”
Sly adjusted his position on the couch and grasped both her hands. She did the same.
“Now lean forward until our foreheads are almost touching and close your eyes.”
He followed her directions. “Am I supposed to be thinking of something? Or should I try to empty my mind, like in meditation?”
“Just let it wander,” she said softly. “Relax and let your mind go wherever it wants to.” Her voice was almost hypnotic.
Despite hoping it wouldn’t, his mind went straight to his cock. He pictured himself and Morgaine lying next to each other, facing each other, on the rug before the fire. Her long, blond hair splayed out behind her, then the romantic scene in his mind’s eye rolled into an intimate embrace, a long kiss,tenderness…that’s it.
That’s what he felt for her. Tenderness. It wasn’t exactly love, but it was more than like. A step between, perhaps.
His eyes drifted open. Hers were still closed, but she was smiling. Sly let go of one of her hands and cupped her jaw. The thought of compelling her to kiss him flitted across his mind. But no. He wanted her to want to. What good was it otherwise?
Her eyelids fluttered open. “Is everything all right?” Her lips remained slightly parted.
He didn’t answer her, at least not verbally. He simply drew her to him and kissed her—tenderly. Thankfully, she responded well, and they kissed for a good, long time.
Gwyneth, bundled in her black cape, rode the bus to Salem. It was still early morning, but Sly would be fast asleep by now. She didn’t bother to say goodbye to Morgaine either. How dare her cousin think she’d let him down? She realized Morgaine was a lot sweeter on Sly. Maybe he did pick the right cousin, after all. She’d find another guy and then everyone would be happy. That’s what she really wanted.
She was going to find out not only how to reseal the front door against Vampires, but she would ask the Cabot trained witch if she’d heard about the vampire wine cure. Perhaps the High Priestess knew the right ingredients. Then if she and Sly could figure out how to make the stuff, they could bottle it in the moonshine, and it would keep practically forever.
Forever…that’s what Sly was facing as a vampire. How could he stand the idea of going on without a woman’s companionship—without sex—forever? Even if he did find someone to love again, it would be awful to know that person was going to grow old and die before his very eyes. She still couldn’t imagine how he stood it, but the more she thought about it, the sorrier she felt for him. So, why didn’t he see the obvious? A little casual sex could scratch the itch without the complications of a full-blown relationship.
Staring out the window, she watched as the bus made its way through the seaside town of Lynn, remembering the old adage she’d heard about the town…Lynn, Lynn, city of sin, you nevercome out the way you went in. Sin didn’t bother her, as long as it was her choice and didn’t harm others. Still, she didn’t relax until Salem rolled into view.
A mix of old and new greeted her. Many small New England towns were the same. Fishing shacks and weathered boat houses along the water vied with a small but modern college campus only a few streets over. Prettier homes that may have belonged to ship captains back in the day a block away from cheaper digs like three-deckers and blocky apartment buildings.
Eventually, she made her way from the bus stop on foot around Pickering Warf and found the place, now called Enchanted, Laurie’s old shop. Gwyneth wished she could have visited before she sold it to another witch, but she was in her 90’s after all!
Gwyneth’s nerves began to zing with excitement. How often does one get to visit with the most famous living witches in the whole country?
She strolled up the few steps to the front door. It was still early, otherwise the shop would be busy. The shop used to be a popular stop on Salem witch tours—maybe it still was.
Suddenly, the scent of roses met her nose. Roses? In November? With her hand on the doorknob, Gwyneth glanced around. Inside the window, she saw roses twining across the bottom of the display shelf. How odd that she could smell them outside! Then again, look where she was… She was in the shop of the woman who made it snow in Salem, Massachusetts,inJuly.
The door opened, as if by itself. Gwyneth realized she’d been standing there for quite some time. Perhaps the powerful witches realized she needed a touch of encouragement.
She slowly entered the shop. Behind the counter stood a kind-looking young man. He smiled at Gwyneth immediately.
“Hi, there. I’m Jon. Are you Josie’s consultation?”
“Yes, Gwyneth Wyatt.”
At the sound of her name, a door to the far right opened. An attractive older woman with black and gray hair, wearing a long black dress strolled into the main shop area. “Merry meet, Gwyneth,” the woman said.
“Are—are y’allher?”
The woman smiled. “I’m Josie, a student of Laurie Cabot—now a high priestess in my own coven.”
