AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’d taken one bite. I wasn’t sure, because of how sweet it was, how Tessa could eat two pieces, but she and Grace seemed plenty happy to share my plate of cake.
“Thanks, Jeff,” Grace called over. I just gave a wave back.
Tessa didn’t know it, but she’d just declared war. No one, absolutely no one, stole my sweets. On top of that, she’d ruined my cookies this morning. My sweets were sacred to me, and she was going to find that out. We’d see what she was capable of doing to me. I could guarantee I’d hit back harder.
A sly smile crossed my face, and I mentally left the table. There were many things I could do to retaliate. I’d promised to take what she gave, and I would, but I’d give in return. Now that I felt better, she’d regret the day she poisoned me.
My heart skipped, and I choked on the piece of cake I’d just swallowed when Jeff looked over at me. His grin was sexy and held anticipation in it. Whatever he was looking forward to, it was conniving and had my heart racing in a way that wasn’t caused by fear. What could a healer think of that would cause such a look, and in my direction?
For the first time, I wondered if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. This was the big leagues I’d tossed myself into. I was playing a dangerous game with an assassin. He’d promised not to tell anyone about my intent to kill, maim, or damage. Whatever. However, I’d not made him promise to not seek his own revenge, and no one would be coming to my aid.
“Tessa? Are you okay? You look a little pale.” Grace, who was super cool, placed a hand to my cheek.
“I’m okay, just need some air. Is there a bathroom around here?”
“I’ll take you.” That was the last voice I wanted to hear.
When I looked over, Jeff had schooled his expression into one of meekness and submission. Had he had the grin on his face after all, or had I imagined it? Though, my heart thudded wildly in my chest at the memory.
My body was a traitor, I decided as I slowly rose, grabbed my clutch, and followed the man from the room. A stupid traitor. Especially when all it wanted to do was stare at the masculine piece of flesh in front of it and drool at the way the warrior-healer filled out the suit—shirt sleeves tight against strong, powerful muscles and pants that hugged his bottom just right. Yup, traitor.
We left the banquet room, and while I’d hoped the hallway would be cooler, I found the area to be even warmer. Someone needed to open a window.
Jeff turned suddenly and extended his hand in the direction of a door.
“Here we are. Follow me please so I can check for dangers. Then I’ll let you have your privacy.”
I nodded, hoping my cheeks weren’t red because they were on fire. He’d untied his necktie on our walk, and seeing it lying around his neck and resting on a set of pecs that were out of this world did something crazy to my stomach. Gosh I needed to get my head screwed on. He killed my mother, and I was losing it!
The bathroom with its three stalls was empty except for us. I followed him past all three stalls. When he turned, I’d intended to thank him, but instead, I found myself being lifted, arms pressed behind my back, and the tie encircling my wrists. Jeff’s hand covered my mouth, and the evil gleam was back in his eyes, his grin full of evil excitement.
“No screaming, Tessa.” He leaned into me as my eyes got wider and wider. It was time. I was going to die. “I’m not going to hurt you. Now, I’m going to release your mouth, and you’d better not scream. I can stay here all night. Plus, the tie is long enough to gag you.”
My pulse was rocketing along and sped faster at the thought of being completely helpless with a gag in my mouth. Closing my eyes, I nodded and forced myself to relax so I could think.
“Good girl,” he pretty much purred at me. “Now, release your bag.”
“I have little money in it.”
“Shh…I’m not after your money.” His voice remained low and sensual, making me wonder what was going on. Blood drained from my face.
“You’re not going to… Please don’t.”
Tears pricked at my eyes as I pleaded with him in a squeaky voice. There were things I considered worse than death, and this would be one of them.
He leaned into me and placed his lips next to my ear. “Shh…I am not going to harm you, Tessa. Relax. I could never do what you’re thinking. I have never harmed a woman like that, and I never will. Now, release your bag.”
I did as he said, having no other choice. His body hadn’t moved from pinning me to the wall. When he’d riffled through my clutch with one hand—the other was around the back of my neck—he pulled out my lipstick and let the bag fall to the floor.
“Do not move unless you want this all over your face.” He seemed very serious as he opened the lipstick and started dabbing it on my lips. “There. Beautiful.”
“What are—”
He moved faster than I knew a person to be able to, but his lips crashed onto mine with heat, and he used my open mouth from speaking to his advantage. Without invitation, he slipped his tongue into my mouth to caress my own. My traitorous body went limp as his hands rested against my cheeks and slid up into my hair.
In my body’s opinion, he pulled back too soon. His lips had been soft, but aggressive, a trait I was beginning to align with the warrior-healer. Lipstick coated his lips and around them a little, and they were a little swollen from the harshness of the kiss. My own lips felt the same way. They even glistened in the light.
Witches aged differently than his people. In my world, I was just coming to the age of kissing, so this was my first, and it was so much more than I’d expected.
