Duplicity (Spellbound #2)
Read Duplicity (Spellbound #2) Online
Authors: Nikki Jefford
DUPLICITY
Entangled, The Spellbound Trilogy, Book One
Duplicity, The Spellbound Trilogy, Book Two
Enchantment,
The Spellbound Trilogy
, Book Three
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Copyright © 2012 by Nikki Jefford
All rights reserved
Cover Design: Najla Qamber
Copy Editors: Christine LePorte and S.M. Boyce
Thank you to my beta readers:
Nicole Steinhaus, Lacy Camey, Carmen Fisher, Mom, and Seb
And to the first readers to review Entangled and encourage the continuation of this series:
I love you with the fire of a thousand suns!
For Mom
Lee found it difficult to concentrate on mathematics when all she could think about was jumping her boyfriend’s bones.
Stacey Lee Morehouse—Graylee Perez in a former life—sat across from Raj McKenna on the carpet in her bedroom.
It was Wednesday night: date night, which meant her mom and Mr. Morehouse were out for the evening. Lee suspected her mother’s motives were, in part, to allow her and Raj a midweek break to be alone. Not that they needed it with Raj hunched over his textbook engrossed in… Lee leaned forward…
Two-Dimensional Collisions
. Snore.
From the moment Lee woke from a coma nine and a half months ago, Mr. Morehouse had played the role of devoted and overly protective single father. It had taken months for him to allow her a modicum of space. Dating Marney Perez helped.
What Mr. Morehouse didn’t realize was that Lee was Marney’s daughter, not his.
Lee brushed her hair over one shoulder and stared at Raj. Her room was always dim, as the light had to filter through the multicolored fabrics hanging like canopies from the ceiling. Early on, she’d transformed Stacey’s floral fixation into an India-themed haven with ornately carved furniture and colorful throw pillows.
Lee tapped her pencil against her geometry book. Raj continued reading.
Lee cleared her throat. Finally Raj looked up. His smirk always got her. It said:
you’re an adorable pest, but I can’t resist you
. Best of all, Raj looked at her like she was Graylee Perez. Not Stacey Morehouse.
Lee crawled over to Raj on all fours. His smirk increased when she planted her palms on top of his open textbook.
“Not in a study mood, I take it?” he asked.
His eyes darted to her gaping V-neck. Now she had his attention. Lee’s smile traveled up her cheeks. “We’re alone. Besides, I’m sure there’s more to a Wednesday night than…” Lee’s eyes traveled from Raj’s open textbook to his lower lip. “…science.”
Raj leaned forward, stopping half an inch from her forehead. His pupils reflected Lee’s eager face. “Such as?”
Lee lowered her voice. “I think we should do it.”
Raj leaned back as though startled. “Are you referring to what I think you are?”
Lee moved in. The textbook crinkled under her knees. She pressed her lips against Raj’s, then pulled back when he didn’t kiss her back. “What’s the matter?”
Raj ran a hand through his hair and looked away. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m interested, you know I am, but why all of a sudden?”
Lee’s lower lip pouted. “Why not? We’ve been going out for eight months. We’re seniors and, you know, we’re ready—at least I am. Maybe you aren’t.”
“Ha, ha,” Raj said. His smile faded. “I think I know what this is really about.”
“What?”
“Tomorrow’s February ninth.”
Lee sat on her knees and folded her arms. “Yeah, and?”
“And that’s the day you died.”
“What about it?”
“Why don’t you tell me?”
Lee pushed away from Raj. She snatched the pillow off the floor and set it in her lap. “Fine. It’s the anniversary of my death. I can’t help thinking about how close I came to eternal oblivion. It makes a girl reflect on the experiences she wants to have before it’s lights out forever.”
“Lee…”
Lee blinked rapidly and looked away.
“Lee.”
She still refused to look.
“Gray!”
Her eyes latched onto his as though on command. For some reason, this angered her. Lee was on her knees pushing Raj back before she could form a coherent thought. “Don’t call me that!”
Raj was quick to recover—levitating before ever hitting the ground. “You’re forgetting something, Lee. I’m your boyfriend now.”
“And?” she challenged. She squealed an instant later when Raj got her on her back.
“And you can’t just throw a fit and push me away. I’m not going anywhere.” He dove forward and finally gave her the kisses she craved.
Lee hugged Raj between her thighs. She slipped him the tongue. Lately this had been the prelude to near sex, but instead of twisting tongues with her, as he’d done in the past, Raj pulled back. “You’re serious?”
Lee smiled. He was caving. “One hundred percent.”
Raj’s chest rose and fell. “And you’re sure you’re ready?”
“This isn’t rocket science, stud. I want you.”
Raj’s brows furrowed. “I want you, too. I love you, Lee. I’ve loved you from the moment you appeared in my life.”
Literally. Raj had noticed Lee when she’d tried to sneak into English class late by turning herself invisible, then filling herself back in once she took a seat at the back of the room. Nothing got past Raj McKenna—at least not where Lee was concerned.
Lee chuckled. “A little less talk, if you don’t mind.”
Raj reached out and cupped her breast in reply.
Stacey Morehouse did have impressive boobs. Size C. Firm. Perky. Lee still didn’t think of them as her own.
She twisted to her side. Raj rocked back and stood up. “I’m sorry. This wasn’t a good idea.”
“No!” Lee scrambled to her feet. “It’s time I embraced this body.”
“Sure?”
“Definitely.”
Raj twisted his lips. It was replaced by a grin. He didn’t believe her. Fine, she’d show him how serious she was. Lee pulled her V-neck over her head and tossed it beside Raj. His eyes grew bigger. Amusement was replaced by a heavy stare. The pendant she wore daily, a vial encased in smooth silver, dangled above the valley between her breasts.
Little pinpricks of pain stung the back of Lee’s eyes. She ignored it.
Raj’s gaze was trained on her fingers unzipping her jeans. Lee stripped each leg down like stockings, then stepped out. She quickly pulled her socks off because they looked stupid without pants on. She now stood several feet away from Raj on the rug in her bra and panties. Lee reached back for the hook on her bra.
Raj’s eyes looked ready to pop.
Lee unhooked the bra and suddenly she was gone.
Not gone, gone, but invisible. She re-clasped her bra, which might have been humorous if she’d been thinking straight because it wasn’t like anyone could see her.
Raj’s brows rose right before he chuckled. “If you didn’t want me to see you naked, you could have kept your clothes on.”
“Raj, this isn’t funny. I didn’t make myself invisible.”
“It’s okay, you’re not ready. You know I’m in no rush.”
“I’m ready! Seriously, this has never happened to me before.”
“Okay, so make yourself visible again.”
Lee stomped her foot. “I’m trying!” Etch A Sketch, M.C. Escher’s Drawing Hands—nothing was working.
Raj chuckled again. “I thought guys were the ones with performance anxiety.”
“Stop making fun of me.”
“I’m not. Need help?”
There was a brief pause followed by a huff of frustration. “Fine. Fill me in. Whatever.”
Raj was still grinning until his clothes ripped off his body. They fell in tatters to the tapestry rug at his feet.
“Someone’s eager.” Lee was happy to be the one on the teasing end of things this round.
Raj instantly turned red and quickly cupped himself with his left hand in an attempt to cover his… parts. “That wasn’t me!”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Seriously.”
Lee had to laugh at the way Raj’s eyes darted around the room trying to find her.
“Are you staring at me? Don’t look at me!”
“I never pegged you as the shy type.”
“I’m not. I just don’t like you staring when I can’t see you.”
“Fine, I’m not looking at you.” But she was. She was ogling every inch of him at the moment. Sixth hour weight training was doing wonders for Raj’s physique. Not that she’d ever found it lacking. He was all tight, toned muscle tinged in rich, dark Indian skin. A pendant matching hers dangled below Raj’s throat.
Lee wet her lips. It wasn’t like he’d see the gesture.
Raj was squinting as though that’d help him locate her. “Something weird is happening.”