Getting Familiar with Your Demon: That Old Black Magic, Book 4 (13 page)

“It’ll be fine. Come on.” Grasping his clammy palm, Cass tugged him toward the adjacent grocery store.

They stepped inside the cool interior, where he was bombarded with cheesy jazz music while Cass called for a cab on her cell phone. Despite the relative shittiness of his situation, he found himself humming along with the tune. Cass hung up and stared at him.

He frowned. “What?”

“Uh…you were humming just now.”

“Yeah? I’m not allowed to hum?”

“Sam, it’s disco music.”

“No, it’s jazz. Big difference.”

For a moment it looked like she was on the verge of arguing, but finally she just shook her head. “Whatever. The cab’s on its way. In the meantime, I was thinking we should pick up a few things while we’re here.”

He grunted. “Yeah, I’m low on dish soap.”

“Smartass. Not what I meant.” Snagging his wrist again, she towed him toward the produce section. He was starting to feel like a damn dog on a leash. Without warning, she slammed to a halt next to an end cap displaying flower bouquets packaged in colorful cellophane. “Which do you suppose Marabella would like more?”

He squinted at the back of her head as she stooped over a bunch of red roses and sniffed loudly. “What the hell are you doing?”

“They may look pretty, but sometimes they have zero smell. A true test of the perfect flower goes beyond mere visual beauty.” The look she tossed him over her shoulder hinted that he was possibly a moron for not already being in on the ground floor of this amazing revelation.

He gritted his teeth. “I meant why are you buying flowers for her?”

“I’m not.
You
are.”

“Why would I do something like that?”

“Because it’s romantic and thoughtful.”

He gifted Cass with a suspicious glare before stepping back from the floral display like it was stocked with poisonous vipers rather than innocuous daisies, carnations and roses. “Get any and all matchmaking ideas out of your head.”

“This one is nice.” Studiously ignoring him, Cass plucked a fat bouquet of pink roses, ferns and some kind of weird spiky purple flower from one of the plastic containers and moseyed toward the registers. Growling, he stalked after her and the dripping trail of water leaking from the bundled flowers.

They reached the checkout, and he dug his wallet from his pocket with a barely caged snarl. “I’m shocked you don’t want me to bring her chocolates too.”

“Oh, thanks for reminding me.” Cass snagged a Kit Kat bar from the side rack and added it to the flowers on the conveyor belt.

Son of a bitch.

Several seconds later, they walked back outside and hopped into the cab waiting for them at the entrance. After giving the driver directions to Bella’s Boutique, Sam slouched in the seat and tried not to think about the horrible offenses Nikki was putting his car through, or his upcoming reunion with Marabella.

Why the devil had he agreed to this? Then again, Cass hadn’t exactly given him a choice. Yes, the logical part of his brain knew she was right in regards to Marabella offering a possible clue to what Pricilla was up to. But an even larger part of him was leery of the magnetic pull he experienced around Marabella.

Leery? Hell, try terrified. He’d fallen victim to lust and desire plenty of times in the past. But that didn’t hold a candle to whatever this was between him and Marabella. Anything that could consume him this way wasn’t to be trusted, much less courted. The sooner he dug to the bottom of things and put Marabella firmly behind him, the better.

The biggest question was what role Marabella played in whatever scheme was cooking in Pricilla’s devious head. Pris had obviously been intrigued to learn a witch broke his seal, to the point she let him go free in hopes of him leading her to Marabella. But to what purpose?

His brain beginning to ache from the multitude of unresolved questions piling up, he groaned and rubbed his temple.

“I think we’re here,” Cass whispered.

He opened his eyes. Sure enough, the cab had coasted to a halt in front of Marabella’s shop. His heart started beating in double time. Unable to defeat the strange compulsion drawing him, he scanned the front windows for sign of Marabella. He spotted her hanging sparkly suncatchers in the room where they’d made love.

Correction,
fucked
. He didn’t make love, for devil’s sake. Just like he didn’t bring a woman damn flowers and chocolate.

His surly musings grew fainter as he continued to stare at Marabella. No matter how desperately he tried, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. A shiny cascade of golden strands brushed the soft upper swells of her breasts. He remembered the feel of those luscious mounds as they nestled in his palms. Remembered the sweet, addictive taste of her beneath his tongue. An urgent surge of hot need speared low in his belly.

Fuck, he wanted to peel off her clothes and devour every inch of her all over again. Once she was breathless and screaming for release, he’d bury his cock deep inside her. Right against the windows, so the entire world would see that she was his.

That unwelcome and disturbing thought jarred him from his trance.

“Sam, is that her?”

He turned his head to see that Cass was also gaping at Marabella. “Yeah.”

“Oh man. I think we’re in a shitload of trouble here.”

He snorted. “Welcome to my world.”

“You don’t understand. I can’t read her.”

He blinked. “Say what?”

“There’s a security block on her soul that’s denying me access.” Her eyes wide, Cass shifted her focus to him. “Who the hell
is
this girl?”

Chapter Fourteen

Satisfied the crystal suncatchers were securely anchored on their hooks, Marabella inched down from the stepladder. “Looks pretty darn good, if I say so myself.” She gave herself a mental pat on the back just as the chimes announced potential customers. Thank the goddess. Sales had been below mediocre the past couple days. Sure, it’d given her plenty opportunity to work on the bid she was placing on the Alliance Headquarters job, but that certainly wasn’t paying the bills in the meantime.

Straightening the hem of her yellow polka-dotted skirt, she casually made her way to the front of the store. And jerked to a wobbly halt when she spotted Sam. Their gazes crashed into each other. Yes, it was cheesy and cliché to think it, but she truly swore the Earth stopped revolving.

She’d grown complacent with the notion of never seeing him again. Goddess knows, it would have been better that way. Because then she might have actually been able to continue deluding herself that the mere sight of him didn’t make her heart and stomach perform simultaneous somersaults.

Somehow she managed to get her tongue working again. “W-what are you doing—?” Suddenly recalling that Findley Cosgrove was due to stop by to return a few power cords she’d borrowed for the ball, Marabella gasped. “You being here—incredibly bad idea.”

“Shit, you’re telling me,” Sam muttered.

The knockout redhead standing next to Sam elbowed him in the ribs with enough force to make him groan. “What my clueless cousin really meant to say is he’s happy to see you. He even brought you flowers.” The woman glanced expectantly at Sam, and her grin fizzled. “Where are the flowers and candy?”

“I thought you grabbed them.” Sam scowled. “Are you telling me I dished out twenty bucks for no damn good reason?”

“Well, at least the cabbie will feel extra special today,” his cousin offered with a sigh.

More than stunned at Sam’s sweet, albeit failed attempt to bring her flowers, Marabella blinked and returned her attention to the pretty redhead. “You and Sam are related?” There was no reason that announcement should fill her with relief. It’s not like she’d been jealous thinking they might be an item.

“Yep. I’m Cass.” Sam’s cousin extended her hand with a warm, genuine smile.

She accepted the shake. “Marabella Blanchard.”

Cass clasped her hand for longer than necessary. That, added with the curious way she was looking at her, made Marabella uncomfortable. After an awkward hesitation, Cass finally let her go. “Damn, still nothing.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s very important that we talk to you.” Cass glanced around the store. “Is there someplace private we can do this?”

“Err, not to be rude or anything, but I don’t exactly have time to chat right now. Not to mention I’m expecting a visitor any second who’ll be more than a little freaked out to discover two demons standing in the middle of my shop.”

“Actually, I’m only half demon.”

Oh, well in that case…
Somehow Marabella stifled the urge to laugh hysterically. “I’m sorry, truly. But you have to go. Both of you.”

Cass’s expression turned apologetic. “That’s going to be a wee bit of a problem.”

Panic and frustration welling within her, Marabella slid her gaze to Sam. He offered her no reasonable way out of the situation. Of course not.

A defeated exhale leaked from her. “Fine. You can wait in my apartment. But whatever you do, stay put until I come up there.”

Hurrying ahead of Sam and Cass, she ushered them toward the rear of the store. She practically wrenched the door from its frame and shoved her unexpected guests into the stairway vestibule. The chimes dinged again, and she slammed the door shut. Oh goddess. Talk about a close call. Woozy from the adrenaline pumping through her, she rushed back toward the front entrance just in time to meet Findley.

“Forgive me for not getting these to you sooner, my dear.” The older woman placed the small box of cords on the nearby demilune table before offering Marabella a hug.

“N-no worries. I’m sure it’s been hectic getting everything situated after the ball.”

“You can say that again. But it was a roaring success, so you’ll get no complaints from me.”

For the next several minutes, Marabella patiently listened to Findley’s recounting of some of the more entertaining moments from the party, but the whole time she couldn’t stop thinking about Sam and Cass upstairs in the apartment.
Oh goddess, did I put my laundry away from earlier?
A visual of Sam fingering her bras and panties floated through her mind, and her cheeks heated.

“Well, I really must be going. I left Russell puttering away on one of his alchemist potions. Can’t have him blowing up the potting shed again.” After a hurried final exchange of hugs, Findley trotted through the door.

Her pent-up breath whooshing free, Marabella locked the entrance and flipped the sign to Closed. Scurrying as fast as her high heels would allow, she made it to the rear stairway and barreled up to the apartment. Cass was parked on the couch, her hands folded demurely in her lap. Judging from the noises coming from the small kitchen, Sam was busy rummaging through the refrigerator. Well, on the bright side, there weren’t any bras or panties for him to fondle in there.

Cass’s smile appeared pained. “I told him it was rude to raid someone else’s fridge.”

“Tough. After the day I’ve had, I need a damn beer,” Sam called.

“Sorry, I don’t have any. There might be a wine cooler somewhere in there though.” Another bubble of hysterical laughter threatened to overtake her. Any moment she expected to wake up and discover this was all just a surreal dream. Wringing her hands, she glanced at Cass. “W-would you care for anything to drink?”

Cass grinned. “You’re unbelievably polite and gracious for someone who’s been blindsided with uninvited guests.”

“You can thank my mom for that.” Oh goddess. Domino. If she ever found out about this…

“I’m fine, but you look like you could possibly stand a shot of something,” Cass said softly. “I always recommend whiskey in cases like this.”

Sam ventured from the kitchen and leaned in the archway. “I’ll second that.”

It was almost impossible to tear her gaze from the tempting visual of his T-shirt pulled snug across his broad chest. It wasn’t fair for a demon and self-proclaimed bastard to be gifted with such a mouth-watering physique. With great effort, she returned her focus to Cass. “I think it’s best if you tell me why you’re both here.”
And then leave before I do something stupid.
Like jump Sam and have her wicked way with him.

Her expression pensive, Cass scooted closer to the edge of the couch cushion. “We have reason to believe you’re in danger.”

Somehow Marabella doubted that was in reference to her immense desire to lick Sam from head to foot. Though goddess knows, that was certainly a danger to her sanity. “I’m afraid I don’t follow your meaning.”

Cass smoothed her palms over her jeans. “There’s a woman with considerable influence, power and dubious motives who’s developed a shady interest in you.”

“Don’t forget soulless, greedy bitch with lousy taste in goons,” Sam added with a snort. “No self-respecting description of Pricilla is complete without that one.”

“Thank you for those helpful clarifiers, Sam.” Her lips twitching, Cass hugged her knees. “So do you see why it was important for us to speak with you?”

“Not really. For starters, why would this woman—who I don’t think I even know—be interested in me?”

“Because you were able to break Sam’s seal.”

She frowned. “His what?”

“My seal.” Sam took a swig from the wine cooler before continuing. “It’s what made me a soul collector.”

She gaped at him. “How in the world did I do that?”

“By having sex with me. Or more specifically, coming your brains out.”

Marabella’s cheeks burned in embarrassment. It was tempting to smack the smirk from Sam’s face. Even if he was only speaking the mortifying truth.

A reproving sound issued from Cass. “Sam, this isn’t the time to be blunt.”

Shrugging, he chugged another swallow from the bottle clutched in his fist.

Her own cheeks slightly pink, Cass cleared her throat delicately. “Sam is technically right, though. It was the energy spike from your, uh, union, that fried through his seal. Although I’ve got to say, we weren’t expecting some of the odd side effects that came along with it.”

Expecting?
Marabella ping-ponged her stare between Cass and Sam. “Wait a minute. Did…did you guys plan this whole thing?” Without warning, Sam’s answer to why he wouldn’t leave the ball ghosted through her mind.
Not until I get what I came for.