The Responsible Witch (The Ward Witches) (5 page)

“
Do you have a specialty?”

“
Sure.” She didn't want to tell him after he looked so fondly at her when he said she likely did good work.

“
Then what is it?”

“
I deal in workplace harassment.”

“
And you deal with the victims, don't you?”

“
Well, yeah.”

“
And that's not good work? You help people speak out, don't you?”

“
OK, I do try to help in my own corner of the world. I admit it.”

“
Why don't you like to talk about that?” He was entirely too perceptive.

She sighed. At this point, she might as well be honest. If she didn't scare him away from trying to bond with her now, she might never achieve it. “I try very hard to give off an image of a badass. I don't want people to wonder if I like them or not. I want them to assume I don't. I want people to be a little bit afraid of me. I don't want people thinking of me as a bleeding heart.”

“
That's fair. But doesn't it also seem fair that if you go to lengths to speak out and care for the victims that someone should be allowed to care for you too?”

“
No.” She said it with finality that she hoped he understood meant the end of that subject.

“
Alright. I'm a little more decent now. Do you want to go eat?”

“
Sure,” she said, grateful he picked up on her sign.

Downstairs, Dymphna discovered a note from Skylar on the kitchen table. She read it out loud. “We thought you could use some time alone. Dinner's in the fridge, and we won't be home until late evening. Have fun!”

“
She's awfully optimistic,” Gage noted.

“
A little too optimistic and peppy sometimes in my opinion. She really does just take everything as it comes, and everything that can be turned into something good does so around her. She's an excellent cook, too.”

In the fridge was a covered bowl of gazpacho, a Spanish soup meant to be eaten cold, and two cupcakes, each with a heart drawn on them. Gage laughed when he saw them. “Is she really like this all the time?”

“
Oh yes. I've seen her cry twice, and both times were in drastic situations involving her family. Skylar is a happy woman. And she makes Leo a happy man, which is a good thing in my book.”

“
That is good. Let's eat.”

Dymphna measured out two bowls, and they ate in companionable silence. They ate the cupcakes too, because why let a good cupcake go to waste because it had a heart on it?

“
Do you play video games? I'm trying to learn how to Street Fighter, and it's taking a while.”

“
I don't remember,” he admitted, and she felt bad for putting that hurt look on his face. It must be hard to really not know who you are.

“
Then let's see. They say that video games have a lot to do with muscle memory. Maybe when you pick it up again, you'll remember how to play.”

“
It's certainly worth a shot.”

She fired up the machine and chose her current favorite avatar, Makoto. He flipped through the catalog of characters before settling on Ken. The announcer's voice went off, and then they started. Dymphna had gotten
somewhat comfortable
with Makoto's basic move set, and she tried out a light kick to start. He instinctively blocked.

Then it became very clear that he did know the game. He fired off a fireball, easy as you please. Then he beat her easily.

“
So you've played before.”

“
Apparently. Have a go at it again?”

“
Only if you'll show me how to.”

“
I'll certainly try.” He switched the screen to the practice mode. He then proceeded to show her how to fire off special moves.
Rita had shown her many of the same things, but the repetition helped a great deal.
She started to get it too.

A little later, she stopped playing, just holding the controller.

“
What's wrong?”

“
It just hit me as strange that we're playing a video game while so much hangs in the balance.”

“
Then don't think about it. Video games can be a form of release.”

“
I suppose so. It just seems we should be trying to figure everything out.”

“
Look at it this way then. We figured out that we can have fun together just playing a video game. I don't know about you, but I certainly felt at ease with you while playing.”

“
That's true.”

“
If you'll let me, I'd like to kiss you again. Would that help?” She didn't want to admit how much she had liked that first kiss, so she shrugged. “You'll have to say it.”

“
Yes. I would like another kiss.”

“
Good. It's hard to resist.”

“
Then don't, I suppose.”

He started out hard this time, as if desperate. She kissed back, driving her fingers into his hair and pulling him to her. She wanted, in a way she never had before. She couldn't even describe it, just a need for him and only him. Dymphna suspected this was part of what would drive a person to make the bond. She was going crazy for wanting him.

“
Let's go back up to my bedroom in case they come home,” Dymphna suggested, pulling away a little.

“
Sure.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed, holding it as they went back upstairs. “What are you thinking?” He asked as he sat down on the bed.

“
I'm thinking that there's a powerful physical component to all this.”

“
There sure is from my standpoint.”

“
Then what's holding you back?”

“
Honor, for one thing. I promised not to take advantage, and I won't. This is your life.”

“
I do appreciate that.” She sat down beside him, and he pulled her to rest her head on his shoulder. “I've seen each of my brothers go through this.”

“
And how did it turn out?”

“
Each of them is happily in love with their wives, I will admit. But I've always doubted I could be in a relationship like that.”

“
Why not?”

“
I'm not relationship material. I've never done well with the opposite sex. And I'm afraid I'll take after my mother.”

“
But what if you don't? What if you are perfectly capable of having a good strong relationship like your brothers have?”

“
What are you saying?” Dymphna asked, pulling away from him again.

“
I'm saying that there's a reason we're together. There's a reason we found each other in a time of need. Mine's physical. Maybe yours is emotional. Are you willing to take the risk? Are you willing to try a relationship?”

“
Are you challenging me?”

“
Maybe I am, Counselor. What I am saying is that, while I don't know who I am or what I can offer you, I will promise to give everything I have to try to make something lasting between us. What I'm asking is if you're willing to do the same. This is your choice. Are you going to take the risk that you'll be like your mother and try for it anyway?”

“
You know, it is my only chance. If I told you that I don't think I want to be alone anymore, would you laugh?”

“
No.”

“
I've been so jealous of my brothers and their wives. I didn't want to say it, but I am.”

“
Then you want to do this?”

“
Yes. Do you?” She wasn't certain it would go well, but she did want to try. It was the least she could do if she really wanted to be happy in the way her brothers were.

“
Yes.”

“
Then I have a secret I'd better share before we do this. Have sex, I mean.”

“
Tell me quickly. Because knowing I can have you makes me want you even more, if that's possible.”

“
I'm a virgin,” she blurted out, afraid she'd lose her nerve.

“
What?” He stopped up short.

“
Don't make me say it again.”

“
How?”

“
I had three protective older brothers, and that scared all the boys away through high school. And my undergraduate degree with Leo at the same school went much the same. In graduate school, I was too busy. After that, I never saw the point. So then we got where we are today.”

“
So this is a bigger thing for you than usual?”

“
Yes. It's part of why I've been so shy about the whole thing, admittedly.”

“
And you trust me?”

“
Yes. Inexplicably, yes.”

“
I'll be as gentle as I can. I'm
quite
honored to be your first.”

He kissed her again, and she felt how much she wanted him again. If she wasn't confused, she seemed to think he wanted her pretty badly too. Without breaking contact with her mouth, he unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it off her shoulders. Still keeping her mind on the kiss, he unclasped her bra and slid that off as well. Then he reached up and palmed her breasts, one in each hand. Gage squeezed them and played with her nipples, and it felt so good she moaned.

“
We're just getting started now honey,” he whispered as he broke the kiss. Then he moved down her torso to suck one of her breasts into his mouth while his hand remained on the other. It was crazy, like nothing Dymphna had felt before. She was starting to realize why people got so worked up over sex. Especially if this was just the prelude.

She wasn't able to even be nervous when he switched breasts and used his free hands to shift her out of her jeans and panties. Then one of his hands started to massage her there, and she bucked at the startling sensation. He gave her a self-satisfied grin.

“
You're pretty wet, but we're going to have to do better than that,” he said, still whispering. Dymphna had read enough in books that she knew what he was likely going to do, but when he actually brought his mouth to her core, she jolted.

“
Oh my god,” she managed. She felt him chuckle, but he didn't move from his position. She started to feel impending tension working through her, and again, academically, she knew what that meant. But then he slid a finger into her and hit a certain spot inside her, she shattered with a scream. She thought she had known, but it didn't compare to the rush of feelings going through her right then. That was crazy.

While she was still reeling from that, he came back up to kiss her mouth again, and she passionately returned his kiss, tangling her tongue with his. He pulled back a little, just a breath between them.

“
Alright, honey. This might hurt for a moment, but it'll get better. I promise. Just try to relax and breathe.”

She felt him guide himself to her entrance, and she really did try to relax. Then he pushed in, one hard shove, and she felt a strong jolt of pain. But it was over in a moment, and she tried to get used to the feel of him inside her.

“
Are you alright?” Gage asked, sounding strained.

“
Yes.” Startlingly, she really was.

“
Good.” He began to move,
beginning with
a slow rocking motion.

Dymphna could tell he was trying to restrain himself, trying not to hurt her. That wouldn't do at all. Emboldened by the new experience, she reached up and bit his shoulder lightly. Apparently, that was enough to make him lose his control, and he started to push and pull harder and faster. He was going like he couldn't fight it anymore, and she was glad to be the one to make him lose it like that.

But when his fingers reached between them and found her clit, she couldn't think anymore. Very shortly, she exploded again, the world going technicolor before her eyes, and she cried out. Moments later, he found his own release and groaned with it as he shot into her.

Yes, now Dymphna could see why people made such a big deal about sex. It was a big deal.

As his seed took hold in her body, she felt nauseous. From what her sister-in-laws had told her, this was a normal sign of the bond taking hold. It was too late to fight it now, that's for sure. Gage picked up on her discomfort and pulled her to spoon against him, her back to his very well-muscled front.

“
Shh,” he whispered into her shoulder. “It's going to be alright. You just need to sleep it off, and things will be better in the morning. Now go to sleep.” He tucked a tendril of her hair behind her ear, and she let sleep overtake her.

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