Magical Midlife Invasion (Leveling Up 3)

“I wouldn’t dare. She’d punch me in the balls if I tried. She’s not a hugger.”

He moved in slowly, his eyes holding mine, pulling me in. My stomach fluttered and expectant shivers coated me.

“But since you are a hugger,” he said, barely a whisper, his voice deep and rough and sexy.

He slid his hands across my hips and around, pulling me to him firmly, our fronts pressing together. I couldn’t help but moan, my eyes fluttering shut as he spread his hands on my back, his strength enveloping me. The squeeze felt so good, and I slid my palms down his chest to his pecs, feeling his muscle through his shirt.

As he released me, he touched his lips to my cheek, soft at first, then a little firmer. He dragged them a little, giving me another little kiss nearer my mouth, then dragged a little more, spreading a trail of fire across my skin. His lips skimmed the corner of mine, like they had in the mine before I threw a wrench in my own wicked plans. He paused for a moment, breathing faster, sharing the same heated air.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I slid my hands back up his torso, the feeling beyond good, and turned my head just enough that our lips aligned, almost touching. Without another thought, he leaned in, pulling his hand around so his fingertips braced against my jaw. His taste exploded through me, wine and honey and cinnamon. He nibbled my bottom lip before deepening the kiss, almost like he couldn’t help himself, stealing my breath. My God, I’d forgotten how damn well he kissed. How consuming. I held on for dear life, lost to it, lost to him. Why weren’t we supposed to do this, again? What was the big deal?

Too soon he pulled back, breathing heavily.

“Whoops,” he said, his lips still so close, his fingers at my jaw, his other arm wrapped around me. “That got away from me. Did I just ruin the date?”

“Definitely. You had it locked down, and you just blew everything to hell.”

He smiled, kissing me once more, light but languid, before backing off. “Can’t happen again.”

“I know.”

“It was a friend kiss.”

“Two for two on the friend kisses. Both after a wine tasting.”

“Right. No more wine tasting.” He stepped up onto the porch and reached for the door.

“Hey, Austin?”

He paused and turned back.

“Will you do me a huge favor?” I asked. “You don’t have to. It won’t be easy.”

“Anything.”

“Will you call Earl Mr. Tom? Just because I know he’d really appreciate it and it would be less confusing.”

He stared at me for a long time. “Isn’t there a song about this? I’ll do anything, but not that?”

I laughed, heading into the house. “It was worth a shot. Want to watch a little TV?”

“Only if I don’t have to sit on the fart blanket. Your dad thunders the whole house. That blanket is under some serious stress. How it hasn’t put up the white flag, I do not know.”

I laughed harder, feeling my mom stir, and dragged Austin in behind me. I felt like a kid again. Like a teen sneaking a date into the house. The outcome wouldn’t be the same, but I would take it while I had it, because I had a feeling that come tomorrow I’d be fighting for my house and my freedom once again.SeventeenThe head looming over me in the dim lighting wasn’t the one I was used to seeing upon first waking up. Before registering anything else about the figure, I screamed and threw up my hands, blasting the intruder up and away. He or she hit the door, across the room, which was closed, and crashed through it, tumbling through the hall in a rush of splintered wood.

I jumped up onto the bed like some sort of ninja, braced myself in the slinky little negligee I’d wanted to wear to bed after my date with Austin, and prepared for battle, all within the space of seconds. I’d really taken all the danger and training to heart. Muscle memory was a beautiful thing.

Austin rushed out of his room in his birthday suit, glancing my way first. When he saw I was ready for action, he shifted his attention to the trespasser, slowly getting up off the ground with a raised hand. More naked men filed into the hall—the other gargoyles had heard the commotion and come to help. Then my father showed up, his nude form standing out in a hallway full of them. He was also the only one who’d brought a weapon to a naked party.

“What’s going on?” my dad hollered, holding Jake the battle-axe across his torso. “It’s two in the morning, for Christ’s sake.”

It had unfortunately taken me that long to identify the person who’d invaded my slumber. The hunched figure slowly rising with the trembling, outstretched hand, silently asking for a truce, was poor Edgar.