Maybe I’ve already gone insane at the ripe old age of twenty-six.
“Someone has to check on things at The Taproom.”
“And Miss Piggy needs to be fed,” I add with a snicker.
“Dominic took care of them for me.”
“Ohhh.” I look away from the cutting board for a moment and wiggle my eyebrows. “I haven’t heard you mention him in a while.”
“We’re just fuck-buddies. Don’t get your hopes up. I don’t do this whole romance thing.” She waves her hand in the air at me. “I have very high standards for myself and consider falling in love to be a fool’s game.”
“So you think Lucas is a fool for falling in love with me?”
“I definitely do.” She smiles again, expression softening. “Though if he was going to go fall in love with anyone, you’re not the worst choice.”
“Thank you,” I say with a laugh. It’s as good a compliment as any coming from Eliza. I turn back to the food, cutting up the rest of the vegetables and adding them to the wok. I don’t have time to cook it now, and the thing is too big to fit in my fridge.
Sighing, I dump everything into a mixing bowl, cover it with foil, and shove it in the fridge. Wiping my hands on my pants as I walk, I go into the office. Lucas is on the phone, speaking Spanish. I pause, leaning against the doorframe, and watch him. He’s Skyping with someone, going over some sort of business plan.
If I lived forever, I’d learn a bunch of languages, too. How cool would that be? Not wanting to interrupt his phone call, I grab my phone from the living room to text Kristy and the twins, letting them know I’ve been summoned and might not make it back in time for our seven p.m. scheduled dinner.
I put my phone back down and go into the office, waiting for Lucas to get off the business call. A few more minutes pass before the call ends, and Lucas gets to his feet, speeding over to me.
“Are you sure the camera is off?” I ask when he puts his lips to my neck. “I already gave Eliza a free show.”
Lucas chuckles and carries me over to the desk. He shuts his laptop and puts himself between my legs. I can feel his cock against me, and a wave of warmth washes over me.
“I’ve been summoned,” I blurt, getting the words out before I relent to his kisses. “I have to go to the Covenstead.”
“To review your petition to leave?”
“Yes.” I take in a breath, trying hard to will myself to stay calm. Lucas can hear my heart beating and will know the minute it starts to speed up. “I have to change and leave soon.”
“Change?” He eyes me up and down. I’m wearing black leggings and a black sweater.
“It might make a better impression on the Grand Coven if I wear traditional garb. Though, since I’m not trying to be a model coven member anymore, I suppose it doesn’t matter.” I slowly shake my head.
“Are you all right, my love?” Lucas sweeps his fingers across my collarbone, moving them over my shoulder and up to the back of my neck.
“Yes. This is what I wanted. To be with you.” I hook my arms around him and feel my heart lurch in my chest. “I love you, Lucas, so much more than I love being in the coven. And we both know it’s not like I’ll never see my friends again. They were ordered to stay away from me once and that didn’t keep us apart.”
“You told me once witches without a coven are easy prey.”
I bring my hands down to the waist of his pants. “You should know by now there is nothing easy about me.”
He arches an eyebrow. “You were pretty easy this morning. All I had to do was look at you and you were taking your clothes off.”
I laugh, and he pulls me into a tight hug. His skin is cool and comforting against mine. “I won’t deny that you’re hard to resist.”
“I wish I could go with you,” he says gently.
“I do, too.” I look up into his dark blue eyes. “But that wouldn’t go over too well. I’ll bring Binx with me through the woods.”
He tenses at the thought of me walking in the woods. “Right. I almost forgot you have to walk over a mile to get to the Covenstead door.”
“I really need that pony,” I joke.
“I’ll get you a pony.” He steps in, closing the distance between us. “I’ll get you the moon and all the fucking stars.” He brings his lips to mine, kissing the breath out of me. “When do you have to go?”
“Soon. It takes a while to walk.” I rest my head against his chest. “Are you done with your work for the night?”