with the knowledge.
“Please don’t send me away. I need you. You’re a witch, yes, but I don’t fear your powers. After last night, I’m grateful for them.”
“Oh, Glory!” Godiva brushed away her tears. “This is the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen. Don’t send him away!”
“If you don’t take him,” Evie said, “I will.”
“Hunter,” was all Glory managed to get out.
“He’s only good for the night. Maybe I’m looking for a day man.”
Glory elbowed her sister in the stomach.
Evie backed off, taking Godiva with her. “Come on. Let’s give the lovebirds their privacy and listen from the kitchen where Glory can’t assault us.” Footsteps echoed.
“I love you, Glory.” He dropped to his knees. “Please, say something to me. Anything.”
Could he truly love her? Her? Could he live with a witch and not fear for his life? She studied his face. Lines of tension edged his eyes and mouth. His lips were drawn tight. He was pale. His hair looked as if he’d plowed his hands through it for hours.
He really was worried she’d say no.
“Last night wasn’t enough,” he rushed on. “Forever probably won’t be enough. You’re all I can think about, all I crave. I’m addicted to you. I know you’re scared, but I vow to you, here and now, to protect you, cherish you, trust you. I know you aren’t evil. That’s something you don’t have to fear. I know you’re good and pure and—”
“I love you, too,” she finally said. Making a leap, trusting him like he was trusting her.
He was on his feet in the next instant, jerking her into his arms. “Thank God. I would have had to write you into another scene if you’d rejected me.” He placed little kisses all over her face. “Not that I would have minded.”
She laughed as she wound her arms around his neck. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’ve never been surer about anything in my life. You’re
Her head fell back, hair flying, and she laughed again, joyful, content.
He stopped, peered down at her, his grin melting away, burned as it was by desire. “Okay, now I’m turned on. That laugh of yours . . .”
“Come on,” she said, leading him to her bedroom and earning winks from her sisters, who stood in the kitchen entry. “I have the perfect spell for that.” She shut the door, then proceeded to work her magic all over his body.
IT’S IN HIS KISS . . .
(Title hummed to the tune of Cher singing “The Shoop Shoop Song”)
P. C. Cast
One
“All right, we’re going to start a new unit, so get out your folders and get ready to take notes,” Summer said in what she liked to hope was her best Teacher Voice.
“What’s the new unit, Miss S.?” called a male voice from the rear of the class.
Summer frowned. Was it disrespectful to call her Miss S.? Oh, Goddess! Another question she’d have to ask her sister on the phone tonight. She cleared her throat and tried to look severe and ten years older. “Shakespeare’s
The girls in the class sighed and looked dreamy. The boys groaned.
“Hey, I hear there’s sex in that play,” came the same voice from the rear of the class.
“Well, yes. Actually it’s a play about star-crossed lovers whose families won’t let them be together,” said Summer.
The girls smiled. The boys rolled their eyes.
“So that means there’s sex in it. Lots, actually,” Summer said before her mind caught up with her mouth.
“Cool!”
“Of course, it’s all written in Elizabethan English,” she hastily amended, reconnecting with the excellent control she usually had over everything she said or did.
“Sucks fairy butt,” said a surly voice from the other side of the room.
“So we won’t get it?” asked a cute blonde in the front row who wore a short, pink cheerleading uniform with FIGHTING FAIRIES emblazoned across her perky bosom.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get it,” Summer said.
“Awesome!” chorused several annoying male voices, accompanied by giggles from the girls.
“Hey, Miss Smith, can we watch the movie?” asked the cheerleader.
“The one that shows Juliet’s boobs!” called the irritating male voice. Which kid was that, anyway? Maybe she should move him up closer. (As if she wanted the annoying child
“I’ll think about the movie,” Summer said firmly. “What we
The classroom went dead silent. Finally a pleasantly plump redheaded girl who sat smack in the center of the class smiled up at Summer through extra-thick glasses and a face full of unfortunate zits and said, “You mean we’re taking a field trip?”
“Yes, we’re taking a field trip. Tomorrow.”
There was a general class-wide sigh of relief and several high fives accompanied by murmurs of “Dude! That means no class tomorrow!”
“Okay, don’t forget to work on the Shakespearian vocab I gave you at the beginning of class. It’s due the day after tomorrow, and then we’ll begin—” Summer was saying when—thank the blessed Goddess—the bell rang that signaled the end of the period as well as the end of the school day.
“High school sucks,” Summer muttered to herself as the last pubescent boy filed out of her classroom, almost running into the door frame as he tried to keep his eyes on her cleavage as long as humanly possible. When the coast was clear, she dropped her head to her desk, and with a satisfying thud began to bang it not so softly. “I’m not a fool for teaching high school. I’m not a fool for teaching high school . . .” she spoke the litany in time to her head banging.
“Oh, honey. Just give up. We’re all fools. That’s one of the things that makes a truly great teacher: foolishness. The second thing starts with a
Summer looked up to see a tall, slender woman dressed all in black. Her acorn-colored hair was shoulder length and wavy in a disarrayed I’m-so-naughty style. She offered her hand to Summer with a smile just as the door to her classroom opened again.
“What?” The tall, slender woman whipped around, skewering the hapless teenage boy with her amber
