“It’s okay. I got magic,” she answered with a smile.
Ridge wasn’t sure what that meant but gave himself over to her. Using his arms, he lifted her up and down, up and down, faster and faster until they were both moaning and gasping. His growl came out deep and loud, with Noelle’s scream following him. He didn’t think beyond coming, figuring he’d make it up to her afterward, after he had his head on straight. However, his little witch was so in tune with him she came along with him, milking him.
She collapsed on top of him, her white-blonde hair tickling his nose. “Sleep, love.” He brushed his hand down her back.
“Mkay,” she murmured.
Chapter Ten
RIDGE STRETCHED, LOVING the feel of Noelle’s upper body on top of his. Sometime in the middle of the night she’d slipped off of him, but he’d pulled her back so he could hold her. He wasn’t sure what had woken him from his slumber, but a niggle of worry had him easing from his bed.
After tucking the sheet back around her naked form, he padded to the floor-to-ceiling windows, still amazed at his mates’ magical abilities. The moon was so bright it illuminated his entire backyard, drawing his gaze to a large lion and the smaller white lion sitting next to him.
“Shit,” he whispered.
Not wanting to wake Noelle, he pulled on a pair of briefs from his dresser then headed down the stairs and out the back-patio doors. “What’s up, Thadd?” He faced the large lion without fear.
Thadd shifted to human, wearing the sparkly booty shorts Ridge still found hilarious. “Your sister wanted to visit but then didn’t want to bug you. I’ve no problem bugging you, but...” He shrugged.
The other white lion stayed in his shifted form, staring off into the distance.
“Hello, Yaro, how’s it going?” he asked Thadd’s younger brother. Even if the boy didn’t shift, he wanted to acknowledge him.
The air shimmered and then Yaro stood there looking a lot healthier than he had the last time Ridge had seen him.
“I am well, Ridge. Your sister is coming.” Yaro nodded regally.
Ridge already smelled her familiar scent. What he wasn’t prepared to find, was her walking instead of running on four legs, and dammit, the goat was with her.
“Do not look at me with disdain, cat. I am not just a goat.” Mr. Bixley sniffed as if offended.
“Hello, Bixley, how are you faring down in Texas?” Ridge didn’t think the oh-so-refined English-speaking goat would like the hot state, but what did he know?
“The Wilder Crew is much like the Mayhem Crew.” Mr. Bixley didn’t elaborate.
“Ridge,” Torrance yelled as she finally came within running distance.
He opened his arms, catching her mid-leap. He ignored the growl coming from the crazy lion. “What’s brought you home?”
Another growl from Thadd, this one much deeper.
“Oh, you hush it,” Torrance said, pointing a finger at her mate.
“Yaro had a vision, so I whisked us here. Then I realized you were busy.” She winked, sobering quickly. “I smelled something strange, so we went on a little hike, and then Mr. Bixley and I sent these two back here while I did a little cleanup. Oh, and I thought I’d ensure your garden always produced even when I’m not here to do my little gardening. P.S. You’re welcome.” Torrance smiled down at him.
A growl from his house shook the ground under his feet. He saw Noelle standing by the door. “Hello, Katjie. Come and meet my sister, her mate Thadd, and his brother Yaro.”
The growl stopped immediately. “Oops,” Noelle whispered.
“I like her already.” Torrance slapped his shoulder.
Ridge released his sister, eyeing the two women he loved most in the world.
Noelle came to his side. “Sorry I um...growled at you.”
Torrance waved her hand. “Girl, I’d have done the same thing if I caught my mate being hugged by some strange female. Note to you, Thadd, don’t ever let me catch you hugging some strange female ‘cause I don’t think I’d be as restrained.”
“I’ve made note.” Thadd tapped his head.
“I will not be so whipped when I find my mate,” Yaro said, turning away from them then shifted into a white lion before loping off into the woods.
Ridge snorted but didn’t say anything else. “He gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, he’s still adjusting to being around non-crazy lions,” Thadd said, staring down the path his brother had taken.
“Um, so when is he going to figure out, he’s around crazy still?”
Torrance flipped Ridge off then smiled. “He’s right, though. We’re all a little crazy.”
“So, what’s brought you here? Thadd said something about you wanting to visit but, that’s not all, is it?” He hated to bring the cheery moment down, but he felt real worry pouring from the couple.
Torrance looked at Noelle then Ridge. “I’m afraid not. You know Thadd gets dreams, or at least he got dreams of me, right? Well, I had a dream and needed to come here. From the looks of the woods, I might be a little late though.”
Ridge pulled Noelle closer against his side. After he explained about Merry and Carlton, Torrance’s jaw went slack. “That must’ve been what I felt. How about the other women who were with your sister? Have you checked in on them?” Noelle asked.
Noelle froze; her entire being went rigid. “I didn’t even think about them. I mean, just because my sister was...tainted, I never thought they were. Shit, they might be as well.”
“I think that’s why I’m here. We can’t allow them to be out in the world if they’re infected with the evil I felt before I left, or what the earth was showing me when I went out there just a little bit ago.” Torrance shrugged her shoulders.
“You’re an earth witch?”
“I can draw strength from the soil and feel from it, yes.”
NOELLE COULD SEE THE other woman didn’t want to say anymore. “Let’s reach out to Zelda.”
“Already did. She’s searching for the other women. I think we’ll have
