Solstice Sizzle (Pagan Pleasures Book 2) Page 4

  She put on her clothes. “Because I’m not dressed for it.”

  “No one’s going to worry about that around here, I’m sure.”

  He did have a point. She wasn’t sure how he was so perceptive.

  “I can buy. And something more than just a pub meal. You can make a choice.”

  “I do need to be home tonight.”

  “Okay. I’ll miss you.” He slipped his shorts on.

  She was just a little disappointed that their fun time was now over. It had been a fucking great session. The image of the armoire came to mind. It represented all that she’d shut up about herself. It was time to open the door. One inch at a time. She’d just done that by being intimate with Johan. Now, the next step was dinner. Her stomach rumbled softly, sealing her decision.

  “All right. Dinner. But I’m going to sleep, alone, at my place tonight.”

  “As long as we can pick up things later tomorrow.”

  “Absolutely.” There was only so much breaking the pattern her mom had enforced on her she could do at once. For now, she felt like she’d broken down a lot, even though there was so much more she needed to face.

  Later.

  She reminded herself part of the fling was having fun with Johan, and trying new things. And dinner out wasn’t something she would normally do. So, dinner it would be. But that would be as far as it would go tonight, no matter how fuckable Johan was, and tempting it was going to be to come back here. There would be plenty of time for that in the days to come. And there was something tantalizing about having to wait—just a little longer to fulfill her desires with him.

  Johan insisted that they went somewhere more upmarket, even though she insisted she wasn’t dressed for it. He didn’t want to let her go home and change, not this time. He knew he was being selfish, but he wanted to keep Nova close to himself. Just for now. Even though they’d had so much sexy fun together, he wasn’t sure she’d come back. He knew enough about women to know it wasn’t a certainty. He was willing to risk that for tomorrow, but not right now. He wanted to keep her by his side just a little bit longer. Even though it was simply about fun, and satisfying each other, he felt the need to want to sit down and have a meal with her. To get to know her a little more. After all, that was all part of ensuring they had fun.

  “Share a bottle of wine?” He didn’t usually drink, it affected his ability with the Magiks too much. It wasn’t like that was an issue at the moment, though.

  “As long as it’s Chardonnay.” Nova peeked up over the top of her menu. Her eyes were intense and cheeky. He couldn’t believe he had her all to himself.

  Chardonnay was his least favorite. “Sure.” It was a small sacrifice to make to appease her. And he definitely wanted to do just that.

  “Have you made up your mind what you’d like to eat?” he asked. The level of hungriness in his belly was leaning him toward the homemade chunky beef pie, with chips and salad on the side. He’d decided he was on holiday and could eat whatever he wanted.

  She nodded her head. “Ceaser salad with extra chicken.”

  He motioned for the waitress to come over, and they ordered. While Nova was sitting opposite in the little booth they’d scored in the busy restaurant, Bayside Eats, he couldn’t wait for the food to come out. Smelling the food cooking from the kitchen was sending his stomach wild.

  “I’m so hungry.”

  “Well, you’ve had a rather busy afternoon.” She winked at him.

  “I need to make sure I’m refueled so I can get through tomorrow.”

  Her laughter caused his desires to stir. She was definitely willing. How he’d managed to score a fabulous looking woman, with a devilish sense of humor, who was up for nothing more than a fling he couldn’t work it out. Best not to think about it.

  The waitress returned with the bottle of Chardonnay, a gentle flavor of wine from the Barossa Valley, in South Australia. If he was going to drink his least favorite wine, then he was going to select something more expensive and refined to hopefully take the edge off upsetting his taste buds.

  Johan poured them both a rather generous splash of wine into the glasses.

  “Here’s to some summer sizzle.” She raised her glass.

  “May we both sizzle contently.” He clinked his glass gently against hers. The sound sent a shiver down his spine, it was like a promise that they were going both to please the other. Nova had shown that in the shower. She was more than happy to pleasure him, and not just receive it. He moved to try and remove his focus from the steamy sessions from only hours before.

  He took a small sip of the golden liquid. Not bad at all.

  “Tell me, Nova, you’re a candle maker, and what else?” He was keen to get to know her more, and soon enough the food would be out, and then he’d have to take her home. He was going to respect her wishes to sleep in her own bed. Besides, there was going to be plenty of time for her to sleep over, not that he planned for any sleeping to be done.

  “I also make oil essences for healing and clearing, and some mists as well.”

  “I look forward to burning your candle tonight.” What he really wanted to know was her skill. He couldn’t work it out. A chaotic buzz seemed to explode around her whenever he reached out to her aura to see.

  She took another sip of her wine. “You?”

  He couldn’t help raising his eyebrows at how easily she deflected the conversation away from herself and to him. There had been some goings on with Edi when they were in her shop. He was trying to be polite and not listen in, but he got the distinct feeling Nova was very frustrated over something, almost to the point of being angry.

  “I’m a lawyer…” he paused because it was the last thing he wanted to talk about. He didn’t need a reminder, not now he was finally relaxing and out having a good time instead of staying in over case notes.

  “Now, if I’d known that I might not have trusted you.” Her grin eased the tension that had quickly built within him. Her eyes sparkled with a different sort of teasing, and he could look into them all day and night. Her soul while hiding a deep hurt, was light and fun, so different to him.

  “Thanks. Lawyers aren’t all bad.”

  “Money grabbers.” She shot back at him.

  “Oh, I see.” He leaned forward and looked straight in her eyes. “You know I’m paying for tonight’s meal.”

  “Well okay, I might consider taking you off the money grabber list then.”

  She played hard, not giving in to him at all. Normally, it was him doing that to other people. Tonight, with Nova, he didn’t care. He liked it. It stirred something inside of him which had been dormant for far too long.

  “I see I’m going to have to work harder then.”

  “Yep.” Her expression was devilish and smug. She raised the glass to her lips and suggestively took a sip.

  Apparently, his body wasn’t completely worn out and began to respond. He crossed his legs.

  The meals arriving meant he had to bite his tongue with any comeback—a relief since he didn’t have one on account of his body getting hot for her again.

  She started eating her salad. “Hmmm… just what I need. I’m starving.”

  “Looks like you’re refueling for tomorrow, too?”

  “Maybe.” She tilted her head to the side. “What do you have in mind?”

  He faked a cough as his desire spiked. “You know exactly what.”

  “No, I need you to tell me.” The look of innocence she wore didn’t help to bring the need burning inside of him down a notch or two.

  He decided to play along, so he leaned forward, lowering his voice just a little. “I plan to take off your clothes, then kiss you all over until you’re begging me to enter you.”

  Her cheeks flushed red. She could feel her breathing slow as she fought her own internal battle with the desire he’d just inflamed in her.

  “Shall I keep going?”

  “Your pie is getting cold.”

  “But you’re not.”


  She lifted the glass of wine to her lips and took a big gulp. “We better leave something to do tomorrow.”

  “I have lots of ideas which will keep us busy for days.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.” She plunged her fork into her bowl. “For now, I’m going to be boring and eat my salad.”

  Johan could tell he’d influenced her and he liked that he could. The last thing he wanted to do was to stop this sexual banter between them. But he took her cue. Besides, he reckoned he’d inflamed her desire just enough that she’d want to see him tomorrow to have it quenched.

  “What’s your skill in the Magiks?”

  Her abrupt question went straight into his heart like a spear. Another topic he didn’t want to talk about. “I’m a medium.”

  Her eyes widened. “Wow, really? You talk to dead people?”

  Johan knew he was considered a sharpshooter in the courtroom, but he couldn’t help thinking that Nova was giving him a run for his money on this one.

  “Yes, would you like me to talk to someone?” The words were out before he’d properly thought them through. He saw the change in her demeanor straight away. Immediately, he regretted saying them.

  “No.”

  He didn’t believe her. He’d had enough experience to know there was more than one person she wanted to talk to.

  “Probably just as well then.” He tried to diffuse the heavy emotion he could sense building in her.

  “So, I’ve told you mine, how about you tell me yours. What’s your skill?”

  She froze.

  Bloody hell, now I’ve really done it.

  He wasn’t sure how he’d managed it, but he knew damn well he’d upset her. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” he quickly said, hoping to salvage the conversation before it completely went to shit, and he was taking her home with her not ever wanting to see him again.

  “I don’t know.”

  He swallowed hard. Every witch knew their skill in the Magik. It was part of being a witch, and it was something nurtured since birth.

  “My mom wasn’t a Magik, my dad was.”

  “Okay,” he said softly. He still didn’t have a handle on her situation. There was too much chaos missing in her aura, but he wanted her to keep talking. She needed to. He could sense that at least, despite her turmoil.

  “Dad died when I was three. Mom didn’t understand. She made sure I didn’t find out I had… certain skills. I thought I was human until I hit puberty and found I could sense things others couldn’t. There was an incident at a party when we held a séance. I could feel the spirits coming in, so many of them… one of them was my dad…” she paused, clearly fighting with the emotions surfacing.

  Johan reached over and put his hand on hers and squeezed. She turned her hand to wrap her fingers in his.

  “Mom… she made sure that I felt evil if I tried to use my skill. So, I learned to repress it.”

  Johan let out a big breath. It was so much more than that. It was one thing to have a block like he did with his skill, but something more serious to have it forcibly repressed. He couldn’t imagine his life without his skill. It might not be working so well, but he knew it was there, and if he put his mind to it, he could work through the issue. I don’t want to yet. He pushed the thoughts away. Right now, his concern was with Nova. He wanted to know more about her, and she was letting him into his heart. It touched him that she trusted him to do so.

  “Edi is helping me to find my skill. But it’s taking so long. I… I worry I might never find it.” Tears filled her eyes, but she kept in control, not letting the emotion overpower her.

  “Hey, it’s going to take time.”

  She nodded. “Still, what if I never—”

  “You will. If your candles are anything to go by, and how you told me what I needed today, well then, maybe you’re more on your way to finding your skill than you realize.”

  “You think?”

  “Yes. And I know Edi, if anyone can help you find your skill it’s her.”

  “She said I could do with a break.”

  “And I know just what sort of break will help you.” He winked at her as he squeezed her hand.

  “You don’t give up do you?”

  “No, but then neither do you.”

  She smiled weakly. “Well, you’re getting to know me very well this evening.”

  “Thank you…” he paused. There was a niggle in his mind, a turn of his stomach. No. He couldn’t do it. That might well have been his chance to open up to her, tell her he was struggling with his own skill, that his career as a lawyer might be over before he really got started.

  I can’t. It doesn’t matter anyway. Her problems are bigger than mine.

  And he wanted to help her.

  Leave it to Edi.

  But what he could definitely help with was giving her a very tempting distraction. It was summer, perfect for flings, even more so with the energies peaking around the upcoming solstice. It reminded him that he wouldn’t be with the covenant. He missed the connection with the other witches and warlocks.

  “It is a good time to celebrate, and be grateful for what we have.”

  “You mean with the solstice?”

  Johan nodded. “Maybe we can do our own little celebration?”

  “I’ve never done one before.”

  Her comment squeezed his heart painfully. “Then it’s about time we do. I’m missing my coven, and well, maybe, we can help each other and be grateful for what we have.”

  “Sounds like a good plan. I’ve got some candles that would be perfect.”

  “Great. And we can have it at the beach.”

  “Of course. Though the council isn’t keen on fires on the beach in summer.”

  “But we’ll take the risk.”

  “Only because you’re a lawyer and can get out of any sticky situation.”

  “Don’t know if I’d go that far, but a little fire would be nice.”

  “I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be fun.”

  “Damn right. Though, everything is fun with you.”

  The fresh blush on her cheeks made him smile. What he’d said was true.

  She tried to suppress a yawn. “This wine has gone to my head.”

  “I’d better take you home then. Unless you want to crash at my place.”

  “Nice try.”

  “Hey, you’re too tempting.”

  “Don’t try to blame me.”

  “I wasn’t. I’ll take you home now if you like.”

  “No rush, we both can finish our meals first.” She picked up her fork. “No ideas.”

  “Too late, but I’ll keep them to myself.”

  “Good to see you’re learning.”

  For the first time in his life, Johan didn’t have a comeback. He tried to hide it by eating his meal.

  Far out, she’s quick with her comments. And to recover so quickly from telling him such a painful story.

  A little spark ignited in his heart that glowed for her. He wanted to do everything possible to nurture that little spark.

  Johan settled between the sheets in the oversized bed in the master room of the Airbnb. They were crisp, clean, and after the exertion today and a big meal, he was ready to sleep the night away. He rested his head on the soft pillow with a sigh. He’d left the window slightly open, and the summer night air filtered in, bringing with it the sound of waves.

  I could get used to this.

  He reached over and switched off the light by the bed. His eyes slowly adjusted, there was enough natural light to see the outline of furniture in the room.

  His head swum pleasantly, moderately affected by the alcohol. For someone who didn’t like Chardonnay, he’d drunk more than he thought he could. It had been a lovely evening. He was very much looking forward to seeing Nova tomorrow. His mind easily began to plan what they could do when they met up, and he surprised himself that it wasn’t all about getting naked. He quite liked the idea of walking along the beach, having
a swim then, of course, some time to get intimate with each other. He let the fantasy play out in his mind as he unwound for the day. Johan found himself relaxing deeply, something he hadn’t managed to do for so long.

  Sleep began to wrap around him.

  Then he felt it.

  The pull of a spirit in the afterlife.

  I hadn’t called for you. He sent the message through the ether.

  The spirit pressed harder, wanting access.

  I’ve not invited you. He was annoyed. This had never happened to him before. But then it was so long since he’d acted as a medium that his skills were more than rusty.

  This is why I don’t drink. Now the indulgence over dinner felt more like a burden.

  The spirit ignored him. Pressed through a weak spot in his aura.

  For fuck’s sake. Johan braced himself, trying to build a barrier around him so the spirit wouldn’t fully enter his body. He was tired already. His skills unused for so long. He struggled. He didn’t always allow spirits to fully take over his body. It was more about how exhausted it left him afterward. When he was at his full potential with the Magiks, he could connect enough with the spirits to communicate with them and act as their messenger. Provided the person, or even spirit was willing to listen, but then that was his skill. Communication. As a Gemini, he was abundant with communication, and could get people and spirits to listen.

  You can talk to me like this. He figured if he couldn’t get the spirit to leave, then at least he could keep it at bay.

  I didn’t mean to do that to her. There was a ripple of fear and regret coming through with the words of the spirit.

  Name yourself, he demanded. If he were dealing with a spirit that had done something illegal he needed to exert his authority straight away. He thought it was a more feminine energy, but he wasn’t sure.

  No. Just tell her I’m sorry.

  I can’t if you don’t tell me your name.

  He felt the spirit withdraw. He tried to wrap an energy net over to catch and keep it. You started this, fucking come back.

  The spirit was too quick.