“An asshole.” He needed to get home to Sarah. They had a mess on their hands, and all because Brady thought he was someone special.

  “I locked the front gate,” Kurt said. He wanted out of there now.

  “Door’s locked.” Jimmy pulled down the inner gate and secured the lock. “Hit the lights.”

  “Great.” He couldn’t get out of there fast enough. He switched off the various lights and signs, allowing the security lights and system to come on.

  “Let’s go.” Jimmy locked up the main portions of the shop. “Take care of your girl.”

  “I’m stopping by the police department first. They need to know what he just pulled.” If nothing else, they’d have his statement, too. “This has to stop.” He unlocked his car and collapsed behind the wheel.

  “Agreed. Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” He needed all the luck he could get. Sarah deserved nothing less.

  Chapter Seven

  Sarah finished her coding for the evening just after midnight. She was caught up -- for now. Thank goodness. She’d have to call her boss tomorrow, but considering the circumstances, he should be okay with her doing a couple days’ work from home.

  She checked Kurt’s phone again. He’d texted at ten after midnight saying he had to finish an errand, then he’d be home. When she looked at the time again, it was nearly one in the morning. What was he doing?

  Her thoughts turned to their conversation. Brady and Mrs. Namey were related. Of all the people in her life, why did her neighbor have to be the mother of her assailant?

  Until Kurt mentioned Mrs. Namey’s relationship to Brady, she’d had no idea she’d been living next to a potential grenade for the last seven years. Mrs. Namey brought her cookies and checked on her. She claimed to have a nice son… one she’d someday like to see married to a good girl like her… Fuck.

  She might be a good girl, but she wasn’t marrying anyone like Brady.

  Never.

  She rubbed her arms, then paced the length of the living room. She was safe here, and Kurt would be home soon. Things would be fine. Christ. She had to stop fretting so much.

  She headed to the bedroom and brushed her teeth. She might as well not worry about things she couldn’t change. Brushing her teeth and taking a shower would do her some good. It’d relax her, anyway. Instead of thinking too hard, she stripped and ventured into the master bathroom shower.

  The hot water stung her body but refreshed her senses. She tipped her face to the heat. Her muscles ached from sitting in front of her laptop for so long.

  She glanced around the space and realized she’d forgotten her shower essentials. Damn. His would have to do. She squirted shower gel onto the washcloth, then cleansed herself. Scrubbing helped wash away some of her frustration.

  She rinsed, then used his shampoo. He tended to have better hair care products than she did. He worked hard to maintain great hair. She tended to settle for wash and go. The lather smelled good and made her hair soft. Plus, it reminded her of Kurt.

  As she massaged her scalp, she drank in the view of his bathroom. Like Jimmy, Kurt had a house in the fancy development. He’d purchased the home shortly after its completion and got a sweet deal. He had the best of everything in the house -- high tech smart appliances, a high-end security system, smart lighting, open floor plan, open shower… he had such a nice house. That said, she’d have to get used to not having a shower door or curtain.

  The door to the bathroom opened and she froze. Could be Axel. He liked to roam into the bathroom to check out the scene. An intruder? She would’ve heard the alarm system. Right?

  Kurt strode into the bathroom. “Fuck, I’ve had a long day.”

  She debated covering herself, but why bother? He’d seen her. He knew every bit of her. “Why don’t you join me, and we’ll relax together?”

  He chuckled. “You read my mind.” He stripped in seconds, then made his way to the shower. More like stalked over.

  Her mouth watered as she rinsed the shampoo from her hair. He was sex on legs -- all raw muscle and power. She loved the tattoos on his body and the way he kept his chest shaved. She wanted to run her fingers over him and taste every bit of him.

  “Hi.” He joined her in the shower. Water sluiced over his muscles as he embraced her. “This makes my day better.”

  “Does it?” She splayed her hand on his chest. He had new ink -- new from the last time she’d seen him shirtless. “What’s this?” She thought she knew all of his tattoos.

  “Your name.” He encircled her wrist with his fingers and kept her hand on his skin. “I’d planned on showing you the night we split.”

  She paused. “You did this for me?” He could’ve told her. Hell, she might not have walked out.

  “You were so busy believing I was doing something I wasn’t, and there wasn’t anything I could say to convince you otherwise.” He curled his fingers under her chin. “I never gave up on us.”

  “No, you didn’t.” She’d lost a lot of time with him, but she had a chance to have forever. “Didn’t anyone have a problem with it?” He had her name on his body. Holy shit.

  “They did, but I wasn’t taking it off.” He shrugged. “I have no regrets.”

  “I guess not.” His erection jabbed at her lower abdomen. She arranged his dick between her legs and rubbed on him. The delicious friction pleased her. She missed his body.

  “God, yes.” He slid his hand down her side to her backside and massaged her ass. “Need you.”

  “I’m here.” She kissed him and draped her arms around his neck. She’d given up on herself, but not them. Even when she believed there was no chance she and Kurt would find a way to each other, her heart still held out hope things would work out. They could overcome the odds.

  She kissed him and pushed the connection deeper. When he opened, she tangled her tongue with his. He tasted good, like mint.

  He groaned into the kiss. The vibration slid down her spine and upped her desire for him. She needed to be closer and clawed at his shoulders. When he scooped her into his arms, she held on tight, not wanting this moment to end.

  He pinned her to the tiles and broke the kiss. “Mine.”

  “Yes.” She wrapped her legs around his waist. She could barely breathe when he pushed into her in one thrust. She whimpered at the tight fit. It’d been a long time since she’d made love, and she trembled against him. He needed to move within her. “Kurt.”

  Hot water and glitter swirled around them as he began to thrust. Her magic surged within her in time with his pushes. He eased one arm around her to keep her in his grasp and used his other hand to palm her breast. He tweaked and toyed with her nipple. Every nerve ending in her body buzzed, and the power of her magic increased.

  She met him thrust for thrust. Having him inside her felt good. Hell, it felt more than good. It was perfect. She’d found her other half -- not that she’d doubted he was always the one.

  She stared into his eyes. As he pistoned into her, she swore she saw forever with him.

  “Fuck,” he said and increased his speed. “So tight. God.”

  She agreed. She felt every nuance within him. Being with Kurt balanced her. He brought out her magic.

  The orgasm slowly built low in her belly, then spread through her limbs before returning to her core. She flexed her pussy around him.

  Nothing seemed to matter. No one else existed, and her world righted. She panted. “Kurt.” The rest of her words escaped her. The vulnerability of the moment mixed with the sweetness of their connection.

  “Jesus.” Kurt pushed harder. “Can’t. Think. Straight.”

  She couldn’t either. She swore she floated. Her muscles tensed and she gasped, needing the orgasm more than her next breath. She’d never felt this fucking good or free in her life. He stopped toying with her boob and eased his hand between her legs. He plucked at her clit.

  The move sent an instant zap to her system. Holy fuck. She dug her nails into his back and held on as best she could. Words filled her mind. A spell? She wasn’t sure, but if it was, she’d never seen the words before. All she did know was that he’d tattooed his name on her heart. She’d never be the same. Ever.

  She murmured the words in her mind, and the glitter increased. Her orgasm overwhelmed her. Why fight it? Why not embrace what she wanted? He’d offered himself up, and she refused to ignore this chance.

  “Kurt.” She tensed as the climax hit hard. She trembled, then relaxed against him. Magic surged through her veins. She cried out, then buried her face against the side of his neck.

  “Christ, babe. That’s hot.” Kurt surged into her. His breath warmed her skin more than the water. She held on for dear life as he came. He shuddered and cried out. “Sarah,” he shouted. “Fuck.”

  She loved this moment. Everything in the world went silent. Only she and Kurt mattered. They were one. The glitter dissipated as the waves of orgasm lessened.

  “My girl.” Kurt kissed her temple. “You made my knees weak.”

  “Mine, too.” Good thing he hadn’t put her down yet. She wasn’t sure she could stand on her own.

  “We were careless.” He placed her on the floor on her feet but kept her in his one-armed embrace. He rinsed them off before turning the knob. “I should’ve protected you.”

  “We’re okay. I’m still on the pill.” She had her magic to protect her, too. Until the magic wanted her to have a child, she’d be barren. Good for fooling around, but not for starting a family -- if she’d chosen the wrong man. Since she hadn’t wanted children, she’d gone on the pill.

  “I should’ve thought with my full brain.” As the spray stopped, he eased out of the stall. He wrapped her in a towel. She wobbled but managed to walk out to the bedroom.

  Maybe it was the time of night or the excitement of being with Kurt, but bone-deep weariness washed over her. She needed to brush her hair and properly dry off, but she wanted to sleep.

  She sat on the bed and rubbed her eyes.

  “You okay?” He dried himself. “Tired?”

  “A little.” Okay, maybe a lot. She should get the brush and work the tangles from her hair.

  “Here.” He left the room, then returned nude and carrying her hairbrush. “I remember how you like this.” He sat behind her and gently worked the brush through her hair.

  She bit back a moan. No other man had ever bothered to pamper her this way.

  “Like it?” He kept brushing.

  “I do,” she said. “I missed stuff like this. The little things. You really took care of me.”

  “It’s not hard when you love someone.” He continued brushing. “It’s a pleasure.”

  “You tattooed my name onto your body.” She still couldn’t get her mind around that notion. They’d split up, but she was still with him.

  “I did.”

  “It’s over your heart.”

  “You had it the whole time.”

  He knew how to melt her. “Kurt.”

  “I never really fell out of love with you. I knew why you were scared. I know why you pushed me away, too. You never had to explain who you are to me. I accepted you because you’re you. You’re a good witch.” He finished brushing her hair. “I also know there was something about you that I couldn’t shake.”

  She turned enough to meet his gaze as he put the brush down. “Beautiful man -- inside and out.”

  “You understood my need to doodle and didn’t get upset because I tattooed other women. It’s just a job. I’m not ogling those women. I’m ogling you. You’ve encouraged me to expand my skills, too.” He tugged her onto his lap. “I’m not a family man. Don’t like kids. But we got Axel, and it was like the family I didn’t know I wanted fell into place.”

  “He can be a furry kid.” So needy and messy.

  “You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.” Kurt chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I see forever with you. Always have.”

  “Even though I’m a witch?” She’d never felt so unconditionally loved.

  “I love you, Sarah Jane. Fill my house with your glitter and spells. I don’t mind.” He kissed her. “As long as you’re mine, you can do whatever you want.”

  He was too good to be true, but he was all hers. “Hold me?”

  “I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Need a nightshirt?” He scooted out from under her and left the bed, then carried the towels to the bathroom.

  “I’m good.” She donned a pair of panties and a Tattoo You T-shirt from the night before, then crawled between the sheets. The second he joined her, she grinned. “This is what I needed.”

  Axel settled on the foot of the bed, snuggling between their feet.

  “Still tired?” He switched off the light. “The full moon tonight has the room lit up pretty well.”

  “It is.” She laced her fingers with his and enjoyed the soft moonlight in the room. “It’s kind of romantic.”

  “It is.”

  She wanted to sleep, but words still ran through her mind. “You’re not ready to sleep, are you?”

  “No. You relaxed me, but I can’t stop thinking about those texts. They were from Brady.”

  “I knew it.” She closed her eyes. “He’s slime.”

  “He’s bothering other women.”

  “Not surprised.” Not one bit. Now that she knew Brady’s scheme, she’d be careful. She had Kurt in her life, and she’d be fine.

  “One more thing. Kaine called me,” Kurt said. “Mrs. Namey called his shop. She asked if he worked on cars and what kind. She wanted to know if he could work on a Corolla.”

  “That’s what I have.” She rolled onto her back and stared into his eyes. “She drives a Crown Vic.”

  “She said she’d seen his number on the truck when he came to work on her neighbor’s car and wondered if he could tell her where she could find parts for her Corolla.”

  Oh, God. She squeezed his fingers.

  “Ricky already knows about the call and my run-in with Brady.”

  “Run-in?” Jesus Christ. This man wouldn’t stop. If it wasn’t him, it was his mother.

  “The jackass showed up at the shop and told us to make him our celebrity spokesperson. He threatened us that if we didn’t help him and make your complaint go away, he’d make our lives miserable.”

  “You didn’t take the bait, right?” She wanted to make Brady pay. He’d been a jerk for too long.

  “No. Jimmy and I insisted he leave. We closed shortly thereafter, and I went straight to the police. I told Ricky you’d be staying with me for the duration,” Kurt said. “I hate to admit that I made the big decision without you -- I want us to be a team -- but I’m worried he’ll do something to you.”

  “I appreciate your concern. You’re right. You did make a big decision without my input, but I’m glad, too. I’m tired of being alone and of him targeting women.”

  “He’ll stop. The police are on this, and I have the feeling your magic won’t rest until he’s stopped.”

  “It won’t.” She stretched out on top of him and sighed. She listened to his heartbeat. “We should sleep.”

  “We should.” He held her. “Get some rest.”

  She would eventually. Her brain wouldn’t shut off, now that she knew Brady had caused problems for the people she loved. She hated bullies. “When I was little, I wanted a friend who stood up for me. Aria didn’t like that I was different and treated me like a bratty younger sister because she wanted magic and didn’t have it. We were jealous of each other.”

  “She had her own issues.”

  “She did, but she taught me that I can’t ignore what makes me special. She did, and she’s gone. I don’t want to be that way. I want to be dorky, silly and myself.”

  “You can be witchy,” Kurt murmured. “I love it. I love you.”

  She grinned to herself again. She could be witchy? Why not? “Thank you.”

  As his breathing evened and he fell asleep, her thoughts continued to whirl through her head. She was a witch and could use her spells for good. If she trusted her magic, it could be a tool in her favor. Why not give Brady a slight inconvenience? A taste of his own medicine, so to speak. A temporary annoyance to make Brady’s life miserable.

  She snuggled down in bed with Kurt and embraced her life. She had a path forward with the man who loved her. She also had a plan for how to handle the big problem in her life.

  Time to enjoy what she’d been given and embrace progress.

  Time to embrace love.

  * * *

  Sarah woke to the scent of coffee in the air. She stretched, enjoying the space in his big bed and the chance to be lazy. She had few worries for a change.

  Kurt strolled into the bedroom holding two mugs of coffee. “Hi, sweetheart.” He offered her one of the cups.

  “Axel had to potty?” She sat up. “I never heard him or you leave.”

  “You’ve had a long couple of days, so I let you sleep.”

  She accepted the cup. “Thank you.” She sipped, and the hot brew warmed her to her core. “Delicious.”

  “I can make decent coffee.” He sat in front of her. “My phone cord fit your phone, so I plugged it in. It’s charging.”

  “Thanks.” She’d forgotten all about the phone.

  “We don’t open until four tonight, so if you want me to get your car, I’ll call Jimmy.”

  “We could do that. I don’t want him in the car if there was any futzing with it, though.” She sipped the coffee again. “I had a thought last night. It might be silly, and you might tell me it’s not worth it, but it was one of those goofy thoughts you get before you fall asleep.”

  “Oh?” He tucked one leg under him. He’d combed his hair, but the slept-in look worked for him. “About?”

  “Brady.”

  He groaned. “He’s a pimple on the ass of life.”

  “He is, but I have a suggestion for slowing him down.”

  “Do you? Intrigued.” His eyes flashed. “Nothing dangerous, I hope.”

  “Nothing dangerous.” She wrapped both hands around the cup. “More like a spell that’s a warning.”

  He tipped his head. “Go on.”

  “I know a spell that reveals your thoughts to everyone around you. Basically, he’d have no inner monologue. Whatever he’s thinking would come right out. No secrets.” She waited to gauge his response.

 

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