Page 7 of All My Hexes (Pine Gulch Ever After)

I can’t stop staring at how fucking beautiful he is with that angular jaw and those beautiful, plump lips.

Amethyst eyes flicker open and narrow, his tail starting to lash again.

“More,” he growls. “Give me more, little witch.”

I couldn’t slow my brain after Dain fell asleep curled around me with one huge wing covering me.

I just couldn’t stop admiring the veins and bones and how damn strong he is.

I guess so, considering how he tossed me around last night.

Eventually I decided to head back to the rooms I’m sharing with the girls and try to rest without him as a distraction.

Gods, the sex with him was good, so fucking good. The kind of sex you think about years later and regret not knowing how to get ahold of that person again. The kind of sex that enchants you and makes you do things like come back to a middle of nowhere haven to see that monster one more time.

Sunlight filters through the room I’m sharing with Naima. Her bed is empty and still made, so she’s wherever she ended up last night. I’ll call her in a minute when I can open both eyes.

Kingston stumbles into the room, her hair sticking straight up on one side. She rubs her eyes. “Naima still gone? Amadala never came home either.” She yawns. “Get up, bitch, I need coffee.”

Demand made, she slams the door and pads across the shared living space between our rooms. I groan and roll out of bed, glancing at my watch. It’s ten a.m. so I got at least a few hours of sleep. I hit the bathroom and try to do something with my hair, deciding to pull it into a low slung braid.

According to Amadala’s research, Pine Gulch’s motto about weather is “if you don’t like it, wait five minutes and it’ll change”.

I take that to heart as I root through my suitcase for jeans and a cute tee.

Grabbing a sweater, I tie it around my waist in case it gets randomly cold or starts snowing.

It’s early September, so we’re in that season even in the city.

Kingston meets me at the door, waving her face like I’m so hot she can’t hold herself back. “Looking good, girl. Where’d you get to last night? I fucked those vampires from the train and damn, I forgot how much I love a good orgy. But when I went back to find you, you were gone.”

I tell her how Amadala disappeared with a hot minotaur and we talk about her recent breakup on the way to Brewhaha Beans, the big coffee shop on Main Street. Kingston grills me about my night with Dain.

The coffee shop has a line out the door, and it takes us the better part of a quarter hour to make our way to the front to order. It’s bright and airy with a sunflower theme painted on the brick wall on the right side. Everything’s yellow and cream with a handcrafted feel. It’s darling.

“Oh my god, it’s the vampires from last night,” Kingston hisses, grabbing my arm.

I turn to where she’s pointing, and sure enough, a trio of vampires sit at a table sipping drinks. One of the males waggles a brow at Kingston.

I snort out a laugh as the minotaur in front of us finalizes his order and moves.

And then I’m staring into a pair of familiar amethyst eyes.

“Morning, Shadow,” says Dain from his spot at the order counter. “What can I getcha? I imagine you need some caffeine on account of being up so late.”

My mouth drops open. Kingston helpfully puts a fingertip beneath my chin and lifts it back into place.

“She’ll take a lavender oatmilk latte and I need a double espresso, please, good sir.”

He smiles at me. “I’m covering this one, no need to pay. Just find a seat and I’ll bring your drinks in a moment.”

Without waiting for an answer, he pulls out his wallet and swipes his credit card through the machine. The troll female working with him watches him and then looks over at me. Oh my gods, could this be more embarrassing? Not embarrassing…but unexpected? I’m not sure how to act in the light of day.

“Thanks,” I say as Kingston drags me toward a table being vacated by two big minotaurs.

I flop into the seat and hang my purse on the chair back.

Kingston leans over the tiny table. “Girl, is that the guy from last night? He was eyefucking you hardcore!”

“Mhm,” I confirm, glancing over to where Dain pours milk into a steamer. He works quickly and efficiently, a little smile on his handsome angular features. Today he wears tight jeans and a black tee that highlights that big, muscular chest.

My body tightens and clenches and I lick my lips without meaning to. Dain glances up from where he’s working, his smirk growing.

“Oh boy, he gotchu good, huh?”

Kingston’s comment pulls my focus back to her.

“Mhm,” I repeat. “I left afterward without a note or anything. I didn’t think I’d see him again!”

She laughs, her mouth dropped open. “Well the fates have spoken, I suppose. I mean, he must not have hard feelings about it, har har, since he paid for our drinks.”

True, but now I’m feeling a little bad about not leaving a thank you note or something. But gods, what would it even say?

Thanks for the great bang.

Thanks for blowing my mind.

Thanks for talking me into an orgasm without even being inside me?

I dab at my forehead. I’m sweating.

Dain rounds the order island and makes his way to us, carrying both drinks easily in one hand.

He stops at a little station with coffee toppers and drink stirrers and grabs two napkins.

Setting them down on our table, he places the drinks and grins at me.

Then he drops to his heels, resting one forearm on the table as he stares deeply into my eyes.

“I don’t wanna get in the way of your girls’ weekend but can you tack a day onto your trip? There’s somewhere I wanna take you, if you’ll have me.”

Oh gods. Oh fuck. Is he asking me out right here in front of Kingston?

She bites her lip, looking away as she tries to give us space.

“Please,” he says softly. “I’ll make it worth it, I promise.”

When I struggle to find an immediate response, he spins to Kingston and grins.

“I’m Dain, by the way.”

They shake hands and exchange pleasantries.

“I’d love to,” I hear myself say. “We were supposed to leave before dinner tomorrow night, but I can hang out for a little longer, if you’ve got something extra amazing that I’ve just gotta see. More plants, maybe?”

Kingston lets out a little hysterical laugh, but cuts it short.

Dain grins at me. “Sounds good, little witch. I’m working all day today, tonight and in the morning. But call me tomorrow when you’re free. Dinner time-ish is best, if you can. Definitely before sunset.”

“Okay.” I smile at him as he rises.

He winks at me, then turns to head back behind the counter.