Page 12 of Black and White, Twice the Might (Cadenbury Town #8)

I sigh as I come awake the following morning.

I’m again lying wrapped in Sly’s octopus arms. After arriving back last night, we dumped the boys in their room, reminding them to be quiet and walked into our room.

As soon as I closed the door, Sly pulled me into his arms, and before I knew it, I was naked on the bed with Sly kissing and licking every inch of my body, before making love to me.

I can’t wait to move into our own house, so we can spend the day in bed, alright, maybe not the day, as we have the boys, but at least a bit more of the morning.

But now I need to get up, make coffee for Sly, and shower before waking the boys.

I manage to get out of bed without waking Sly and smile to myself. In all the years we’ve been together, I can count on one hand how often Sly has woken up before me. I think it’s only happened once or twice.

I walk into the bathroom and do my business before stepping into the shower. As the water hits me, I think back to meeting Sly.

I had been dragged to a bar with some friends, as I had just come back from a four-month chocolate course in Belgium. It had been amazing, and I was even more sure that working with chocolate was my calling.

We had been at the bar for a few hours and decided to move to a local nightclub.

We paid our money, went in and started dancing.

Well, I did. My friends went to get more drinks.

I’d been dancing by myself for a minute or two when the most handsome man I had ever seen danced over to me.

Just as he reached my side, the music changed to something slow and romantic.

He held his hand out. “Dance with me?” he asked.

I didn’t hesitate and took his hand. “I’d love to.

” As soon as I touched his hand, I felt something like electricity flow through my hand, my arm and into my stomach.

I also felt a touch of magic, but I ignored that.

Who cared about something like magic when my dream man was literally asking me to dance?

He grinned, and I swear I heard angels singing. His grin was amazing, and his eyes sparkled under the dance floor lighting.

We danced the first few slow songs in silence. Our bodies as close as they could be, our arms wrapped around each other as if we’d been made for each other.

“My name is Sly,” the dark-haired beauty told me.

“Ebby,” I replied. “Fancy a drink?”

Sly nodded. “Yep.”

We got drinks and danced again. I looked for my friends, and they were all happy and dancing with others.

“I’m starving. There’s a Chinese place down the road, fancy spring roll and chips?” Sly asked.

“That sounds really good. Let me message my friends so they don’t worry, and then I’m all yours.”

Sly’s grin got wicked. “Hopefully,” he said. “I’ll message my friends too, and then we can go.”

As I think of our first meeting, I smile and finish my shower. Thankful, and not for the first time, we decided to go to that nightclub.

Breakfast this morning was leisurely and interesting.

It wasn’t meant to be, but Janice made us tell her about last night.

Then Larry had to be told, and a few of the other residents wanted to know what happened, so it actually took a few hours to finish breakfast. Apparently, people had seen Adhan carrying an unconscious Ernest out of the Haunted Walk and wanted to know what happened.

Once we finally leave the breakfast room, we leave the B&B. Sly wants to check up on Ernest, so we decide to look for him in the bookshop first and walk in to see Ernest finish serving a customer.

As soon as the customer moves away, Enoch rushes over to him. “Are you okay? Sly said you were bitten by a zombie. I didn’t even know zombies were real. My mind is blown right now.”

I smile at my youngest brother. His fear of Ernest has well and truly gone.

“A zombie did chomp on me, but Sly used his magic to help me, then created a gross tea for me to drink.”

“All healing teas are disgusting,” I say. It’s a sad fact, but they really are.

“Have a chat with Sal. He’s figured out a way to make them taste nice and still keep all the healing properties.”

“Really? Thank goodness, I need to find him and talk to him,” Xander says. “The teas these two make, make me want to heave.”

“Sal and Justice are in the tearoom,” Ernest tells them.

“How are you feeling today? Any after-effects?” Sly asks.

“Nope, whatever you did fixed me right up. Thanks. Oh, before I forget, the witchlings and I are conjuring up a cauldron and cackling around it tonight, making something - probably a soup if you’d like to join us. We’re dressing up as Halloween witches, black robes, pointy hats, probably brooms.”

The boys turn and look at me, and Sly is grinning. “Can we? That will be so much fun,” Enoch says.

“Why not? Sly and I will be with you the whole time,” I say.

Enoch waves his hand. “Ernest and the others will keep us safe if there’s something you’d rather be doing.”

I look at my brother, shocked for a moment. He hasn’t wanted to do things without Sly or me being close since we rescued them. Maybe we should seriously think about moving to that house. It would seem this town makes Enoch feel safe.

“We really will keep them safe,” Ernest assures us.

“I’ve never cackled round a cauldron before. I might join in, it sounds fun,” Sly says.

“Shoot me your mobile numbers and I’ll update you on times and things,” Ernest says, reaching for his phone, when a customer walks up, smiling.

“We’ll come back and see you when we’ve finished in the tearoom,” I say, ushering the family away, so Ernest can work.

We walk into the tearoom, smiling at Callum and seeing Sal and Justice sat chatting.

“Come and join us,” Sal says, smiling our way.

“We might need another table,” I say, moving one over to join them, the boys moving the chairs.

Before we even sit down, Xander starts with the questions.

“Ernest said you can make healing teas taste nice. Can you teach these two how to make them bearable? If I have to drink another gross tea, I’m likely to throw up all over them.”

I’m not the only one who laughs at that.

“It’s all about intention. The tea is made like normal, but then I ask my magic to make it taste nicer, but keep all of the healing properties.”

“It’s that easy?” Enoch asks in surprise.

Sal nods. “It really is.”

Xander turns and glares at us. “How come you’ve never done that?”

“The whole point of a healing tea is that they taste gross,” I say. I could just say that neither of us has ever given that a thought, but there you go.

Callum walks over and takes our order just as Molly walks in, Miles at her side.

“Your usual, Molly?” Cal asks.

“Please, young Callum. Thanks. Hello friends,” she says, cackling her usual cackle.

“Sit with us, Molly,” Justice says, pulling a chair out for her.

“Thank you, Doctor,” Molly says, sitting down, Miles jumping on her lap.

Enoch leans forward. “Hi Miles.”

Miles stretches over the table and lets Enoch stroke him.

“Thank you, Miles,” Enoch says happily. He looks at Molly. “Ebby and I are spending time with Elaine and Temp this afternoon.”

“You’ll have fun. It will be interesting to see how you get on with the animals,” she replies.

“You can tell us later, Enoch. I have to get back to work,” Justice says, standing up.

“Me too, catch you all later,” Sal says, also standing. “Hey, Cal, can you charge all this to me?” he says, waving his hand at our table.

“Are you sure?” Sly asks.

“Totally,” Sal says happily. “Catch you all later.”

They both leave and we chat to Molly about general things while we finish our refreshments, just as we finish, Elaine and Temp walk into the tearoom and over to us.

“Hey friends,” Temp says. “Enoch, this is Elaine.”

Enoch gives her a shy smile. “Hi,” he says softly.

Elaine smiles at him. “Ready to come and see some sick and injured animals?”

He nods. “My brother is coming as well.”

“Excellent,” Elaine replies. “Have you finished, or shall we wait a bit?”

“Nope, we’re done,” I say, looking at Enoch. “Shall we go?”

Enoch nods and stands up. “See you all later.”

I stand up and drop a kiss on Sly’s head. “Have fun without us,” I say to him and Xander.

“We will,” Xander replies, grinning. I shake my head, walking out with Temp, Elaine, and Enoch.

“I bet they go to the fair and have lots of unhealthy food,” Enoch says.

I nod. “Very probably,” but what I don’t know, I can’t complain about.