Page 38 of Elemental Hope (Warlocks #2)

Dominic checked his watch. It would be at least half an hour before Evrain got back from Portland.

Not long enough to do anything useful in the garden, but too long to stand staring at black lines that meant nothing to him.

He made a pot of coffee then sat at the kitchen table with one of Agatha’s ancient gardening books.

There was a big demand for saffron from the upscale restaurants in the city and Dominic wanted to try growing it.

It appeared that saffron crocuses weren’t a difficult crop to produce—the corms could be planted in summer for an autumn harvest. The local climate was going to be a problem though, because according to Agatha’s book, the flowers needed reasonably warm and dry summers and autumns, although a little rain was fine.

“We get more than a little rain here, Shadow, don’t we?

” The soil needed to be light, sandy and well-drained because saffron didn’t tolerate heavy or wet ground.

Of course, there were advantages to having an elemental warlock as a lover.

Evrain could help with conditioning the soil, but weather control was beyond him for more than a short period—it took a huge amount of effort.

“The crocuses bloom in October, and you need to pluck the flowers and harvest the filaments as soon as possible after they’ve bloomed.

The corms divide with the passing years, and you can separate and replant them to increase the stock.

That’s good.” Shadow rolled onto her back, giving one paw a desultory lick.

“You could pretend some interest, fur ball.” Dominic read on.

Though the crop was easy enough to cultivate, harvesting it was so labor-intensive that it would be almost impossible to make any profit from it.

“It says here that the flowers have to be hand-picked as they bloom. The filaments—just three per blossom—have to be extracted then dried. It takes one hundred and fifty blossoms to make a single gram of market-ready saffron, and tens of thousands to make an ounce. Wow. I think I might have to restrict myself to growing enough to flavor the occasional fish stew. I can picture Evrain’s face if I ask him to help hand pick crocus filaments—he’ll get out that paddle with bumps on it.

” At the mention of fish, Shadow delivered an intense stare, lurched to her feet then ambled in Dominic’s direction.

She rubbed around his legs, head-butting his shins.

He reached down to scratch behind her ears and a rumbling purr vibrated through his fingers.

“I suppose you want food. It’s too early for your dinner.

” Shadow jumped into his lap and proceeded to knead his thighs with a set of needle-sharp claws.

“Ow! Fine. You can have a few biscuits.” Dominic knew he shouldn’t give in so easily but once Shadow got an idea in her head there was no changing her mind.

Her stubborn nature was something else she had in common with Evrain.

“Let me up then.” Shadow launched herself toward the cupboard containing her treats, meowing at the top of her voice.

She was shoving her face into a bowl of biscuits when Evrain arrived, coming through the door with a gust of damp wind and a scattering of leaves.

He slammed the door closed, paced across the room then took Dominic in his arms, marching him back until his ass hit the kitchen cabinets.

Dominic had seconds to draw breath before Evrain claimed him with a kiss, nipping at Dominic’s lower lip hard enough to sting.

“You’re okay.”

“Of course I am.” Dominic submitted to another punishing kiss, his cock plumping in response to Evrain’s aggression. “Agatha had enough wards around this place to keep an entire battalion of demons out and she said they’d last forever.”

Evrain cupped Dominic’s cheek. “I worry about you.”

“I know you do.” Dominic gave him a shy smile. “Which is why I thought you needed to see our new décor in person.” He gestured at the fireplace and Evrain turned to look.

“What in the ever-loving hell is that?” Evrain stalked across to stand in front of the fireplace. He reached for the graffiti above the mantel, not quite touching.

“It appeared just before I called you, not all at once but almost as if someone were painting it onto the wall. It smoked a little, then turned to that sooty color. Shadow wasn’t bothered so I assumed I wasn’t in imminent danger.

” At the sound of her name, Shadow glanced around, gave Evrain a narrow-eyed glare then went back to eating.

“That animal is nothing but a stomach on legs, but I trust her judgment where your safety is concerned.” Evrain stared at the markings. “There’s something about the symbol that’s familiar. I can’t quite place it.”

Dominic joined him and Evrain clasped his hand, rubbing his thumb across Dominic’s palm.

“It looks a bit Celtic to me. Are you going to call Gregory?” Dominic asked.

Evrain gave a pained sigh. “I suppose I must. He and Coryn should be back from their cruise by now. He’ll insist on coming up here then he’ll find excuses for more training.”

“When will he consider you done?” Dominic asked, keeping the amusement from his voice.

“Knowing him, never. The man’s a sadist. He takes enormous pleasure in demonstrating how much of a novice I am.”

“Takes one to know one. Sadist that is, not novice.”

Evrain pulled Dominic to stand with his back pressed to Evrain’s chest. He slipped a hand down the front of Dominic’s pants, cupped his package and squeezed. “And you love that about me.”

“Evrain…”

“I’ve neglected you this week.”

“Shouldn’t you call Gregory straight away?” Despite his words, Dominic pushed back against the hard ridge of Evrain’s cock.

“I’m entitled to a little rebellion now and again. I’ll email him a picture of it. In the meantime, I think you should strip.”

“Evrain…are you sure we’re safe?”

“I don’t sense anything evil about it at all.

The wards are undisturbed and Shadow isn’t bothered.

I’m as sure as I can be. Now, don’t make me tell you again, sweetheart.

You’re well overdue some discipline thanks to the hours I’ve been working and I’d be more than happy to apply my hand to your backside. ”

Shadow made a beeline for the door. She gave Dominic a baleful glare then began to scratch at the wood. “Hey, don’t blame me.” Dominic wandered over to unlatch the door. “I’m not the one upsetting your delicate sensibilities.”

Evrain snorted. “Delicate, my ass. She knows I’ll toss her voyeuristic, furry behind into the garden in a minute anyway. She’s anticipating the need to evacuate the premises.”

Tail held high, Shadow sashayed out of the cottage. Shaking his head, Dominic closed then latched the door. Evrain was snapping a picture of the new wall art on his phone.

“There. Knowing Gregory, he’ll have the sound turned off on his mobile and won’t notice the message for hours. Plenty of time for me to have my wicked way with you.” He leered. “Why are you still dressed?”

Dominic shivered. He never failed to feel a frisson of excitement when Evrain was in a dominant mood.

He still didn’t understand why submitting to another man turned him on the way it did but he had learned to accept it.

Evrain was a force of nature, kneeling for him seemed natural to Dominic—the way things should be.

He took off his shirt, leaving his pendant in place.

Only Evrain was allowed to remove it—fastened with magic and imbued with protection spells, Dominic couldn’t take it off himself even if he wanted to.

He touched the star-shaped black tourmaline wondering, as always, at its unnatural warmth.

“I’m getting impatient, sweetheart.” The endearment didn’t fool Dominic. Evrain’s steel-edged tone held the promise of unavoidable punishment. “Raise your hands.”

Dominic glanced up. There was an ancient iron meat hook embedded in the gnarled beam above his head, a loop of rough hemp rope hanging from it.

As he watched, the rope unknotted in a sinuous slide and the vague ache he always experienced when Evrain channeled his power enveloped his body.

He gave Evrain a narrow-eyed stare but lifted his arms, stretching his fingers toward the ceiling.

In a snake-like dance, the rope wound around his wrists and the hook, tightening until he was forced to lift his heels from the floor.

His cock hardened in response to his vulnerable position.

“You should have obeyed me quicker, love. I’m not good at waiting for what I want, you know that.

” Evrain circled him, tracing the lines of Dominic’s muscles with the tip of his finger.

He paused to unfasten Dominic’s jeans, easing the zipper down with care.

Dominic had forgone underwear that morning at Evrain’s insistence.

Now he whimpered as his aching cock bounced free.

“So beautiful.”

Once past his thighs, the garment dropped to the floor.

“Step out of them.”

Dominic shook the denim from his feet.

“I’ll allow you to keep the socks on. The floor’s cold and besides, they look cute.”

Dominic rolled his eyes, but he was glad of the thick woolen socks. Flagstones suited the cottage, but the bits of exposed stone between faded rugs were always cold regardless of the season. He gasped and rose higher on his toes when Evrain gripped his cock.

“Nice and hard for me. Stay that way.”

As if I have a choice.

“Any numbness or tingling in your hands?”

“No…Sir.” Dominic flexed his fingers. The rope dug into his wrists but he didn’t care—he craved the marks that would be left behind. Addressing Evrain with the honorific also helped put him in a submissive mindset, settling him in his skin.

“Good.” Evrain ran his palm over the curve of Dominic’s backside. “You’ll tell me if anything hurts that shouldn’t.” The whimper that escaped Dominic’s lips was involuntary. “Time to fill you up. You want that, don’t you?”

“Please, Sir.”