Page 39 of Reluctant Witch (A Course in Magic #2)

39

Ellie

Ellie looked around the room. Her gaze fell on poor Ian. “Someone needs to get him settled.” She glanced at her wife. “He looks traumatized. Could you…”

Prospero gave her a disbelieving look. “Seriously?”

Ian was staring at the ashes on the floor. Allan’s bottom jaw was in his lap. “Witch boss?”

Prospero sighed, walked over to the new witch, and said, “Eyes up here. Hand me that.”

He held out the partial jawbone, and Prospero called, “Hobs?”

Several hobs popped into the room, and in the next few moments, the dust and scattered pieces of bone fragments were gone. One hob paused beside Dan and whispered to him.

Meanwhile, Prospero held Ian’s gaze.

A few moments later, Ian was all smiles. “So you’re all witches?”

“You’re in Crenshaw due to the awakening of latent magical traits,” Sondre said as he approached Ian. “These traits mean that, in due course, there will be a decision whether you are to remain here or return to your home location.”

They all watched as Sondre walked out of the infirmary, still talking. “As part of this process, you will attend the College of Remedial Magic, after which you will be brought to court at several points, whereupon the Congress of Magic will determine if you can remain or be siphoned safely. If you are selected to remain…”

The door closed behind them, ending the sound of the “welcome to witch life” speech.

Maggie looked over at Ellie. “I guess you decided to stay with her, despite everything?”

Ellie shot a smile at her wife. “Enough to break every rule, hurt anyone who tried to step between us…” She looked back at Maggie. “I understand why you wanted to go after your kid now. Love makes people do absurd things.”

Maggie chuckled. “I’m glad you were enough of a friend to help me get to him even when you didn’t understand.”

Ellie felt Prospero come up behind her and wrap her arms around Ellie’s waist. She put her hand over Prospero’s hand to let her know she wanted her there.

“Everything I said to you stands,” Maggie said, looking back at Prospero.

“I am sorry for what you had to experience.” Prospero sounded stiff, and Ellie had to admit that her wife would likely never be friends with Maggie.

“Whatever. I have my kid in my life, and I’m happy despite you. ” Maggie’s smile looked more like showing her teeth in aggression. “And my friend can drain you. Useful information to have.”

“Mags…” Ellie sighed.

Maggie shrugged. “Let’s grab a drink next week. Just us. We have a kiss between us to discuss.”

Ellie flinched at that, until she realized that Maggie was just trying to bait Prospero. “Sorry. I’m taken.”

Maggie, Dan, and Axell all left then. And for a moment, Ellie felt a little left out. Then Maggie called, “The four of us, tavern, tomorrow?”

And Ellie reminded herself that they were all her friends, too. Tonight, her nearly deceased wife was her priority.

Prospero looked at her oddly for a moment. “The prophecy was that without you I’d die. Then a lot of others… Scylla, Walt, Sondre… you were essential. I was to save us, so I guess I’m still going after Aggie, but without you, I’d die.”

“Not going to happen.” Ellie gave her a look. “I don’t need a prophecy to know I’ll choose you. You can keep Crenshaw safe, but I’ll take care of you.”

Prospero smiled tremulously. “I’m not sure how good I’ll be at being taken care of. I’m used to counting on myself.”

“Even when I knew we fought, I still loved you. You’re mine. ” Ellie cupped her face in both hands. “You can be terrifying and powerful and all the rest, but I’ll still be here. And I’ll still protect you.”

Prospero pulled her into an embrace, holding her tightly. Then after a moment, she relaxed slightly.

“Let me tell Scylla we’re leaving,” Prospero whispered against Ellie’s ear. “I want to go to our home.”

“Me too.”

Ellie watched as Prospero talked to the doctor and Lord Scylla briefly. This is my life. Crenshaw was hidden again, air cleaned, and water purified. That last detail gave Ellie a wonderful idea.

When Prospero rejoined her, Ellie said, “Take us home.”

“With pleasure.” Prospero wrapped her arms around Ellie, who leaned her head on Prospero’s shoulder.

In the next moment, they were standing at the door of their home.

Ellie looked at Prospero as they stood in front of the house. “I love you. I know our wedding wasn’t real, but I would marry you.”

“I would be honored to have you as my wife.” Prospero cupped Ellie’s cheek in her hand. “To share my life with you. To cherish you and hold you.”

“I want a ceremony,” Ellie confesses. “Vows in public.”

“How public?” Prospero asked.

“Small, private ceremony? Large one in the middle of the town? Whatever. Whenever.” Ellie kissed her lightly. “Not tonight, obviously. After Aggie is caught.”

“Should I be planning to propose or expecting a proposal?” Prospero asked.

“Yes.” Ellie swept her wife up into a cradle in her arms. “For tonight, though, I give you my vow, Prospero. I will love you.” She stepped up to the door, which opened at their approach. “I will cherish you and protect you.” Ellie stepped across the threshold. “For as long as we both shall live.”

“Witches live for centuries,” Prospero reminded her.

“I’m counting on that.” Ellie lowered her feet to the ground, and they twined their hands together.

“Bedroom?”

“Close.” Ellie led them to the bathroom that adjoined the bedroom. The tub was stained from the bad water, so Ellie concentrated on reshaping it into a much larger black marble tub with jets.

Prospero turned the tap, and beautiful clear water filled the tub.

Ellie walked over and lit the lavender candle that rested in the alcove in the wall.

“We don’t need that now,” Prospero started.

“Hush.” Ellie walked over and started to unbutton the vest her wife still wore. She slid it off Prospero’s shoulders. It dropped to the floor.

“I can remove… these…” Prospero whispered.

“Hush.” Ellie met her gaze. “I’m unwrapping my wedding gift.”

Ellie unbuttoned each button on Prospero’s top, and at her cuffs, and then unfastened her trousers. Item after item she dropped on the floor, and then Prospero was standing in her underwear in their bathroom.

Ellie pulled the cool piece of glass that she had stolen from the infirmary and held it in her hand where Prospero couldn’t see it. She held the glass behind her. With her magic, she reshaped it, extending and expanding it until it resembled the device they’d seen the two women use on the campus—but not as large.

“In the water,” Ellie ordered.

Prospero said nothing as she slid into the tub. She watched Ellie disrobe, eyes darkening as Ellie paused for Prospero to look up at her eyes.

“Focus trouble, dear?” Ellie teased.

“Not trouble, ” Prospero demurred.

Ellie slid into the water. Slowly, she dipped a cloth in the warm water and started to bathe her wife. “You scared me, you know.”

After Ellie lathered the cloth, she took Prospero’s hand in hers, washed it, and placed it on Ellie’s shoulder. “Keep that right there for me.”

Slowly Ellie washed her wife’s arm, then shoulder, and repeated the process on the other arm. She dipped the cloth again, and she pulled her wife forward, parting her legs so Prospero was wrapped around her under the water.

“One night isn’t enough with you,” Ellie said. “Up on your knees, please.”

“Ellie…”

“Is that a no?” Ellie asked. “Nothing you don’t want. You looked interested earlier.…”

Prospero shifted, feeling exposed by the position.

“Such a good girl,” Ellie murmured. She took the device and put it under the water. The anticipation made Prospero bite back a noise.

Ellie grinned, obviously aware of exactly what reaction she had elicited. Then she washed Prospero’s chest, paying extra attention to her wife’s breasts and belly while leaning in for kisses and licks and bites.

“Talk to me,” Ellie urged as she slid the tip of the glass phallus inside Prospero. “Do you like it smooth like this or…?” Her magic shifted it while it was sliding deeper inside Prospero, creating ridges. “This way.”

“Yes.” Prospero swallowed hard. “Both. More.”

“Or like this.” Ellie’s words were barely a whisper, and the ridges started vibrating.

Prospero whimpered.

“Hands where I put them,” Ellie ordered, and Prospero hadn’t even realized she’d moved. “Just right there. Can you do that?”

Prospero shook her head no and looked at her as Ellie reached down and started to thrust the device in and out.

All she could do was stare as Ellie widened her legs, forcing Prospero’s legs to slide farther apart. The result was that Prospero lowered deeper into the water, and the magical device Ellie had created slid deeper into Prospero’s body as Ellie’s finger landed on Prospero’s clitoris.

“Ellie…” Prospero had no words left. No thoughts left. Her hands tightened on Ellie’s shoulders as the pressure built.

Tremors made her shake, water rippling and breathing harsher by the moment. The first orgasm ripped through her body like a wave.

“Tell me, Prospero, do you like this?” Ellie teased as she watched her fall apart. “Or do you want more?”

Prospero felt her eyes widen. Her brain was not filling in what more there could be. “More? How?”

“Wider?” Ellie asked.

Prospero felt like she was filled right up to the edge of too much then.

“Or faster?”

The vibrations were suddenly so constant that it felt like one long hum, and Ellie’s fingers sped in time with them.

When her free hand pulled Prospero closer, the device expanded so that the outside was longer. Ellie shifted so the edge of the device nudged between Ellie’s tightly closed thighs. They both moaned then, the vibrations rippling between their bodies.

Ellie held her gaze. “I love you, Prospero.”

“Yes,” Prospero managed to say as she tumbled into another orgasm. This time, she took her hands from Ellie’s shoulder. She reached down and gripped Ellie’s hips as the vibrations from the magical device pushed Ellie toward her own release.

They were both breathing loudly, and Prospero whispered a silent thank-you to whatever deity existed that this miraculous woman was hers.

“I love you, too,” Prospero told her. “Thank you for saving me tonight.”

Ellie nodded. “I’ll be at your side whatever comes. Fights. Arguments. Good times. All of it. I want you.”

“You have me.” Prospero rested her forehead against Ellie’s. “But… Ellie?”

“Yeah?”

“I might need help standing,” Prospero murmured.

Ellie laughed. “I can do that…”

“And make that something I can use on you, too…?” Prospero asked, as Ellie slid the now-still phallus out of her.

“Definitely.” Ellie kissed her briefly. “There are plenty of things we can try if you want.”

“With you? I do. I definitely do.” Prospero looked over at her and stood, feeling a little self-conscious as Ellie stared as she rose from the water.

“We have a few centuries, I hear.…” Ellie didn’t look nearly as exhausted as Prospero felt.

“Come to bed with me.” Prospero stepped out of the tub and held out a hand. “I think it’s my turn to exhaust you.”