Page 51 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Moonlight (Midlife Menace #2)

Shu grabbed Ethyl’s hand and turned up his nose, appearing affronted while channeling his best diva Golden Girl. “Because the Lovelles are my family.”

“Why would you ask him that?” I snapped, bristling at her tone with him.

“When you cut off a fairy godfather from his original family, you break the spell binding him.” She wagged a finger at me as if I was a child who’d just crapped her pants. “Basically, he doesn’t serve anyone now. He’s a free striga.”

A zing shot through me, and I instantly perked up. “Oh, I didn’t know that.”

She leaned toward Shu with a snarl. “Did you trick her into freeing you?”

Shu let out an indignant huff. “I’m not going to dignify that with an answer.”

“He didn’t,” I spat, a surge of anger shooting through me, “and it wouldn’t matter. I would free him, anyway. He shouldn’t be forced to serve us.” Grasping Shu’s hand, I turned toward him. “If you would’ve told me how to break the spell, I would’ve freed you weeks ago.”

He flashed a watery smile. “I was spellbound not to tell you, but you figured it out, anyway.”

My throat tightened with emotion as I squeezed his hand. “And yet you still risked your life to help us save Des.”

He threaded his fingers through mine, his eyes misting. “That’s what family does for each other.”

Ethyl fluttered into Shu’s lap, giving him a big kiss on the cheek. “So can we call you Uncle Shu now?”

He nodded while swiping away tears.

I couldn’t help but smile. “I like the sound of that.”

SERENA HAD RETIRED to bed shortly after dinner. I still wasn’t sure if I could trust her, though it seemed like the fight had gone out of her as she sat at the edge of her bed with slouched shoulders while a ghost filled her bath.

I returned to the patio, enjoying the cool night breeze with Shu. After Des and Ric returned from strengthening the wards, Des kissed me good night and tried to leave, but I wouldn’t let him go to bed without a fierce hug.

“My amazing boy,” I whispered while holding him tight.

Much to my joy and relief, he squeezed me back and whispered, “The world’s best mom.”

I couldn’t hold back the tears after that, but then he soothed my battered heart with one of his fantastic hugs before finally pulling away and heading into the house.

Ric excused himself to go eat while Shu and I sipped serum-free pina coladas by the pool.

The moon had shifted from blood red to a pale pink.

The sun would soon be rising, yet how could I sleep after all that had transpired?

Ric still seemed distant. I wasn’t looking forward to having to explain myself, and I feared he was going to break up with me.

How could I possibly live on the same island, in the same house with him, if he did?

How could I not? I needed Ric. Maybe I even loved him. Damn me for drinking that serum.

I jumped when the bushes rustled, and Ric emerged, wiping his face with the back of his hand, his dark, wet hair dripping down his back.

He told me he always hunted for sharks in his sphinx form safely within the wards of the island after a blood moon.

The blood in the water drew in the sharks, and the sirens were too full to bother him.

Though maybe now he realized they didn’t harm him because he was the Phoenix’s protector.

I took a chance and made eye contact with him, disheartened when he looked away.

Shu held up the pitcher of cocktails. “Thirsty?”

Ric shook his head, motioning toward the towering trees behind him. “I’m full on fish and fruit.”

I was shocked and relieved when he sat on the edge of my lounge chair, dragging his hands through his hair.

“Aren’t you tired?” he asked me.

Words couldn’t describe my relief when I saw the love reflecting in his eyes.

I nodded. “A little. Do you want to go to bed?” I tensed, praying he’d say yes and that he was willing to forgive me.

His nostrils flared as he looked up. “Ethyl’s coming.”

“Luci!” Ethyl nearly collided with my head as she flew toward me like a bat out of Hades. “The Enchantress posted a video!”

Shu gagged on his drink as he swung his legs over the side of his chair. “Hopefully, she didn’t rat us out.”

Frederica followed Ethyl, plopping down on the concrete bench opposite us.

I repressed a shudder, instinctively fearing the worst as Ethyl swiped to the Enchantress’s profile on her phone. The video was only a few minutes old, and it already had thousands of shares and comments.

Much to my relief and delight, Ric scooted closer to me and took my hand in his. I smiled at him while sitting at the edge of my seat, my breath hitching when Ethyl hit the play button.

The Enchantress was in a pale pink dressing robe, her hair and makeup simple with no adornments.

She flashed a tired smile that didn’t mask the weariness in her eyes.

“My darling Enchanters, I come to you today with a heart both full and in turmoil from recent events. I do not talk about my personal life on here, so you may not know my bodyguard—my soulmate—and I share a daughter. One month ago, Serena Sagredo and the Insurgi took her from us, threatening to kill her if we didn’t make Lucielle Lovelle look bad on WitchTok.

” She paused to wipe tears from her eyes.

“Thanks to the Lovelle family,” she continued, “our child is safe in our arms once more, and I’m no longer obligated to lie about our amazing, wonderful, compassionate Phoenix. Our Phoenix is everything we’ve dreamed of and more, a pure soul with a pure heart.

“The succubi have infiltrated the Inferni, taking over Generale Sagredo and many of her top officials. Those who dared to try to harm us have been eliminated, but there are more out there. We urge everyone to guard your secrets and not to accept gifts from strangers.” Shadows fell across her features as she glared at the camera.

“Now that that’s out of the way, I have one more thing I need to share with you.

” She visibly swallowed while folding her hands in her lap.

“I’ll start by apologizing to Frederica, a minotaur whom I’ve treated with anything but kindness.

” She blew out a long breath. “Why? Because she represents the part of me I’ve been trying to hide. ”

She closed her eyes as her face slowly shifted into that of the humanlike minotaur I’d seen earlier.

When she opened her eyes, they were no longer a striking lavender, but a dull brown.

“The truth is,” she said in a much deeper, darker voice, “I’m a mutatio, and this is my original form.

” She motioned toward her furry self. “From now on, my videos will contain a mixture of my minotaur and my mutatio forms.

“I know it will come as a shock for some of you to see me like this, but I will not apologize for how I was made. I’ve preached for so long for fellow striga to love one another, but what I forgot to emphasize was that first you must love yourselves and embrace your differences.

I’m no longer ashamed to admit I was born a minotaur, for I’ve finally come to realize appearances don’t matter.

Your people matter. Your family matters.

” She paused to lovingly smile at something beyond the camera, and I knew her look was meant for Nimue and Astra.

“I won’t be posting videos for the next week while I spend time with my family.

I bid you all a good night and peace to all striga creatures. ”

She blew big bovine kisses to the camera while drawing a magical heart in the air with her wand. “Kisses, kisses, and magical wishes!”

I gaped at the screen as it went black.

“Holy cow!” Shu blurted.

Frederica let out an angry “moo” in response.

“Sorry! Psych!” Shu said to her before jumping from his seat and flouncing toward the house. “Later, neo-maxie, zoomed-dweebies!” he called over his shoulder.

Ethyl scrunched her pert features. “I think Uncle Shu just insulted us.”

I laughed out loud. “I think so too. He fits in perfectly with our family.”

MUCH TO MY SURPRISE and relief, Ric took my hand and led me into our bedroom.

Had he forgiven me for my ill-chosen words earlier?

I prayed we could put it all behind us and pretend I’d never said I was worried we were moving too fast. I no longer cared, so long as I had my sexy sphinx shifter with me.

He led me to the shower, his feline musk nearly overpowering me as he gently removed my clothes, throwing them to the floor in a heap with his jeans.

This was happening. This was really happening.

I suddenly felt insecure about the extra weight around my belly, trying to cover myself with my hands.

He pulled my hands back. “Don’t cover your beauty, mi amor ,” he said on a purr, then feasted on my neck.

He thought I was beautiful, extra weight and all.

He was truly the best boyfriend ever. I’d have to be insane to give him up.

A sigh escaped me, and I melted against him, letting him lead me into the shower, where he continued to ravage me, alternating between lathering me with soap and trailing hot kisses down my neck and breasts, making my body pulse with need.

The steam worked its way into my pores, combining with my exhaustion and dizzy head from the pina coladas, and I practically melted onto the bench when he sat me down and lifted my ankles over his shoulders, his magical tongue finding that sweet spot between my thighs.

It only took a few licks, his vibrating tongue diving into me and then swirling around my swollen sex, before I found my rhythm, crying out while thrusting against his wicked mouth.

I dug my fingers into his thick, wet hair, clinging to him while he thrust and licked, thrust and licked, until I was spiraling into sweet madness.

The orgasm that finally claimed me was so powerful, it knocked the breath from my lungs, and I went boneless against the slick tile wall.

But, no, he wasn’t finished with me as he hoisted me into his arms and drove into me with one fluid thrust, filling me completely while capturing my lips in a passionate kiss. He tasted of my juices and his own blend of feline spice, and I couldn’t get enough of him while he thrust harder into me.

This wasn’t tender lovemaking but a desperate dance of desire, two souls clinging together after weathering the violent storm.

I frantically raked my nails down his back while squirming in his embrace.

His cockhead jarred me with each thrust, banging against that spot that swelled until I exploded in his arms while he thrust one last time, releasing himself into me with a satisfied groan.

By the time he slid out, my bones felt as if they’d melted, and I needed to cling to him just to stand.

He felt so warm, so strong, so right. I never wanted to let him go.

“Thank you,” I murmured against his neck while soothing water soaked into my skin.

He tenderly nibbled my ear. “For what?”

“For risking your life to save my son.” I ran my fingers through his slick hair, wishing I could encapsulate this moment forever.

“For being the most amazing boyfriend a woman could ask for.” I released a shuddering breath while desperately searching his shadowed eyes.

“About what I said earlier, I want you to know—”

He silenced me with a finger to my lips, the lion flaring in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“Then what does?”

“This.” He kissed me again, a long, languid, passionate claim on my mouth and my soul as I wrapped my arms around his neck, savoring every moment.

Then he carried me to bed and proceeded to show me just how much I meant to him.

I SNUGGLED IN RIC’S arms after several mind-blowing orgasms, savoring the smell of his feline pheromones that wrapped around my senses like a warm hug.

How I adored this shifter. I tried my hardest to savor the moment, to push all negative thoughts of our uncertain future out of my mind.

Ric was here with me now, and that’s all that mattered.

But then he let out a low rumble and slid out of bed, slipping into a pair of pajamas.

I sat up, pulling a sheet over my chest. “What are you doing?”

“Giving you your space,” he answered coldly, not even bothering to meet my eyes.

Wait. What?

A jolt of panic shot through me. He was leaving me? I couldn’t help the crack of fear that punctured my words. “What if I don’t want any space?”

“You do, Luci.” He sighed while shrugging into a robe. “You need it.”

“Is this to punish me for what I said?” I demanded.

He stiffened. “No.”

And without another word, he turned his back on me and strode toward the door.

What the hex?

How dare he walk out on me!

I couldn’t let him do this. I had to keep him here.

How could I sleep without my big, strong lion holding me in his arms?

“Ric,” I blurted, grasping at my words as if I was sliding down a slick rope to my doom, and my only chance at survival was in convincing him to stay.

“Why did the sirens call you my mate?” I regretted the words the moment they slipped off my traitorous tongue, but my mind was too muddled to think clearly.

This was all Ric’s fault for loving me and then trying to leave me, sending me into panic mode.

He paused, back stiff, his hand squeezing the door handle. “I don’t know,” he answered tersely.

“You’re lying,” I breathed, wishing I could give him some truth serum, though also fearing the truth.

“Good night, Luci,” he whispered hoarsely before jerking open the door and slamming it behind him.

What had just happened? How could my boyfriend make such sweet love to me and then leave me? And how could he have been my mate when I wasn’t a shifter, and what did it mean if he was my mate?

What did it mean ?

As tempted as I was to chase after him and beg him to explain while throwing myself in his arms, I refused to move from the bed.

I wouldn’t let him reduce me to a simpering, lovesick fool, though that’s exactly what I was, and I may have blown my chance at a lifetime with my true mate.

A lifetime of the way he lovingly cared for my son and me.

His devastatingly sexy smile and panty-melting, deep Spanish accent. His warm hugs and steamy nights.

And that purr.

Goddess, what had I done?

The End