Page 16 of Untraced Magic (Cutters Cove Witches #1)

Two hours later, sleep had evaded me as I tossed and turned, unable to get her out of my mind. It didn’t help that the couch was the most uncomfortable fucking thing I’d ever slept on in my life, and I’d slept in some interesting places.

I was restless as hell thinking of Morgan sleeping in my top next door, wrapped in sheets I had only pulled myself from this morning .

The thought of our encounter in the alley played over my mind as I lay staring at the ceiling. Soft moans had fallen from her lips under only my slightest touch. They echoed in my mind. Every. Single. One. On repeat.

I’d got a taste of what I thought I couldn’t have, but now things had changed.

I couldn’t deny I wanted more.

Gods, I wanted more.

Although Wes had his doubts, I knew she had a gift. I just needed to figure out the missing piece of the puzzle.

I threw aside the bedcover I’d draped over me, shuffling with heavy eyelids into the kitchen. Plucking a carton of milk from the fridge, I tipped it up, and the cold liquid slid down my throat.

A shiver crawled over my skin as the night air wrapped around me. I was only in boxers.

“Hey, night owl.”

My hand slammed to my mouth, gulping down the remaining milk faster than intended with a cough as I swung the fridge door closed.

I cursed when I found Morgan leaning against the kitchen counter. “You’re lucky you didn’t wear that,” I retorted sharply, holding up the milk in my hand.

A smile curled up her lips, turning into a light laugh.

It was then I noticed she wore only my top, which while large on her, was very short, exposing her shapely thighs. No sweatpants. Fuck.

She raised a brow with a shy smile. “Like something you see? ”

Damn, not so subtle.

“Yeah, the top looks good on you. You scared the shit out of me.”

She rubbed her weary eyes. “I couldn’t sleep.”

I didn’t miss the way they snaked their way over my bare chest, and I held in my own smile. “Want some?” I asked, extending the milk to her.

“Thanks.” Morgan took it, having a sip from it before handing it back to me. “I’ve decided it’s not fair,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

I raised a brow with intrigue.

“I think we need to even the score,” she continued.

Curiosity slid into my tone. “Even the score?”

“A lot happened tonight, and I’m not sure what I saw.” She paused for a moment. “I showed you mine…”

The way she said it wasn’t provocative by any means. But she made it clear that if she was to trust me, it had to be a two-way street.

The warning from Wes was still fresh in my mind, but the way she looked at me made me want to ignore it completely.

Cautious eyes studied me as she fumbled with her necklace again.

She seemed to have gained her confidence back, or at least was putting on a brave face for now. She’d laid down a challenge. Like she was testing the water, dipping me into a pool of trust to see if I would sink or float.

Challenge accepted.

I zoned into the temperature of the room with my mind, sucking every inch of warmth out of it until goosebumps flared their way over our skin .

The almost freezing temperature of the room made her nipples poke out into perfect peaks, and I pulled my attention from them before her effect on me became obvious; there was no hiding in boxers.

Her eyes went wide as she brushed her arms in an attempt to keep warm. “How did you do that?” she exclaimed.

A deep laugh came from within me. “I’m a thermo mage. I create or control heat.”

Her forehead creased. “A mage?”

“A male witch,” I corrected, using the term I preferred to avoid.

With a flick of my fingers, the temperature in the room returned to normal, a small flame rising from my palm. Its golden glow cast shadows on every wall, stalking us from every corner of the room.

“Wow,” she whispered in awe.

Moving toward me, she took my hand in hers, her touch sending a rush of heat to the point of contact. She ran her finger through the flame, fast enough so she didn’t burn herself, but slow enough to know what she saw was real.

“That’s incredible,” she whispered, her doe eyes wide as they stared up at me.

Something about her affected me in ways I couldn’t get my head around. It was unexpected, exciting, and it made me really fucking nervous.

It dawned on me in that moment that she wasn’t a fragile thing. Something that couldn’t easily be broken or discarded. I knew there was a strength in her, somewhere she hadn’t yet found, and god dammit I would help her find it .

I felt the moment the air between us changed.

It grew thick and charged with lust so heavy, it was impossible to look away.

The walls compressed, inching their way closer until it was just us, like nothing else in the world existed.

Her mouth lowered to my hand, blowing out the flame, her thumb caressing the area it had just been.

In the sliver of light peeking through the nearby window, dark irises collided with mine. Silently, they commanded what her body desired, a mirror of what my own ached for.

I closed the space between us until her back hit the kitchen counter, my hands landing on either side of her. Her brown eyes looked up at me as I towered over her, desire slowly filling them at my proximity.

“You know, little doe,” I said, sliding closer until only breaths separated us, “you shouldn’t play with fire.”

This time, she knew the truth. Knew I could be both dangerous but fair. I held back, letting her make the next move, willing to let this play out however she wished. But would her knowledge of me being a mage scare her away?

“I wasn’t playing. I blew it out, remember?” she bit back, not hiding the fever in her eyes.

There she goes. That’s the Morgan I remember.

I could have easily kept that flame alight, but the sight of her lips had been too much for me, and I’d let her have her moment.

I chuckled at the comment, remembering just how powerful she could be. If Morgan could move shit without touching it, there was no doubt she could do all sorts with air. She just didn’t know it yet .

I couldn’t deny my attraction to her anymore. I needed to have this woman with every fiber of my being, and it scared the living shit out of me.

I grabbed a fist of her hair, caressing it between my fingers as she raked her hands down my arms, a breath shuddering through me at her touch.

“You barely know me,” I warned. “I live in one fucked-up world. You haven’t seen the things I have…”

She didn’t answer but also didn’t pull away.

I raked my thumb over her bottom lip, and it slipped between them, her tongue circling it slowly. I cursed, a groan rumbling from me.

Our lips brushed achingly close, but I needed to know for sure. Hear her say those words.

I summoned a deep breath. “Tell me this is real. That it’s not some nightmare I’m going to regret tomorrow. Convince me this is worth the risk.”

I was hopeless to fight it, to fight her. Us .

My free hand traced the curve of her collarbone down to her perfectly rounded breast, her body arching into my touch. The control I had over her body consumed me entirely, a feeling I wasn’t used to. What was she doing to me? I never spoke like this.

Her voice scraped my ear. “It’s no mistake, Ty.”

When my name dropped from her lips, my restraint snapped and I fell hard , spinning wildly into something so unknown to me that I couldn’t possibly turn back. The need to have her engulfed me like the heat that pulsed within me daily, and I was powerless to stop it .

I covered her mouth with mine, and she moaned as I tasted her, muffled desire filling my ears and fueling my fire.

Scooping my hands underneath her, I raised her onto the counter, and she gasped in surprise before wrapping her legs around my waist, my t-shirt riding high up her legs.

Her hands explored my arms, my back, sliding into my hair until they fell to the nape of my neck.

Her touch spoke words she didn’t need to, the subtle edge in the way she grazed her hands over my skin, bordering on a plea.

I caressed her creamy thighs, until I skimmed the barely-there cotton barrier of her underwear, the only thing separating the pads of my fingers and the most sensitive parts of her. I was instantly rewarded with a light whimper.

She ground against the fabric separating our flesh, and I couldn’t help the smile in my kiss, knowing she wanted this as much as I did.

I moaned, tilting her chin to look up at me, her lust drenched orbs staring back.

“Please, I need more,” she breathed against my mouth as I pressed against the fabric. Her hands dragged down my front, nails digging into my sides as she pulled me closer, chasing the friction she needed.

A door shut somewhere in the house, and I stiffened, hearing shuffling coming from somewhere behind me. I slid my hand from her just as Morgan’s eyes widened, connecting with something over my shoulder.

“For fuck’s sake, Ty, you know I like to watch, but in my own kitchen and with no invitation…”

Whipping my head behind me, I found Wes leaned casually against the wall in boxers, green eyes glaring daggers as they collided with mine.

“Fuck off,” I growled, not turning around, aware I was at full fucking mast.

Morgan lowered herself from the kitchen counter, pulling at my top to cover herself.

Wes threw an arm in the air. “You don’t even know who the fuck she is.”

Wes never swore. Especially around woman.

Words spat from my mouth as I turned toward him. “I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself.”

His tone lowered to a serious one I rarely heard. “You know how the last one turned out.”

“Enough!” I barked at him, the blood in my veins rising to a new level of heat.

Morgan inched away from me. “I think I should go,” she stammered.

I grabbed her hand. “No, stay. You don’t have to go.”

Her tortured eyes pleaded with me, and I let her pull her hand from my grasp. She grabbed her phone off the counter, and I closed the space between us.

I lowered my voice. “Give me your phone,” I said, ignoring the heavy glare slamming into my back.

She paused, looking to Wes before meeting mine again. I took advantage of the moment, quickly taking it from her and dialing my number.

I handed it back to her, resting my hands on her shoulders. “Let me know when you’re home safe.”

She nodded, heading quickly for the door.

When it clicked shut behind her, I turned to Wes, my hands balled into fists at my sides and dick no longer happy. “What the hell was that?” I demanded.

He glared at me. “I could ask you the same question.”

We stood, neither of us moving until he finally stalked off to his room again. For the second time tonight, he turned to me.

“Yeah, what is it this time?” I questioned with venom.

He shook his head. “I just saved your ass. You’ll thank me in the morning.” With that, he disappeared to his room.

My pulse pounded in my ears as rage coursed through me. He was wrong. Every inch of me now believed Morgan was an innocent party in whatever this fucked-up situation was.

I felt it in my bones.

Retreating to my bedroom, I slid between the sheets, still warm from Morgan’s body heat. Her scent still lingered on my pillow, a hint of vanilla invading my senses.

My phone vibrated.

Hey, sorry I had to get out of there.

I get it. Sorry about Wes. Are you okay?

Yes, thanks for everything tonight.

I’m just glad you’re safe. Can I come over in the morning?

Sure, I’ll see you then. Goodnight.

Goodnight. Call if you need me.

Lock your door.

Will do. :)

I draped an arm over my forehead as the evening played over on repeat. Every word, every touch, etched in my mind and making my dick throb again. I rolled over ignoring it, attempting to name every make of car I could, until sleep finally took hold of me.