Familiar with the Warlock (Stand Alone Tales Book 14) Read online

  “So, you think you are pretty hot.” Alice’s voice came from behind her.

  “No, at this moment, hot is not how I feel.” She opened her mouth and crammed in a macaron. Ooh. Pistachio.

  “So, you have gotten Olmin’s attention. You won’t keep it long. He’ll be mine.” Alice got closer, and the dark feeling of despair that she carried began to pull at Maven.

  “I really doubt that. I would have continued to help feed you if you hadn’t shattered our friendship.”

  Alice snorted. “I don’t need you. My work can stand on its own.”

  “Good. Let it.” She turned to Alice. “Hey, since you are here, can you eat these snap peas? I don’t want Argo yelling at me for not eating them.”

  “Why the fuck would I care what he thinks?”

  Maven reluctantly picked up a snap pea. “Because what he sees, Olmin sees, and Argo is standing right behind you.”

  Alice turned around and started flirting up a storm. Maven focused on gnawing her vegetables and getting them down. She watched Alice trying to seduce Argo and could only consider it a train wreck. Whatever Argo was, he wasn’t susceptible to Alice’s considerable charms.

  She touched his arm, and Maven felt something crackle in the air, but Argo shook the contact off. Alice stepped backward in surprise.

  Maven made a slow pass across the dessert table and picked up some more macarons, some strawberries, and apple slices for herself. She eased away from the energy fight that was going on between Argo and Alice. It was like that moment before a balloon popped, and she didn’t want to be too close when Alice exploded.

  She returned to the table with the second plate for Krys. “Here you go.”

  Krys clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, it has been too long.” She looked with intense fascination at the macaron and popped it into her mouth. She wrapped her arms around herself and moaned happily.

  Olmin looked at Maven. “What is in those things?”

  “Egg white, almond flour, sugar, and buttercream with a bit of flavouring.” She ate another one and sighed happily.

  Across the room, there was an energy snap. A bystander caught Alice and set her in a chair while she started wailing and sobbing.

  Argo shook his head and returned to their table, his wolf expression grim. He sat next to Maven, and she put her hand on his leg, stroking him lightly. He growled and put his hand over hers. She paused and met his gaze. Oh. He wasn’t in pain or irritated. That was a different look entirely.

  She tried to pull her hand back, but that wasn’t happening.

  Olmin stroked her cheek, and when she turned toward him, he slipped a strawberry into her mouth.

  She bit down, and he smiled. “Good.”

  Krys was looking at them. “Is he trying to improve your diet? You eat like a teen with no budge, Maven.”

  Maven frowned, but before she could comment, the rest of the strawberry had found its way inside. He dropped the crown of leaves to her plate and caught a drip of juice out of the corner of her mouth with his lips. She blinked and swallowed, looking at him with wide eyes.

  “Why, Red Riding Hood, what big eyes you have?”

  She swallowed again. “That is supposed to be my line. The better to see you with. But I guess my next one is, what big teeth you have.”

  Argo nuzzled her shoulder. “First, it is the hands.” He flexed his fingers over hers.

  She turned to him. “Why, Argo, what big hands you have.”

  He chuckled. “That’s it. The better to hold you with, Maven.”

  She turned to Olmin’s amused face. “Why, Olmin, what big teeth you have.”

  He leaned in and whispered, “The better to eat you with, my dear.”

  She shivered, and he kissed her softly. “One more dance, and then we go?”

  She nodded.

  He whispered in her ear, “I have negotiated you a day off tomorrow.”

  Maven whispered, “What time is it?”

  “Nearly midnight.”

  “Can we just go?” She almost said home. That was weird.

  He smiled and unclasped her cloak. “Certainly.”

  “Why are you taking the cloak?”

  He grinned. “You will see.”

  Argo helped her to her feet, and Olmin slid the cloak off. They spent a few minutes saying their goodnights to Kelnen and Krys.

  To her surprise, in front of everyone at the party, they flanked her on either side and walked with her past the dancefloor. That is where they were when midnight struck. Olmin transformed into himself with shadows wrapping around him and a cloak made of stars, Argo’s feline characteristics took over his features, and his clawed arm flexed around her waist. Maven looked down and saw herself naked but glowing like a star. She murmured, “This is new.”

  Olmin smiled. “This is what you look like when you cum.”

  She blinked. “Good lord. Don’t you look sinister.”

  He grinned. “This is why I took you from behind. This is what I look like.”

  She shivered at that and glanced behind her. A bright blue-white glow was sitting next to two men. One with dark hair and dark eyes, the other huge with horns, wings, and a tail. His eyes glowed with the same blue-white flame as Krys did. Oh, so that was what her boss looked like at home. Huh.

  Argo murmured. “Let’s go home.”

  She looked from one to the other and nodded. They walked to a large circle on the floor in the corner of the ballroom and stepped onto it. Olmin’s cloak flared around them, and when the fabric settled, they were back at the manor.

  Chapter Nine

  Maven was a little confused when they landed in the area that had been the ballroom on the night of the orgy.

  Olmin smiled, and Argo took her into his arms.

  “What is going on?”

  Argo grinned. “One more dance. I thought a tango would be nice.”

  “I don’t know how to do that.”

  “I will teach you. Basically, just move with the music. The rest develops with practice.” Argo smiled.

  Olmin stepped to the wall, and a few seconds later, the strains of what Maven imagined was a tango began. Argo held her hand out and began to walk slowly around her, explaining the slow seduction of the dance.

  She mimicked him and sighed. “I still don’t know why we are doing this?”

  Argo grinned. “Because I like dancing, and Olmin just likes to watch.”

  He would stop, show her how to twist or move her feet, and then, they got into him extending his arm, and she spun into him, flat against his chest. The next song with the same beat came on, and their moves were a little smoother; she could anticipate him a heartbeat in advance.

  She was sweating, and Olmin left for a moment and brought back a set of sports drinks. They had just finished the second song when Argo called a break.

  He handed her the blue drink, and she grinned. “Thank you. And bonus points for peeking in my cupboard.”

  Olmin cocked his head. “So, why are you such a quick study?”

  She cracked the closure of the bottle and drank greedily. When she had taken down half the bottle, she closed it. “I have always enjoyed dancing. I just never got asked before.”

  Olmin frowned. “I find that hard to believe.”

  “Doesn’t make it less true.”

  Argo sighed and handed both their bottles back to Olmin. “Right. One more time?”

  He pulled her close and licked her lips. “You had a little blue there.”

  “Um, yeah.”

  He grinned. “So, one more time? May I have this dance?”

  She blushed. “I really need to learn to lie better.”

  “Don’t. It is very refreshing.” Argo squared off with her, and the music started up again. He started moving, and she took her first steps with her hips twisting slightly to the music, swinging the beads.

  Being swung around by a cat in the shape of a man was definitely inter
esting. Her heart was pounding, and her mind wasn’t focused on anything but him when they froze locked together, her leg wrapped around his as he bent her back.

  His face ended up in her cleavage, and she ran her fingers through his hair before he started to lick.

  She blushed. “Don’t. I am all sweaty.”

  He looked at her, and Olmin’s gaze was looking back at her. The tongue was still Argo’s. He smiled. “We like you sweaty.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “I think I have heard that before.”

  He shrugged. “It is true.”

  The eyes flickered, and Olmin took her into his arms, waltzing her around the room. To her surprise, music started up, and they moved to the strains of an orchestra with steady steps. When the song was over, he stepped back, bowed, and offered her his hand. “Would you dance with me?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you suddenly asking?”

  “Because it is right that you are asked. So, what do you say?”

  She snorted and gripped his hand. “Yes.”

  “Excellent.” He stood up and pulled her against him. Another tango began.

  She snickered and stepped back, twisting her hips as she and he faced off and slowly paced around each other. “I will say one thing for the tango.”

  They snapped together.

  “Yes?”

  “You really can only think of the person you are dancing with.”

  He grinned and spun her out, Argo gripped her free hand, and he spun her against his body.

  “Okay, so how is this going to work.”

  Argo grinned. “We are going to figure it out as we go.”

  So, that is what they did. She was spun between them, dipped, and caught. Her hips were gripped, and when the music finally stopped, she was being held by both of them, Argo supporting her shoulders while Olmin had her hips pressed against him.

  Thankfully, they were all breathing fairly heavily, so she didn’t feel too bad. She covered her hand in a yawn and was mortified. “Sorry.”

  Olmin laughed, and Argo helped her to stand. “It is fine. You have had a full day of work and an eventful evening. We have all the time in the world.”

  She chuckled and rested her head against Olmin’s chest. “Not really, though.”

  Argo caressed her cheek. “We have as much time as we need.”

  She leaned into his hand and yawned again.

  Olmin picked her up. “Right. A shower and then bed.”

  Argo nodded. “I will get some towels.”

  She was carried through the manor and into the big bedroom that she had mortifying memories of. She heard the water running through the open door, and Olmin carried her into the bathroom.

  It was a wet-room style. The entire place was tiled, there was a shower area, but a drain was in the center of things as well as the shower so that drainage wasn’t an issue.

  Olmin kissed her, and soon, the pressure of her clothing eased, and she felt his skin against hers. Argo took her from him and sat her down on a stool about eighteen inches high.

  She yawned again, and Argo laughed. “Don’t fall asleep yet. You can rest soon.”

  Argo engaged in an efficient and brusque soaping of her, including washing and conditioning her hair, and then, he helped her balance against the wall in the corner of the shower with metal bars down the walls. When he flipped a switch, water hit her from all sides.

  She gasped and looked through the spray over to where Olmin was standing, naked but surrounded by tendrils of darkness filled with stars. He had his shoulder against the wall, and he was staring at her. She would have blushed, but she was exhausted. Both Olmin and Argo had exceedingly visible erections, but they were busy taking care of her, and she suspected that they had sneaky motives behind their lack of action. She yawned again. Oh, right. She would just pass out on them.

  Argo chuckled. “Okay, you are good. Let’s get you dried off and tucked in.”

  She was sat on the stool again, wrapped in a towel, and Olmin crouched behind her, ran his hands over her hair, and it was dry. “Nice trick.”

  He chuckled and kissed her shoulder. “Now, get to bed. You need your sleep.”

  “This is a weird trust exercise, isn’t it?”

  He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. “Yes.”

  She sighed and leaned against him. “I would probably say something about it, but I am just too wiped out. I will call you an idiot in the morning.”

  He pressed a kiss to her neck. “Accepted. Can you tuck yourself in?”

  She nodded and got to her feet, leaving the bathroom and draping her towel on the table that held her clothes and stuff. Crawling between the sheets was the neatest feeling she had had that evening.

  She tucked herself into the center of the huge expanse and let the fatigue take over. It had been an eventful day, after all.

  * * * *

  Argo looked at their partner, sound asleep and on her side. He looked at his warlock. “So, did you ever count on this?”

  “No. I had hoped we would find enough energy to light the beacon but not a witch of our own. She’s going to be a handful.”

  Argo chuckled. “Both hands full. I can’t think of anything else.”

  Olmin grinned. “The curves were a surprise. Her clothing is so shapeless. Who would have known she had a host of fetishes lying just underneath?”

  “I like corsets.”

  “As do I. It is a delightful blast from the past.”

  Argo agreed, and the lights dimmed in the room as they crawled into bed with their first partner. There had been women in the past—a lot of them—but Maven had something that the others had been missing. She had a curiosity that was wide and vast, and they looked forward to satisfying it as well as any other needs that she had along the way.

  Olmin curled up against Maven’s back with an arm around her. Argo grinned and shifted to his feline form. He curled up against the front of Maven’s body, and she immediately wrapped herself around him. She had said it herself, she loved the feel of his fur.

  Olmin muttered, “Cheating bastard,” and shifted closer until they were a solid block of limbs and body heat.

  Today, they had seen each other for what they were, and there hadn’t been any trepidation in their new partner’s gaze. She had accepted what she saw at face value. A rare woman indeed. Trying to spoil her was going to be fun if she let them. She looked the type to fight them every step of the way. As he dozed off with her pressed against him and Argo purring happily, he looked forward to the battle.

  Chapter Ten

  Her alarm went off, and she rolled to swat it, or she tried to. She was stuck. There was naked skin behind her and fur against her front. “Oh. Right.”

  The arm around her waist stretched, and her phone flew into his palm. He handed her the phone. “There you go.”

  Olmin nuzzled her neck and shoulder, breathing slowly.

  She turned off the alarm and took stock of where she was. It seemed that she had been in the same position for four hours.

  “Go to sleep, Maven. You have the day off.”

  She winced and said, “I need to use the restroom.”

  He sighed, and she scooted out of the bed, finding the door she was seeking on the second try. As she washed her hands, she stared at her face in the mirror, and she snorted as she noted the packaged toothbrush and toothpaste in a guest basket.

  She took the chance to brush her teeth, wash her face, and brush her hair. She looked exhausted, but now that she had had a few more cups of water, she wouldn’t feel hungover in a few hours. She really needed some sleep.

  Maven headed back to the bed, and the guys were sleeping back to back. She chuckled and chose Olmin’s side. It had a better chance of her not overheating. She pulled back the sheet and curled up near him, getting an arm around her that pulled her into him a moment later.

  “Good morning, Maven.”

  She sighed. “It is
six in the morning. Morning is an exaggeration.”

  He chuckled and flatted his hand against her belly, rocking his hips against her butt. “Feels like morning.”

  She gripped his hand and twisted in his grip. “Feels like I should sleep somewhere else.”

  He looked at her face and blinked. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you hadn’t rested. Argo and I don’t need much sleep.”

  “I do. Days off are for recovering, relaxing, and trying to figure out if it is time to do laundry or not.”

  He winced. “Understood.”

  She sighed. “I know this is new, but I am not some kind of bunny that hopped into your bed. I know I am useful, but to be useful, I need to recover a bit. Okay?”

  He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I will let you sleep. I have some work to do anyway if we are to spend the rest of the day together.”

  He smiled. “Right. I will do what I have to and let you rest. Argo will let me know when you are awake.”

  He kissed her slowly and thoroughly. Her blood tried to move sluggishly, but she didn’t know if it was the activity or her donating energy to them, but she felt like her body had been hammered.

  He simply disappeared from next to her, causing her to dive into the warm spot he had just left. She snuggled down and breathed in the scent of him. Argo moved toward her, and she returned to sleep to the rhythm of his purring.

  Maven woke when the room was hazy and warm. She was wide awake and felt better. A stretch that made her body sound like breakfast cereal was satisfying, and she went in search of her clothing. Her phone and laptop were on a small table, but her clothing was gone.

  “Huh.”

  She walked around the room and found the walk-in closet. She looked at the black shirts that Olmin seemed to favour and grabbed one, rolling up the cuffs before fastening it down the front. Well, most of the front. It was undone by two buttons, which showed a few inches below her collarbone.