Page 88 of Black Willow Witch
‘Clean up all on your own when I disappear from the room.’
‘You cooked. It only seems fair that I clean.’
‘You do it even whenyoucook.’
‘Those were accidents; I forgot you wanted to help.’
He inwardly snorted. ‘Well, don’t “forget” this time.’
She raised her hands. ‘I’ll wait for you before I get started.’
He gave her a look that said she’d better – to which she only regarded him flatly – and then stalked out of the room. He reached the front door before his visitor knocked. When he opened it, he had to bite back a curse.CeCe.
Taking tentative steps up the path, she offered him a bright smile that was edged with caution. She wouldn’t be smiling if she knew he had company. But as he’d earlier picked Emberlyn up from the manor, her vehicle wasn’t parked here.
Stepping onto the porch, he pulled the door closed behind him. Not to hide that Emberlyn was here, but to keep her shielded from any shit CeCe might toss.
Her face fell. ‘I’m not welcome inside, I take it.’ She sighed, pausing at the base of the stone steps. ‘I really am sorry for everything, Rip. I’m trying to make it right.’
So she’d said before, but he’d yet to see her actively attempt it.
She gingerly climbed onto his porch. ‘I know I’m not your favorite person right now, but we’ve been friendshowlong? Definitely too long to throw that friendship away. It’s worth saving. I came here to fix things so we could get back on track.’
Maybe she did come here for that reason, and maybe they could in fact do that. This wasn’t the time or place to explore this matter further, though. ‘We can talk tomorrow. Not here and now.’
Her brow furrowing, she moved closer. ‘Why not? It’s a Wednesday evening, there’s no clan fires to put out, you don’t have visitors. I don’t see how this could be a bad time.’
The breeze fluttered around them, carrying woodsy scents and stirring up their own. When her face went rock hard, he knew she’d picked up the smell of Emberlyn intertwined with sex.
She staggered back a step as if he’d gone to slap her. ‘So, it actually is true. You’re fucking the witch.’ She put a hand to her mouth, her eyes widening in horror. ‘Oh, my God.’
He tipped his chin at her vehicle. ‘You need to leave.’
She flicked the front door a glance, her face contorting into a sour look tinged with jealousy. ‘Is she in there?’
‘CeCe, go.’
Her face sullen, she balled up her hands. ‘It makes no sense! You don’t trust witches. You keep your dealings with them short and sweet. You don’tfuckthem.’
He shot her a severe look. ‘Who I have in my bed is my business, not yours. Never yours.’
Her cheeks reddening, CeCe notched up her chin. ‘Isshewhy you won’t agree to the triad? Has this been going on for longer than people think?’
‘Jesus, are you still going on about that fucking triad?’
She flinched. ‘You don’t have to speak of it with such disgust. If there’s anything you should be so put off by, it’sa witch. You’re out of your mind to be even associating with Emberlyn Vautier! She’s a lunatic! She’s—’
‘Marked as mine,’ he finished, the words rough and low, ‘so watch what the fuck you say.’
She snapped her mouth shut, shaking her head. ‘Something’swronghere. You would never roll in the sack with one of her kind. Maybe she bespelled you or something. If a Rabid can be trapped in a state of bloodlust by magick, then a person could also be trapped in a state of sexual lust.’
He couldn’t help but pull a face at the ridiculous notion. ‘For shit’s sake, CeCe,just go.’
‘I’m trying to help you!’
The door behind him creaked open, and then . . . ‘Sounds more like you’re trying to convince yourself that I’m no threat to your triad dream,’ said Emberlyn.
Shit.Ripper glanced over his shoulder. His witch casually propped her hip against the doorjamb, cool and calm, regarding CeCe with a mix of boredom and pity.
