Page 108 of Hexed Up

“Because he cares about you, Horatio. And he doesn’t know how to tell you or how to show you. The only way he knows is to try to help you. But that help, I guess, comes out as–”

“–nagging,” Horatio says.

“Well, yes,” I tell him. “Not everyone’s great at emotions and feelings and expressing them. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it inside.”

“I guess I’ll have to take your word for that,” he says, a little grumpily.

I squeeze his fingers. “Just think about it. Maybe, you know, consider it.”

I swivel back in my chair, facing the front again. I could be wrong – I’ve not always been the best at reading people in the past – but I think in this case, I am right. I think Alan is similar to my own mum in that way. It’s their way of showing that they care.

That thought sparks another idea in my head and I frown.

Someone else in my life who liked to complain about things, who liked to nag me for not putting the bins out properly, or not turning off the communal hall light, or leaving muddy footprints on the carpet. Is Horatio more like his stepdad than he realises?

“They liked you,” Horatio says.

“Of course they liked me,” I say. “Everyone likes me. Unless I’m, you know, destroying their birthday cakes in dramatic fashion.”

“I think that was one of the best moments of my life.” He cackles.

“Well, it was one of the most embarrassing of mine.”

“Do you want to know what else has been one of the best moments of my life?” he asks.

“Let me think. Winning all those sports awards at school?”

“I told you. I never won any sports awards at school.”

“Buying your two Ferraris?”

“Meh,” he says.

“Being made… what are you exactly? President of the bank?”

“I’m an Executive Director,” he tells me.

“Hmm,” I say. “I’m all out of ideas. Tell me.”

He brings our joined hands over to my lap and rests his palm on my thigh.

“Being between your legs, Molly Eccleston. I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t stop remembering how good you tasted. How amazing you sounded.”

“Oh jeez,” I say, sinking low in the car seat and bringing my hands to my burning cheeks. “I have to confess, it was probably one of the best moments of my life too.”

His head snaps my way and the car nearly swerves right out of the lane.

“Shit,” he says, snapping his hand back up to the steering wheel – much to my disgust. “Are you serious?”

“Horatio Shaw, you made me magically orgasm so violently we got inspected by the Witching Authority.”

I laugh, but he doesn’t join me. Instead, he’s gazing at me again, with an intensity that has me squirming in my seat.

“Yeah, but was it special, Molly?”

I gaze back at him and those beautiful blue eyes of his.

I want to tell him that every moment with him has been special. That it’s been so completely unexpected. I hadn’t been looking for love, and then it exploded into my kitchen. And every moment I’ve spent with him since, I feel myself falling a little deeper. And that it’s dangerous and difficult and deadly.