Feel how much I love you already, after such a short time. Feel how fast that love grows.
“I had another vision, by the way.” She sniffled away the last of her tears, because they were running out of time to take advantage of Sade. “One I didn’t tell you about.”
“You experienced another involuntary prophecy?” Anxiety creased his forehead once more. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Hugh.” She patted his chest. “No need to worry.”
Her reassurance didn’t appear to comfort him. “Did the amulet and pomander work sufficiently? Because their power will diminish after repeated usage, and once that happens, we’ll need to procure replacements for you. I should have done so already, in fact.”
His cradling hand dropped from her face, and he produced the burner phone from his pocket. Busily, he began tapping out an email.
Now she was kind of regretting her momentary impulse toward mild mischief.
“The amulet and pomander are great. Still functioning at full power.” Or so she assumed. It wasn’t as if she had lots of experience with top-of-the-line witchwork. “But—”
“In that case, what did you see in your vision?” He set down the phone. “Gwen, please tell me that fae didn’t hurt y—”
“I saw the two of us in bed again.” She paused. “And by ‘the two of us,’ I mean you and me. Not the fae and me, obviously. Sure, he’s hot in a silver fox, James Bond villain kind of way, but he’s also a conscienceless monster. Ugh.”
Honestly, she’d rather have her hair ripped out of her scalp.
“Okay?” Hugh sounded confused, and she couldn’t blame him.
“Anyway.” Refocusing on her objective, she smiled at Hugh as seductively as she knew how. “You and I were all alone, making love with Sade blasting in the background. No mouth covering necessary.”
“Covering your mouth turns you on,” he pointed out, ever a stickler for details. “And…that doesn’t make sense, Gwen. Oracles can’t see their own futures, unless something about your visions has changed in an entirely unprecedented way.”
If anything, his frown had deepened. So much for her first-ever attempt at lighthearted seduction.
She gave it one last shot, fluttering her tear-sticky eyelashes for all she was worth. “Are you going to make my vision come true, Councilor?”
He ducked his head to peer into her eyes. “Is there something in your—oh.” Abruptly, he straightened, looking surprised but not displeased. “You’re flirting with me?”
And there it was at long last: comprehension.
“Badly.” She sighed. “Or so it seems.”
“I read that pregnancy can cause libido changes,” he said, still sounding thoughtful rather than irresistibly horny.
“It’s partly pregnancy.” Giving up, she abandoned flirtation in favor of straightforward honesty. “But it’s mostly you. Will you make love with me?”
“It would be my very literal pleasure.” In a courtly gesture, he helped her stand. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Was he being deliberately obtuse? Or, as the subtle twinkle in his amber eyes would indicate, was he actuallyteasingher?
“For Pete’s sake.” Planting her feet, she glared up at him. “I wastryingto ask, but you refused to pick up on my—”
Then his lips devoured hers in a ravenous kiss, and his hot, strong hands began guiding them both down the hallway to the library. Her half-hearted aggrievement vanished without a trace, transforming in an instant to full-blown lust.
They stumbled into the library. Kicked the door closed. Temporarily disabled the elevator again in case one of their compatriots unexpectedly decided to pay Max a visit.
And in the end, Hugh still put his hand over her mouth. Just for the fun of it.
—
Before Hugh leftto go meet with Thora the next morning, he woke Gwen with a light kiss and a hot hand gently stroking her shoulder.
“I didn’t want to disturb you, but you told me I should say goodbye before I went.” He bent low and gave her another sweet, slow kiss. “Just rest today, Gwen. Max will keep you safe, and you don’t have to do anything but relax and eat Michelin star–worthy takeout and imported cheeses.”
