Page 99 of What The Hex (The Family Spells)
Now that made me cringe. It also helped emphasize what a huge shift in character this was for him. From banging random girls in hotels to …
“Are you not at all panicked?” I asked him, because he had been. That first day he’d laid eyes on me at the shop, he was terrified. I’d heard what he’d said about making this choice of his own freewill, but that Violet story had really gotten to me. He’d had sex with me, and then he’d panicked. I just wanted to keep an open dialogue.
“Grace,” he started, and then he moved over to sit on the edge of the mattress, patting it so that I’d come and sit beside him. I did, and we turned to look at each other, knees bumping together. Hex looked down at me, his orange eyes the color of fresh pumpkins and autumn leaves. “Have you forgiven me yet?”
I frowned at him and looked away, reaching up to adjust my witch’s hat. I could hardly believe that I’d met this guy in October and now, here in December, we were getting ready to have a kid together.
“I just needed time to process it,” I explained, looking around at the distinctive lack of art on the walls. It was more like a hotel room than someone’s actual bedroom. Witches tended to nest in towers of books and jars of dried herbs and purring cats. This was austere comparatively. It was yet more proof that Hex was never fully invested in what he was doing and why. “But I’m not upset.”
“You can be, you know, if you want.” He thought for a minute and then, as if he’d come to a decision, reached down and curled his fingers through mine, giving them a squeeze. The touch sent bolts of fire straight through me, setting my heart aflame, making me shift uncomfortably beside him. “I’d deserve it.”
“You certainly would, but … I also understand.” I sat there for a while with his hand on mine, just staring at our intertwined fingers. “Just … don’t do anything like that again. In the future, if you’re having a problem, let’s talk it out. If you get the urge to run away or be with another woman—”
“I don’t think I could ever be with another woman, after having you,” he said, almost as if he didn’t mean to say it, as if it just came out. “Fuck.” Hex grimaced and gave me a look. Pretty sure I was sitting there openmouthed and blushing slightly. One might think that on husband number four, these sorts of moments wouldn’t be quite so, well, monumental, but they were. Love was never boring. “Anyway, I don’t think my dick will ever work for another woman. Apparently, he only likes you now.”
Hex looked down at his crotch with a frown before returning his attention to me.
“Do you feel like a total asshole for telling me off in the store? For accusing me of spelling your dick when, in reality, you just had a major crush on me.”
“Who wouldn’t have a major crush on you, Grace Spells? With your little black dresses and your hats and that pouty mouth of yours?”
“Pouty mouth?” I said, pointing at myself. “I’m not the one with a pouty mouth.” I adjusted my finger to point at Hex instead. “You are the one with a pouty mouth.”
He let his lips twist into a wry expression and then glanced back down at the bed. It was such a blatant invitation that I nearly laughed.
“Care to be the first girl to see what my pouty mouth can do on this bed?” he asked, and I let out a surprised gasp as he grabbed my wrists and pushed me down on the mattress. It smelled of him, the sheets and blankets, that glorious sandalwood and cinnamon smell …
“Kiss me, Hex Sorciere,” I demanded imperiously, lifting my chin. My witch hat was spelled to stay on my head, this bright red thing with a huge brim; it was just dripping with holiday-themed charms and cantrips. A small jingle bell to make carolers sing better, a big wooden button to fix a broken toy, a clay candy cane to cure the effects of any number of poisons. Hex pushed the brim back so that he could study my face, that famously pouty mouth twisted down in an exaggerated sort of frown.
“As if I’d do anything less.” He smirked at me, this cocksure expression that had me feeling like I was sixteen all over again, trying this romance bit on for the first time. Everything was exciting; everything was magic. “Considering you made me listen to you call out First Wife over and over again.”
“Care to become Fourth Wife?” I asked, letting my own lips twist into a devilish smirk. “It wouldn’t be so bad; Spectre would be your direct superior.” I lifted my head up, my mouth brushing up against Hex’s ear as he leaned over me. “I hear he has a crush on you, you know.”
