Spells Trouble, Kristin Cast [books to read in a lifetime .TXT] 📗

and his familiar scent of sweat mixed with Abercrombie & Fitch’s cologne, Fierce.

Mercy pressed her cheek against his chest. He was so solid and strong and normal. He was the guy she’d crushed on since eighth grade, when he’d seemed completely out of her league. He was the guy who made her feel special and needed and wanted. He was there, with her instead of in school preparing for finals, because he cared about her as much as she cared about him. When she looked up at him she was flooded with emotions and tears filled her eyes.

He cupped her face with his hands. “Hey, don’t cry. I’m here. Everything’s gonna be okay now.” Kirk dipped down and pressed his lips gently to hers. He didn’t deepen the kiss. Instead he looked up, checking out the rooms behind them. “Is Emily here?”

“No. I wish she was here but her mom needs her. So, everyone knows about her dad?” Mercy took Kirk’s hand and led him to the couch. She curled up there beside him, with her feet tucked under her. His presence and the fact that she’d figured out the spell they needed to cast to strengthen and protect the trees had her feeling lighter than she had in days.

He nodded and kissed her hand. “Yeah, the whole school’s talking about it. He was murdered, which is really crazy.”

Mercy leaned into him. “That’s what Em said.”

“Did she say anything else?” Kirk asked. “There’re rumors about something really nasty happening to him, but no one knows what for sure.”

Mercy straightened and pulled her hand from his. “Well, I haven’t had a chance to talk to Emily much. She’s pretty upset.” The lie came out before Mercy planned it. She just wouldn’t, couldn’t gossip with Kirk about Mr. Parrott. It was already bad enough that everyone was talking about it, which Em would hate. She couldn’t add to her best friend’s misery.

Kirk was instantly contrite. He slid his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him again. “Sorry, that wasn’t cool of me. So, what have you been up to?” He glanced over his shoulder at the edge of the breakfast nook table, filled with old books and notes. “Are you actually studying in there?”

“Oh. Um. No. That’s Xena’s stuff,” she lied again and then chewed her lip. Mercy usually hated lies—and was pretty bad at them.

Thankfully, Kirk didn’t notice. All he said, with a little laugh, was, “Your aunt or your cat?”

She smacked his shoulder. “The one that can read, silly.”

“Speaking of—where is she?”

“The aunt or the cat?” Mercy teased.

He grinned. “The one who hates me.”

“Oh, well, that would be both. They’re upstairs napping.”

“Whew.” He pretended to wipe sweat from his forehead. “It’s weird to be hissed at.”

“Sorry about that. The Xenas are protective, but they’ll learn that you’re one of the good guys soon, and then you’ll hear nothing but purrs.”

His eyes widened. “From the aunt, too?”

“It’s possible.”

“I’m gonna have to record that for the Cats of Insta. Talk about going viral.”

“Weirdly enough I’ll bet Xena would like that.”

“You’re obviously talking about the cat now,” he said.

“Obviously!” She grinned.

He touched her cheek gently. “It’s good to see you smile again.”

Mercy pressed her cheek into his warm palm. “I’m better after Hunter’s spell. Plus, you’re another kind of magic that’s good for me.”

His hand dropped from her face. “That spell. It was kinda uncomfortable to see you—”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Hey, forget about that spell. Or if you want to remember it think of it as homeopathic healing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, does acupuncture make you uncomfortable?” Mercy shifted so that instead of leaning into him she faced him as she reclined across his lap.

“It did before Coach made me go last year for my shoulder injury. It didn’t hurt. Actually, it helped.”

“That’s what Hunter’s spell was—acupuncture for my emotions. I can see that it might have been strange and even kinda freaky, but it was really just a movement of energy that helped me be able to deal with my grief in a healthier way.”

His brow furrowed as he considered her words, then he let out a long breath. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Of course it does. And how could I be your witchy woman without actually being witchy?”

Kirk’s face cleared and he pulled her closer. “Hey, I’m here for you, not me. What happened to Emily’s dad must be really hard for you after your mom.”

Mercy let her head rest on his shoulder. “Yeah. It feels like my world is totally falling apart.”

Kirk lifted her chin with his finger. “Then hang on to me. I won’t let you fall apart.” He kissed her again.

Mercy sank into him. She parted her lips and met his questing tongue. He tasted like the Big Red gum he liked to chew. His strong arms held her tightly and his mouth and touch were hot and insistent. At first she returned the kiss to keep him from saying anything more about death or spellwork, but soon she realized that his desire was a roadblock to the terrible things that had happened the past several days. When Kirk’s mouth was on hers all she could think about was his need. When Kirk’s hands found the ruffled edge of her dress and slipped beneath to caress her thighs and her butt, his heat burned away the misery she’d been living and breathing. She pressed herself closer to him and deepened the kiss, chasing his tongue, catching it, and then sucking softly on it. His moan drove away the sounds of the sobs that came from Hunter’s room every night when she pretended to be asleep.

Abruptly Kirk broke the kiss. Breathing hard, he whispered, “It wouldn’t be cool if Xena—either of them—came down here to find us like this.”

And Mercy suddenly knew what she wanted—what she needed. She took his hand and stood, pulling him up from the couch with her. “Then let’s go where we can’t be interrupted—by either of them.”

His answering smile was