“So it seems.”
“I’m going with you.”
“Like hell.”
“Rylan–”
“No. I have no idea what kind of witch she is. She might be crazy as a loon for all I know. Hell, she lives in a tree house. Probably has an alligator for a pet.”
“You should be writing fairy tales,” Kadie said dryly.
“I’ll keep that in mind. In the meantime...” He switched off the TV and gathered her into his arms. “How about a kiss for luck?”
“Just a kiss?”
“And whatever else you’d like to share. Like this,” he murmured, kissing the valley between her breasts. “And this,” he said, sliding his hands up and down her thighs. “Or this.” He ran his tongue the length of her neck. At her nod, he bit her gently.
Kadie moaned softly as pleasure unfolded deep within her. Suddenly desperate to touch and be touched, she pulled him down on top of her, loving his weight, the feel of his arousal against her thigh. Their clothing disappeared. A fire flared in the hearth. And all thought of witches was forgotten as they made magic of their own.
~ * ~
Kincaid arrived at Saintcrow’s lair at five minutes to midnight. “Ready?”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Kadie asked, looking anxious as she glanced from one man to the other.
“Not to worry,” Saintcrow said, with a wink. “Jake has a way with witches.”
Kincaid snorted. “I promise to bring our boy home,” he said. “Dead or alive.”
Kadie punched Jake on the arm. “That’s not the least bit funny!”
“Ow. Are you gonna let her hit me like that?” Jake complained with a mournful look at Saintcrow.
“Be nice to the man,” Saintcrow said as he wrapped his arm around Kadie’s waist and pulled her against him. “He’s very fragile, you know.” He kissed her, slow and deep. “Hopefully, we won’t be gone long. Wait up for me, okay?”
“As if I could sleep when you’re off to meet a strange witch in the Everglades, of all places.”
Saintcrow winked at her. “It’s definitely a first.” He kissed her again, then followed Jake out of the house, his curiosity growing as Kincaid transported them to their destination.
~ * ~
The tree house was enormous. Saintcrow had seen million-dollar homes that weren’t nearly as large. They stood at the foot of a twenty foot ladder, waiting for an invitation to climb up. After several minutes, a deep voice invited them “to ascend and enter.”
Kincaid tent first, since he knew the witch.
Saintcrow felt his curiosity growing by the minute as he followed Jake up the ladder to the door, which stood open. From the outside, the house appeared to be crudely made of thick branches. The inside was paneled in dark wood. A white leather sofa and two matching chairs were arranged around a glass-topped coffee table in front of a white marble fireplace.
Saintcrow whistled softly. Amazing what a little witchcraft could do to a tree house. But it was the witch who caught and held his attention. She was easily six-feet tall, her waist-length hair iron-gray, her eyes crocodile-green. She wore some kind of a long, flowing, scarlet gown that glittered like rubies when she moved. She wasn’t pretty in the usual sense of the word, but there was something about her that attracted him even as it repelled him.
Gesturing at the sofa, she said, “Please, be seated,” in a deep, deep voice.
Kincaid sat down at one end of the couch and, after a moment, Saintcrow sat at the other end.
“Mr. Kincaid has told me about your problem,” the witch said in that deep, gravelly voice. “Do you wish my help?”
“It’s why I’m here,” Saintcrow replied. “What’s it’s gonna cost me?”
“A favor.”