Jodi Redford - Maximum Witch

“Non-water-locked? What does that even mean?”

He decided to let Aurele’s voice have a rest by stepping in with the relatively simple explanation. “Basically there are two types of Atlanteans. Those who are able to acquire legs when on land, and those who can’t.”

“This is so damn weird,” Willa groused.

“Dear, you’ve been to purgatory. Atlantis is far less strange than that trip.”

“Okay, you might have a point.” Willa rubbed her temples. “So hypothetically speaking, if I wanted to visit Atlantis, I could? I mean, without actually going into the ocean? Because there’s no way in hell that’s happening.”

Gripping the edge of the table, Max straightened. “There’s a portal on the Duke of Atlanta’s property. It’s accessed in a reflecting pool. Position the sundial correctly and it triggers the doorway.” He took in the confusion stamped on Willa’s features and wished that he could show her firsthand the wonder of Atlantis and the royal palace that she’d once called home but didn’t remember. It would be impossible though without cobbling a good lie to give the duke for busting onto his property with a strange woman. Particularly after what went down this morning.

He glanced at his watch, a trickle of guilt washing over him at the necessity of dragging Willa away when she obviously had so many unanswered questions. But if they didn’t leave soon, he’d be late relieving Fritz from his shift. He returned to the counter and snagged Willa’s keys. She met his gaze and lifted from her seat. “Are we going?”

“Afraid so. I’m on duty tonight. Fortunately, I’m only playing watchdog to whatever miscreants my men brought in overnight.” Remembering Ronnie’s bailout yesterday, he grimaced. Hopefully the stupid-ass eel hadn’t gotten himself thrown back in the tank. He didn’t have the patience to deal with The Shock Factor any time soon. “You can keep me company.”

Planting her hands on her hips, she sidled toward him. “You’re only suggesting that because you don’t want to let me out of your sight.”

“That’s only one of the reasons.” Tugging her closer, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “The other is I have this sudden fantasy to spread you out on the kitchen table at work and make a meal out of you.”

“That’s not very sanitary,” Aurele piped up.

Willa sent her a glare. “I thought you said your hearing is going.”

“I did?” Aurele scratched her chin. “Must have meant my memory.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“Stop calling me names and get over here and hug me.”

Dutifully obeying Aurele’s command, Willa rushed across the tile and embraced the older woman. “I don’t like leaving you here on your own. Not with everything going on.”

“I’ll be fine.” Aurele peered at Max. “You take care of my girl.”

“With my very life.”

Aurele gave a single nod. “Go on then. I’ve got my surveillance of the Bellemuirs to get back to.”

“And I’ll do my own digging at work. With any luck, one of us will turn up something on where they’re keeping Reva.”

After one last round of hugs and kisses, he and Willa said goodbye to Aurele and hopped into the Taurus. She was more than willing to grant him driving duty this time around. He half-expected her to be chatty, full of questions that he might not have answers for, but the drive back to Savannah proved to be no less quiet compared to last night’s trip. Only this time the strain came not from Willa’s brewing anger over his insistence about meeting her aunt . No, now the truth was out there, and it was even more astonishing and explosive than either of them could have imagined.

He fiddled with the radio, hoping to ease the silence. Willa coaxed his hand away from the knob before she clicked it off and turned toward him. “I know what you promised Aurele, but the truth is you can’t watch me every second of the day. It’s not feasible, and I don’t expect it of you. Not to mention, there’s my job to consider. I doubt my bosses would take kindly to having a shark pacing in front of my desk, threatening to bite a chunk out of anyone who looked at me funny.”

“We’ll cross that road when we come to it.”

“Max, no. I’m putting my foot down right now. I don’t want a twenty-four-hour bodyguard.”

“Too bad. You’re damn well getting one. If I have to enlist Boone to watch over you when I can’t, then it means you’ll be getting two .”

She scowled. “You are infuriating and bossy.”

“Yep. Get used to it.”

“All I can say is it’s a damn good thing you’re an awesome cook. It redeems all your other aggravating traits.”

“You forgot to mention that I’m also incredible in the sack.” He flashed a grin and waggled his eyebrows. She rolled her eyes but at least it got her to quit arguing. They stopped on the outskirts of Savannah and grabbed a late lunch through the drive-thru window at Mickey D’s. He wolfed down his double cheeseburger and half the carton of fries before Willa made it through a quarter of her chicken sandwich. He noticed she ate it with far less enthusiasm than she usually displayed. “Not hungry?”

She nibbled listlessly on a limp French fry. “Surprisingly, no. Maybe my appetite is permanently shot.”

He hoped not. It was too enjoyable watching her savor her food. Almost as pleasurable as seeing her suck his cock deep into her throat. He bit back a moan and shifted around, trying to ease the sudden pressure behind his fly.

Willa glanced at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Her gaze dropped to his lap and a knowing smile curved her mouth. “You were having dirty thoughts, weren’t you?”

“Yes, but they were about you. Does that get me off the hook?”

“Mm, maybe.” The last word came out on a kittenish purr that made his cock throb even more. “Depends on whether or not you’re going to tell me exactly what you were thinking.”

There was no way in hell he could give her a blow-by-blow of her blowing him without needing to pull the car over and take care of business. Preferably with Willa straddling his cock while he fucked her to a mind-blowing orgasm in the driver’s seat. “How about I give you a rain check for later?”

“Party pooper.” Adjusting her seat belt, she slouched deeper into the upholstery. She nibbled her thumb, her expression pensive. “Can I ask you something?”

“Baby, I already told you I’m not spilling my dirty thoughts right now.”

“I know. This isn’t about that.”

“Okay. Then shoot.”

She plucked at the edge of her seat belt. “Do you think it’s odd to hear voices…that shouldn’t be there?”

“Be where?”

Willa was quiet for so long, he didn’t think she was going to answer. Finally she said with wavering uncertainty, “Your head.”

He slashed his gaze toward her and she turned bright red.

“You think I’m crazy now, don’t you?”

“Uh, no.”

She twitched her nose. “Has anyone told you that you really suck at lying?”

The truth was he didn’t think she was necessarily crazy. But telling someone you heard strange voices in your head? That was bound to throw anyone for a loop. “What do these voices say?”

She squinted at him. “Are you asking that just to humor me?”

“No. I’m honestly curious.”

“Well, the night you rescued me? It told me to jump your bones.”

He choked on a cough.

“It also told me you possessed what I needed.” She slid him a sidelong glance.

“I think I’m starting to like this voice.”

“This is no joke, Max. You don’t know what it’s like having no control over your thoughts or actions.” Her lips trembled. “To be at the mercy of an invisible puppeteer.”