Winter Magic Page 14

  Before Zane could blink, all the Thornes were armed with super soakers. Delighted, he laughed and stood back to observe. Squeals and screams nearly pierced his ears as sister shot sister and ran for cover. The house became a full-fledged war zone. Periodically, someone would shout “Watch out! That’s priceless!” or “Oh, Dad is going to kill you!” but it never slowed their game.

  Winnie ran back into the kitchen, with her hair dripping wet, laughing like a loon. When she caught her breath, she placed her back against the wall and gave him some sort of special ops-type of signal.

  If Zane hadn’t already fallen in love, this moment would’ve cemented it. He conjured his own water gun and fell into line beside her. “Just so I have this straight, you spied on me in the shower while we were in high school?”

  A blush flared to life in her face. “My sisters have big mouths.”

  “Don’t feel bad. If the situations were reversed, I’d totally spy on you.”

  Winnie giggled then screamed as he soaked the front of her shirt. Her nipples shot to attention from the icy water he’d conjured for his gun. The damp material outlined every curve and made his mouth salivate.

  But the water war wasn’t done, so Zane stole a kiss and laughed. “Payback,” he said before he darted around the corner.

  “What’s with you and payback?” she hollered.

  He popped his head back into the kitchen to answer, but got a face-full of water.

  “Gotcha!” she cried before teleporting.

  Yep, Zane was crazy about her.

  21

  “Win, my darling, my sweetness, my snook‘ems… we need to get going,” Zane tried to tease Winnie awake.

  She groaned and rolled away from him. “I’m sleeping.”

  He propped his head up on his elbow and traced circles on her sleek, bare back. “It’s time to wake up, babe.” Leaning forward, he rained kisses along her left shoulder and collarbone then nuzzled her ear.

  With a groan, Winnie flopped on her back and let the sheet fall to her waist. A mischievous smirk played about her berry-red lips, but she kept her eyes closed. “I’m sleeping,” she murmured.

  Bending, he captured her areola in his mouth and sucked. “Do I need to bring out the big guns to wake you up?”

  “Mmhmm,” she agreed; her smile widening.

  Slowly, Zane trailed a hand down the smooth curve of her side, dragging the sheet as he went. “Three rounds of sex last night weren’t enough for you?”

  “True confession time: I’m a nymphomaniac.”

  He hid his own smile against her belly. “Good to know. I guess it’s a good thing I’m a dog and can’t get enough of your incredible body.” He kissed his way south.

  She gasped as his tongue swiped across her already wet folds and dug her fingers into his hair. “The Goddess definitely had foresight in matching us.”

  “Mmhmm,” he agreed and got busy making her scream.

  On the crest of her second orgasm, he rose up and eased into her opening. Their gazes met and held. Her eyes were filled with equal parts want and love. Zane knew, down in the deepest region of his soul, he would never get enough of that particular expression of hers. He could easily spend his life like this and never get tired of pleasuring her.

  “I love you, Winter Thorne,” he said huskily. “You are my reason for breathing.”

  Tears filled her eyes and escaped down her temples. She appeared to be too overcome to speak and pulled his head down to kiss him. Her arms tightened around his neck when he tried to draw back to look down into her face. “I love you, too, Zane,” she whispered.

  Once the words left her lips, Zane could no longer hold back. His hips pumped in a wild rhythm to match the rapid beating of his heart. Winnie’s pleasure-filled gasps and pants drove him on.

  The moment he felt her walls contract around him, milking him, Zane picked up his pace. Within a minute, his cry mingled with hers.

  Taking care to stay connected, he pulled her atop him and gripped her ass for one final thrust. “That’s the baby maker right there,” he stated.

  She laughed and dropped a kiss on his chin. “That’s the fourth time you’ve said that in two days.”

  “Maybe we’ll have quadruplets,” he teased with a grin.

  “Bite your tongue, man! I’ve never agreed to babies of any sort.”

  With a light slap to her butt cheek, he sat up and buried his face in the valley of her breasts. “Do you know how beautiful you’d look? Your belly swollen with our baby? He’d be adorable like you, with an IQ like mine.”

  Winnie pulled his hair in a not-so-gentle move to see his face. “Your IQ? What’s wrong with mine?” she demanded. “I’ll have you know—”

  He chuckled and kissed her. “You’re so easy, Win.”

  “Sex is beside the point,” she said, as she shoved him flat. “I’m not letting you out of this bed until you say I’m smarter than you.”

  Zane cupped the breasts above him and drew his thumb over her perky nipples. “If you haven’t figured out that that’s my plan…” He lifted a brow and grinned.

  She rocked her hips, and his dick went back on high alert, ready for action. “I’m going to have fun making you cave.”

  “No, I’m going to have fun with you making me cave.”

  A sharp rap on the door interrupted their play.

  “You’ve had two days to hide out and do the dirty, kids. Alastair has decreed it’s time to get your asses in gear,” Autumn’s muffled voice came to them through the old wood door.

  “Go away, Tums, or I’m never making you cinnamon rolls again.”

  “Sheesh, you don’t have to get bitchy!” Autumn exclaimed. “You’d think with all the banging going on in this room, ol’ Studly would be keeping you happy.”

  Zane couldn’t hold back his amusement. The Weird Season Sisters, as the town had labeled the Thornes many years ago, should have their own reality television show. There was never a dull moment in their household.

  An hour later, hand-in-hand, Winnie and Zane emerged from her room, sated, showered, and ready to take on the world.

  As they joined her family around the breakfast table, Winnie experienced a sense of peace. It was as if this moment had been fated, and she was where she was meant to be, with whom she was meant to be. She watched as Zane laughed and joked with the three of her four siblings who were present. Zane had an easy-going way about him that attracted others without trying. He was fun and flirty without crossing a line.

  As if he sensed her regard, he glanced in her direction and winked.

  Winnie’s smile was a natural reaction to his charm. He held the same allure now as he had eight years before. She could spend every waking moment with him and never be bored. Never grow tired of the sameness that came with the routine of marriage and constantly being together.

  And when he turned his twinkling chocolate eyes on her, she felt like she was the only woman in his universe.

  “Winnie?”

  Autumn’s questioning tone caught Winnie’s attention.

  “I’m sorry, Tums. I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “Oh, I think we all know where your mind was,” Autumn laughed.

  Heat crept up her neck, and she shot a furtive glance in Zane’s direction. But his expression didn’t mock her. Instead, he held her gaze and smiled softly.

  “Your sisters were discussing the amulet. Autumn discovered an old, hand-drawn layout of Isis’s temple in Saqqara. I think it could be useful in addition to the aerial images Alastair sent over.”

  “Do you think we’ll feel the draw of the object like you did with the Chintamani Stone?” Winnie asked Autumn.

  “It would be awesome if you did. It could save you a lot of time searching, and help you to get in and out before Lin is alerted to your presence in Egypt.”

  Zane straightened. “Think he’ll know to look there?”

  It was Summer who answered. “I get the feeling he has spies watching us.”

  �
�I agree,” Winnie said. “As a matter of fact, Lin said as much. He knew we were in Malta. Although, I’m surprised he came after me instead of going after Alastair directly. Lin wants him in a bad way.”

  “He’s the one who got away,” Spring said. “Lin is honor-bound to capture or kill Uncle Alastair.” She rose to prepare another cup of tea. “However, I think Lin intends to use us to get to him. Lin’s family died because of the witches’ war. In some large part, I believe he blames that solely on our family and on Alastair in particular. If he can hurt Alastair through us and eventually take out the strongest of our clan, yeah, I think he’ll go that route.”

  Zane didn’t look thrilled with Spring’s assessment of the situation. “Win, you can’t go to Saqqara. I’ll find the amulet for you, but I want you out of harm’s reach.”

  “I don’t think I’m safe anywhere if we are being honest. Lin almost kidnapped Chloe in the park and nearly killed her, Derek, and Autumn in the process.”

  Frustration apparent, Zane stood and paced the small kitchen. “Then you’ll stay here, on the Thorne estate, until he’s neutralized, or preferably dead.”

  “You have to know that’s not realistic, Zane.” Winnie stood and walked to him. She placed a palm flat over his heart. “I have to work. There are deliveries to make and ship. The elderly residents at senior living centers around the country rely on my creams for their joints.”

  His dark, tortured gaze met hers. “I can’t lose you, Win.”

  “You won’t,” she assured him. “We have Isis on our side. Look what she did for my sister.”

  Zane wasn’t appeased, but he didn’t comment. In place of frustrated words, he drew her into his embrace and laid his cheek atop of her head. Their embrace was interrupted by a sniffle.

  All eyes turned to Autumn who sat waving her hands rapidly in front of her face. “Don’t mind me. Pregnancy hormones.”

  Winnie parted from Zane to hug her sister. “I know I said it before, but I’m so happy for you, Tums.”

  “Thanks, sister. Do you think your man could make us more of those delicious pancakes? I think I’m going to need a plate of bacon to go with it.”

  All the sisters gasped.

  “What’s wrong?” Zane asked, confusion on his handsome face.

  Winnie was unable to take her incredulous gaze from Autumn.

  “Win?”

  “We don’t eat meat, remember? Autumn especially doesn’t care for it since she witnessed a pig being slaughtered as a kid.”

  Autumn moaned and placed a hand over her mouth.

  “You might not want to talk about the ugly side of pig farming,” Spring laughed. “I don’t think Autumn’s morning sickness can handle it.”

  “Morning sickness? But it’s afternoon,” Zane said.

  All the women looked at him with varying degrees of amusement.

  “Have you never known a pregnant woman, Zane?”

  “Not one who discussed the process.”

  “Mmm, well, I hate to break it to you, babe, but morning sickness can be any time of the day.”

  “Can someone just make me some damned pancakes and bacon?” Autumn groused.

  Zane’s lips twitched. “I’ve got you covered.” In addition to pancakes, he conjured a plate of perfectly cooked bacon and placed it before Autumn. “This is so you don’t have to smell the grease.”

  “Thank you!”

  “So, back to our quest. I’m thinking the best time to go to Saqqara will be tomorrow or the next day at the latest,” Winnie said. “If what Alastair believes about Lin gearing up is true, then we need to get in and out as quickly as possible.”

  “I still don’t like the idea of you going, but I agree with the timing,” Zane said. “It’s better to try to get in and sneak under Lin’s radar. I can clear my schedule for the next two days.”

  Winnie nodded decisively. “Then it’s settled. We go tomorrow.”

  22

  “Ready?”

  Zane was always up for anything Winnie had in mind, but for this particular endeavor, he was a bundle of nerves. “Sure.”

  Winnie laughed and gave him a quick hug. “Don’t freak out. Everything will be fine.”

  “How do you stay so optimistic all the time?”

  “I don’t. But I refuse to borrow trouble.”

  He studied her for a moment, taking in the beauty that represented her. Not just the physical, but the spiritual as well. Winnie had a heart of gold and a positive attitude that was contagious.

  “Zane?”

  “I’m just taking a second to appreciate how much I adore you, babe.”

  A wide, happy smile graced her features. “The feeling’s mutual.”

  “Let’s do this thing.”

  Winnie wrapped her arms around Zane’s neck as his arms came around her middle. “Hold on tight.”

  “Always.”

  Zane’s cells heated in what he now knew to be the precursor to a teleport, and his grip involuntarily tightened on Winnie. Before the point of burning, his body cooled marginally, indicating they’d arrived. Would he ever get used to the instant jump through space?

  “You can let go now,” she laughed.

  “Maybe I don’t want to,” he returned.

  Her bright blue eyes took on a wickedly delighted light. Before she could form a comeback, they were interrupted.

  “Ah, qalbi, my heart is broken.”

  “Oh, hell no,” Zane muttered as he spun around to discover Winnie’s Maltese admirer.

  Zane’s “What the hell are you doing here?” was cut off by Winnie’s cry of “Rafe!”

  She abandoned Zane to hug the other guy, effectively sparking Zane’s jealousy.

  “How did you know we were going to be here?” she asked.

  “Exactly what I’d like to know,” Zane growled.

  “Still the asshole, I see,” Rafe grinned at Zane. “Honestly, I don’t know what she sees in you.”

  “I’m going to kill him before this is over, Win. I swear to the Goddess!” When Winnie bit her lip against her laughter, Zane rolled his eyes. “What about this situation do you find funny?”

  “Who wouldn’t want two hot-ass guys fighting over her?” Winnie grinned.

  Zane ignored her to glare at Rafe. “What are you doing here?”

  “The same as you, I suspect. The Council wants to get its hands on the amulet before Alastair.”

  “Rafe, I need that necklace to save my mother,” Winnie said softly.

  “It’s too powerful for Alastair to possess. Even without it, he is near unstoppable with his abilities.”

  “What if I have him promise to turn it over to the Council when he is finished?”

  Had Zane been in Rafe’s place, he’d have promised Winnie anything. But the unfeeling bastard shook his head.

  “If I go against the Council, I lose my job, Winter.”

  Rafe’s hard tone left little doubt as to where his loyalties lay.

  Zane’s heart hurt for Winnie. She was going to be forced to take a stand against the Witches’ Council. According to what he’d learned in the short time since he’d realized he was a warlock, it never ended well for the witch or warlock who went toe-to-toe with those bastards. The WC’s word was law.

  Zane clasped Winnie’s hand and gave it a light squeeze. “No one is asking you to go against the Council. But if you don’t happen to find it, what can they really do?” He was careful to keep his tone neutral, as if he were discussing legal negotiations. Zane found that neutrality went over better during high-stress situations.

  Rafe’s troubled gaze connected with his before shifting to Winnie. “I suppose if I can’t find it, I can’t find it. And I suppose, if someone else were to turn the amulet in as an act of good faith, it would go a long way to satisfying the Council.”

  Winnie’s hand tightened in Zane’s. “Thank you, Rafe. I promise, the moment we are done with it, I’ll turn it over.”

  “Just remember that when the time comes and Alastair Thor
ne is digging in his heels.”

  “He’ll do as I ask.”

  Rafe sighed, nodded, and slowly spun about, taking in the wide expanse of sand. “Does anyone have an idea as to where we start? I only received general coordinates of the original temple, which I assume, is beneath us.”

  “Correct,” Zane said. Three minutes later, he’d conjured what he needed to stake off the temple. He, along with Winnie and Rafe, measured off the rooms and marked the outline. Two hours later, they were close to finishing the perimeter of the original building, along with all the rooms of the temple and its adjoining outbuildings.

  Winnie straightened from her current position and frowned. “Do either of you feel that?” she asked.

  “Feel what?” Rafe crossed to her side. “I don’t feel anything.”

  But Zane, only ten feet away, felt the zing along his nerve endings. “Yes. What is it?”

  “I think it’s the amulet.”

  Rafe knelt and placed his hand flat on the ground. “What are you experiencing?”

  “It’s like an energy pulse that’s pulling me to this area,” Winnie explained as she crossed to the northernmost part of the grid. “I’m drawn to the power.”

  Zane joined her, and his body’s system went haywire. The “pull” Winnie felt was overpowering to Zane. He had the desire to get on his hands and knees to start digging like a wild dog to find the source.

  “The legend must hold true,” Rafe mused as he walked up to them.

  “What legend is that?” Zane asked.

  “As with the Chintamani Stone, only a couple in love can find Isis’s Uterine Amulet.”

  Zane grunted his disgust at his own naiveté. “You never would’ve found it on your own. You’ve planted a magical tracker on Winnie.”

  “What?” Winnie cast betrayed eyes on Rafe. “Is that true?”

  Rafe’s grimace answered her question. “Ah, qalbi. I’m sorry.”

  “What happens now?” Zane asked although he suspected he already knew. Rafe intended to call in reinforcements and take the artifact into his possession.

  No sooner had Zane thought it when he saw the black SUVs in the distance. As the half-dozen vehicles raced in their direction, a cloud formed behind the vehicles, blocking out the horizon.