Witch's Bounty by Ann Gimpel Page B

know.” She gathered her scattered thoughts. “I thought it would be better for us to spend a bunch of time together, decide what we want… But he just sounded so formal. Said he wanted to do things right, to court me, and that he needed permission from Titania, or something like that.”
    “Is that why you didn’t fuck him yet?”
    Colleen’s cheeks warmed. Roz had a forthright aspect that took some getting used to. “Let’s just say it wasn’t because I didn’t offer.” Tired as she was, heat licked at her nether regions and she pressed her thighs together.
    Roz drew her dark brows inward. They looked like startled bird’s wings cutting across her tanned face. “Do you love him?”
    “I think I could, given time. God knows, he’s hot enough to set any woman’s blood on fire. He kisses like an angel. And I can’t wait to run my fingers over his body. Between those shoulders and that high, tight ass—”
    Roz grunted and made a chopping motion with one hand, but she was smiling. “TMI, even for me. Does he have any traits that make you think he might be useful out of bed?”
    “Now that you mention it, he made a good recovery after that inauspicious start I told you about. I was really proud of him.”
    “Sounds like he did a hell of a lot better than you did the first time you faced an Irichna.”
    Colleen rolled her eyes. That was the trouble with family and close friends. They remembered all of your faux pas. “Thanks. As if I needed a reminder. I actually told him the same thing.”
    “You admitted you squalled like a Banshee and took off as if all the dogs of Hell were after you?” When Colleen nodded, Roz said, “Son of a bitch, must be love if you’d disclose something like that.”
    “Enough about me.” Colleen stretched out full length on the sofa again, sighing with pleasure at being prone. “Tell me what happened here and then I need to catch a couple hours’ sleep.”
    Roz pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. “Mathilde pretty much ordered us to chase down the demons I’d sensed. Jenna refused. Said we’d be better off waiting until you got back. They got into a hell of a shouting match.”
    “Not good.” Colleen narrowed her eyes. “I’m surprised you’re still here.”
    “We wouldn’t be except some of Mathilde’s witches dragged her off to God-only-knows-where and drummed some sense into her. She didn’t exactly apologize to Jenna, but she did allow as to how we could remain here until the current problems were resolved.”
    “We could, or we have to?”
    “Yeah.” Roz drained her glass and reached for the whiskey bottle to refill it. “I saw it as more of an order than a choice, but we don’t answer to her.”
    “Probably not how she sees it.”
    Roz blew out an exasperated breath. “No shit. In Mathilde’s world view, we all answer to her. Mortals, witches, hell probably even Druids, changelings, weres, and the Sidhe. Switching gears here, I have a room a couple of floors up. There’s an extra bed in it.”
    Colleen stretched her arms over her head. “I’m pretty comfy right where I am. Looks as if Bubba is too. Just kill the lights.”
    “Will do.” The other witch extinguished her mage light. She got to her feet and laid a hand on Colleen’s shoulder. “You did good today, sister.”
    “Thanks. See you in the morning.”
    Roz’s heavy tread faded as she crossed the room and mounted a nearby staircase. Colleen was certain she’d pass out immediately, but her thoughts turned to Duncan. In a drowsy twilight of not quite asleep, but not quite awake, either, an image of him floated before her in the darkness.
    She drank in his white-blonde hair and emerald eyes. In her vision, his hair was unbound and came halfway down his chest. He extended his hands to her in a clear invitation to join him and she understood he walked the Dreamers’ Paths. Some witches, those with strong precognitive ability, had access to the dream world.