Jennifer nodded. “Show me.”
Rory brought his glowing finger toward her neck. She felt the warmth and energy flowing from him into her, connecting them as it penetrated her. Slowly, he drew his hand down the front of her work shirt. The material appeared to melt from her body.
Her initial reaction was to gasp and cover her chest as if that could stop the reaction. She heard the sound of her shirt dropping on the floor beneath her feet.
“Shall I continue?” He looked down to where her arms crossed her breasts.
Slowly, she nodded, eager to see more of his magick. She lowered her arms.
He ran his fingers along her waist. The pleasurable warmth of his touch spread over her hips, settling erotically in her belly. The pants slithered onto the floor to join the shirt. Realizing she still wore shoes and socks, she kicked them off her feet and then knocked them with her heels under the bed.
Rory had left her in her bra and panties. The bedroom air felt cool compared to his magickal touch and the heat from his deepening breaths tickling her shoulder.
“Impressed?” He caressed her naked hip, hooking a finger in her panties.
Jennifer chuckled. “Hardly.”
It was a lie. Of course, she was impressed. The guy melted her clothing off.
“I can do the same trick,” Jennifer said. “Close your eyes.”
Rory instantly obeyed. Jennifer studied his handsome face as she reached for his shirt and pulled it up over his head. He laughed as she tossed it on the floor.
“Ta-da!” She lifted her arms over her head as if she’d just performed a carnival magic trick.
Rory tilted his head back and laughed. The sound rained over her in pure delight. “Impressive.”
As her hands lowered, she let them rest on his naked shoulders. Strong muscles moved beneath his warm flesh. Even without his magick, he was something to behold.
The sound of the shower caught her attention, and she pushed his shoulders so that he stepped back. She slid off the end of the bed. “I worked a double. I need that shower.”
Jennifer walked toward the shower, reaching behind her back to unhook her bra as she moved. She dropped it on the floor.
Steam filled the bathroom. The shower curtain hung over a clawfoot tub. She reached behind it to test the water against her hand.
Rory touched her hip, startling her. She hadn’t heard him step up behind her.
“Are you joining me?” she asked, not turning to face him.
“If ya are inviting me to,” he answered.
Jennifer pushed her panties from her hips and stepped into the tub. There was something special about the first blast of hot water after a long day. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“We just met,” she said, hearing him come in behind her.
“Doesn’t feel like it to me.” Rory ran a finger down her spine, causing her to shiver. “But if ya want, I can sleep in the other room and come back tomorrow to take ya out on a proper date.”
Jennifer did not want that. She turned to face him. He was completely naked, and she couldn’t help glancing down at the thick arousal standing tall between them. It didn’t appear like he wanted that either, but it was sweet that he respected her enough to offer.
“What? You don’t think my losing my mind and trying to stab you is a proper first date?” Though she teased, she managed to keep a serious expression. “So far, I would say it’s in my top five first dates.”
The hot water hit her back. It cascaded over her shoulders and down her chest. He watched his hand slide against her breast to disrupt the flow. They might not have known each other long in the measurement of time, but somehow that didn’t matter. She felt him on a deep, intimate level. She looked at him, and she just knew he was who she was meant to be with. The certainty of such a thought should have scared her, but it didn’t.
“Top five?” His eyes darted up to hers as if finally processing what she said.
“Top three,” she amended. “Number two was in the third grade. Joey Antonelli and I were forced to be study buddies. He serenaded me with country songs, and then after I checked ‘no’ on the little note he gave me asking me out, he told everyone I had warts and tried to kiss him.”
“Smooth play, Mr. Antonelli. The night is young. I bet I can still beat him for that number two slot.” Rory smirked, nodding. “And number one?”
“Blind date right after high school, Jimmy Jones. I remember because of like Jim Jones, the cult leader. Asshole ordered the most expensive thing, halved the bill to make me help pay for his meal, and then hit me with his car when we were leaving the restaurant.”
“Was there a lot of damage to your vehicle?” Rory asked.
“He hit me with his car, not my car. He backed into me and knocked me on my backside. Left me with a bruised tailbone and a torn dress.”
Rory leaned closer and let his hand glide from her breast down her side, only to snake around to cup her ass. “Feels like it healed all right, but I’ll happily hex this Jimmy Jones for ya.”
“You can do that? Hex people?” Jennifer was more curious than worried.
Rory nodded. “For ya? Anything. Just say the word.”
“That’s a sweet offer, but karma already got him. The woman he married ran over his foot.”
He drew her body against his. Their naked flesh slid against each other in the water. Each tiny movement brought with it a myriad of sensations. Jennifer lost all thoughts as pleasure and temptation flooded her. She wanted this, him, more than anything else in her life.
“This is a bizarre conversation to be having at such a moment.” Rory’s lips brushed against her temple.
“What should we be talking about?” She found it hard to concentrate when she’d rather be kissing him.
“Soap.”
“Soap?” she repeated, leaning back to study his face.
“Mm.” His lids fell heavy over his eyes as he reached his hand between the curtains only to return holding a bottle. “Definitely soap.”
Rory squeezed a large amount on his hand and instantly brought his palms together to create the start of a lather. Magick glowed from his fingers as he brought the soap to her chest and began washing her. The soap glided while the magick tingled. The unmistakably male scent of the body wash smelled like him. When his hands slid around her hips to pull her against him, he washed her chest with his. The erotic play made it impossible to think beyond the moment.
Jennifer soaped her hands on his chest and drew them over his shoulders to his neck. She offered her mouth for a kiss. At times, she couldn’t tell if he was washing her or caressing her, but either way it was gratifying. By the time his hands found their way between her thighs she was ready to scream from sexual need.
The tingling touch of his magick-laced fingers was unlike anything she’d ever felt. When he touched her, there were no doubts or fears. When he kissed her, she felt safe and protected. This is what perfection felt like.
No, not perfection. Love. This is what love felt like.
The concept seemed strange, to love someone without the history, the type of connection that usually took time to build. And yet, Jennifer felt love for him, and part of her thought maybe he could love her too.
A finger stroked along her sex, tingling and rubbing, sliding in her body’s natural response. It didn’t take much for an orgasm to flow through her. She gasped, forced to grab hold of his arms to keep from falling in the tub.