Chapter
Two
Closing the door, I watch Ruby walk down the sidewalk and get into a small grey SUV. Once she’s on the road, I turn around, looking at Hunter.
“Holy shit,” I whisper. “I mean, holy fucking shit!” Buzzing, I go into the kitchen, finding Ethan at the sink, filling a glass of water. He takes a long drink, sets the glass down, and turns, face still set with worry.
“I know what you’re thinking,” I start, stopping at the table. “Better safe than sorry, I know.”
“We have no idea who she is.”
“I’m aware…but you could have been a little more polite, you know.”
“I know,” he agrees right away, unzipping his hoodie. “And I’m sorry. If she checks out and you really are able to connect with others in your coven then that’s fucking amazing. You’ll get the missing pieces of your past back and can really hone your craft. But if not…” He turns, his hazel eyes locking with mine as a line of worry forms on his brow. “She’s in a really good position to take advantage of you.” He crosses the room and takes me in his arms. My heart flutters in my chest and I slide my hands up his torso, hooking them around his neck. “You are everything to me, Anora. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
His lips meet mine and an instant rush goes through me. Ethan is the only man who’s ever been able to turn me on like this from a single kiss. Just one touch can make us both desperate to strip off each other’s clothes and go at it right here on the kitchen floor.
“You know I have no issue being the bad guy so you don’t have to.” He brushes my damp hair back and lets his fingers trail down my arm.
“I love you,” I breathe, tipping my head up so I can kiss him. I’m so fucking thankful for him, my sexy demon hunter. He holds me tighter, crushing my breasts against his firm chest. In a swift movement, he picks me up and lifts me onto the island counter. He parts my legs and steps in between them. I lean to the side so he can pull my dress out from under me, but no sooner is it up around my waist than the kitchen door opens.
“My goodness. Don’t stop on my accord.” Nik steps into the house and brings his hand to his eyes so he can’t see us. He has two shopping bags hanging from his other hand and walks right into the table as he blindly crosses the room. Iced tea sloshes out of the glass and onto the table.
“It’s okay,” I tell him, letting my hands drop from Ethan’s shoulders so I can cover my ass back up. “I need to dry my hair and finish getting ready to go out tonight.” My eyes meet Ethan’s and my stomach flutters. “We’re going out.”
“Ahh, right. Date night.” Nik lowers his hand and grabs a towel from the sink to clean up the spilled iced tea. Ethan steps back and I hop off the counter, straightening my dress. We both go up the rear stairs and into our bedroom. Ethan pulls his t-shirt over his head and I stop, admiring his muscular body for a moment. He has tattoos up and down both arms, going over his shoulders and down his pecs.
His entire body is dotted with scars, mapping out a lifetime of being a demon hunter. I’ve kissed each and every scar after asking how he got them. Most, he can recall. But there are so many that the causes have been lost on him. It bothers me to know he’s been hurt that many times, but Ethan just shrugs it off, saying it’s the life of a demon hunter.
“I’m surprised you didn’t tell Nik that you met another witch.” Ethan strips out of his athletic pants and boxers so he can get into the shower.
“I will,” I assure him and pick my bathrobe up off the floor where I left it yesterday. “I have questions for him, too, since he knows about the Academy. But I also know I need to hurry and dry my hair. It takes forever to blow-dry this mess.” I point to my thick, auburn hair. The only time I complain about having such thick hair is when I’m drying or curling it, though I don’t do either of those all that often. “And speaking of Nik, you didn’t trust him at first and look how that turned out.”
“Yeah, but he’s a faery. He’s not as dangerous as—” Ethan snaps his mouth shut and faces me, standing there in just his boxers and socks. Fading light pours through the bedroom windows, highlighting the sharpness of his jaw.
“A witch?” I finish.
“Yes,” he presses, tossing his shirt onto the floor in his closet, right next to the hamper. “You are not a danger, Anora, but you’re powerful. You could destroy the world if you wanted to.”
I search his eyes, understanding his fear. “So could regular people, and they’ve come close a time or two if I’m not mistaken. I mean, look at the world today. It’s not witches or even vampires starting wars or polluting the earth. It’s people. Regular old people.”
His chest rises and falls as he inhales. “You’re right. I’m not worried Ruby is going to blow up a nuclear reactor with magic, but if someone wanted to hurt you, having magic makes it a hell of a lot easier. I can’t…I can’t defend you as well,” he adds, and I know that is what’s really bothering him. “I can’t even fucking go with you to this Covenstead door. I don’t like the idea of you going anywhere alone with someone we just met like that.”
“What do you want me to do then?” I ask, throwing my hands in the air as I heavily exhale. We’re supposed to be getting ready for a fancy date-night, not arguing like this. “Invite her over as if we’re dating her so we can get to know her better?”
“Of course not.” He strides over, strong arms clasping around my waist. “I love you.” He rests his forehead against mine and I feel all fluttery inside again. My anger melts away knowing that Ethan just wants to protect me.
Protecting and defending me comes naturally to him, just like it does for me in his regard as well.
“I worry because I care,” he says softly. “We do need to approach with caution and not just for physical safety. I don’t want you to get disappointed if you still don’t get answers about your aunt. If she told people she didn’t even have magical descendants, who knows what else she kept from your coven.”
“I know.” I slide my hands from his neck to his chest, watching my fingers run down his tattoos. “And I know I need to ultimately accept that I might never get those lost memories back. All I can do is move forward.”
“It turns me on hearing you all wise like that.”
I laugh. “Anything I do turns you on.”
Ethan nods and runs his hands down my waist and squeezes my ass. “That is true.”
I stand on my toes and kiss him. “But you’re going to have to wait until after dinner. If we want to make it to our reservation on time, that is.”
“Right now, I’m thinking I’d rather eat at home.” He wiggles his eyebrows and I laugh again. I am so freaking lucky to have him.
“You’ll have to wait until dessert.”
“Hmm.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I’m tempted to make another food-joke, but I think we’re already crossing the line into cringe.”
“Hah, right? And I totally wanted to say I have an appetizer for you.”