Easy Magic (Boudreaux #5)

“That was quite the secret to keep.”


“It’s not that I was trying to keep it a secret. I’d planned to tell you, but in my own time. This is still new, and I’m enjoying you. I didn’t want it to end yet.”

“You’ve told Charly,” he says with a half smile.

“I think she suspected because I’ve said things in the past here and there, but I needed to really confide in someone who knows us both. She gives good advice.” I tentatively reach up to cup his cheek, and he leans into my touch, closing his eyes. “How do you feel?”

“Concerned about you,” he says and kisses my forehead again. “Relieved that you told me the truth. A bit frustrated that the mood is gone because I’m so fucking attracted to you my teeth ache with it.”

Damn.

“That might be the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Just wait until I’m inside you. There ought to be some interesting thoughts coming out of me then.”

I smile and hug him tightly one more time before backing away.

“I should go home.”

“I’ll follow you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to.”

“I know, but it’s late, and this is the French Quarter. If you don’t want to stay here, let me follow you home.”

I shrug as I gather my things. “Thank you.”

The drive home is fast, given the time of night. I pull into my driveway and turn to wave him off, but he cuts his engine and joins me.

“Let me stay.”

I blink, completely surprised.

“Not because I want to have sex with you. That isn’t even part of the equation tonight. But because I want to just be with you.”

He takes my hand, linking our fingers, and I just smile, wanting nothing more than to spend more time in Beau’s arms. “Come on in.”

“Will we have an audience here too? Do I need to censor our conversation?”

“No.” I unlock the door and invite him in. “There are no spirits here. It’s why I bought it.”

“Nothing here to fuck with your head,” he murmurs and drops his keys and wallet on the table next to my handbag. “Would you please show me where your bathroom is?”

“There’s a guest bathroom right over there.”

“No, your bathroom.”

I tilt my head. “The master suite is upstairs.”

“Perfect.” He takes my hand and leads me up the stairs and finds my bedroom on his first try. “You need a hot shower.”

“Do I smell?” I prop my hands on my hips, watching him as he gathers a towel and washrag.

“You smell amazing,” he says, starting the water. “But it’ll help relax you.”

I shake my head, not fully understanding. “Okay.”

“I’m taking care of you,” he says and takes my shoulders in his hands, holding me in front of him. “You may not recognize it, but that’s what I’m trying to do. Help you feel happy and safe.”

“I do feel those things.”

“Good. Now, get in the shower before I strip you naked myself.”

“Um, that wouldn’t be a bad thing,” I reply and pull my shirt over my head and stand before him in my jeans and bra.

“I’m not going to make love to you tonight,” he says as he slips his fingers under my bra strap and yanks me against him so he can kiss the hell out of me. “Get in the shower.”

“Yes, sir.” I give him a mock salute and laugh when he peeks around the door as he closes it behind him.

A shower is a good idea. It’ll give me a few moments to think about everything that happened tonight. Did we really leave my shop to go listen to Declan just five hours ago? It feels like a week’s worth of activities and emotions just happened.

And I’m so damn tired all of a sudden. Beau was right, the hot shower feels good. I didn’t realize I was holding my shoulders up around my ears so tightly. Careful to keep my hair out of the water, I let it beat over my shoulders and neck. I keep a few essential oils in my shower, so I reach for the lavender and let it drop into the water, filling the air with its scent.

It’s lovely.

If this is what it means to let someone take care of you, I could get used to it.

Beau knocks on the door and opens it a crack, but doesn’t poke his head inside.

“Did you drown?”

“Not yet,” I call back.

“Just checking.”

And then the door is closed again. The man was touching me intimately not long ago, and now he’s acting like he’s never seen a naked woman before.

And let’s be honest, I’m sure he’s seen his fair share of naked women.

The thought doesn’t make me jealous, or even feel threatened. I told him some of my deepest secrets, and here we are. He didn’t run away. He didn’t recoil in fear or disgust.

He put me in a hot shower.

I’m pretty sure that’s a good sign.

I cut off the water and dry off, humming to myself. I don’t have any pajamas in here, so I wrap the towel around me and walk out into my bedroom, and feel my jaw drop.

Beau is propped up in my bed, shirtless, under the covers, and glances up from his phone as I come in the room. On the end table next to the empty side of the bed is a steaming cup of tea. The overhead light is off, and instead the lamp next to him is on, casting the room in a soft, romantic glow.

“You said you’re not trying to seduce me tonight?” I ask and walk to the dresser where I find some panties and a tank top. I walk back into the bathroom and quickly pull on my clothes, then return to the bed.

“This isn’t a seduction, darlin’,” he replies with that sexy smile. “Trust me, when I decide to seduce you, it’ll be much different than this.”

“I don’t know, this is pretty sweet.”

“Sweet isn’t a synonym for seductive,” he says and flips the covers back, gesturing for me to join him.

I slip inside, enjoying the way the cool sheets feel against my legs, and slide over to cuddle up with Beau.

This is new. I’ve never been a cuddler. But in this house, where I know I’m safe, and with this man, it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had.

“You’re comfortable.” I yawn and rub my nose against his chest. He has a light spattering of hair there.

“Good. I have to send an email real quick.”

“This late?” I look up at him in surprise.

“It’s not late in Europe. It’s morning there.” He kisses the top of my head and keeps typing on his phone. I’m so relaxed that I drift in and out of sleep, and the next thing I know, he turns the lamp off and guides us both to lie down, me still in his arms.

“Sleep well,” he murmurs.

“You sleep well,” I reply and sink into slumber.

***

I haven’t had this dream before.

I’m sitting on a rock, looking out at a field of bright yellow sunflowers. It’s warm, with just a slight breeze to take the edge off the intense sunshine.

And someone is brushing my hair. When I try to turn my head to see who it is, I’m stuck. I can’t turn my neck.