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“Watch the house Rori.” Rae stomped through the house, grabbed her keys, and went out to get into her truck. Before she knew what or where she was going, she was pulling next to Del’s Jeep at the inn and knocking on the door.

  j

  Del was still staring at her phone in confusion when she heard the knock on the door. Getting up slowly, she pulled her gun out of her holster and approached the door. She looked through the peephole and was surprised to find Rae standing outside the door. She pulled it open after undoing the chain and deadbolt, letting the taller woman in.

  As soon as the door was opened wide enough, Rae pushed her way inside. “I’m not like the town’s people. I’m not going to turn someone away just because they may treat me badly. Karma will catch up with them soon enough.”

  Del just stood there looking at her. “Okay? And you had to drive all the way in here to tell me that? You didn’t need to hang up on me. I wasn’t trying to be offensive.” Del shoved her gun back into her holster, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned against the dresser.

  “No, I came all the way over here to do this.” Striding forward she reached out to take Del’s face between her hands and kiss her. The power that flowed through them was something like the witch had never felt before and she assumed that it was because of the emotions that they were feeling, anger and confusion.

  Del stood still for a moment, not sure what to think for a minute, before the sensations Rae sent down her spine shut her mind down. She responded eagerly, fisting her hands in Rae’s jacket, pulling her closer as she deepened this kiss. She felt the thrumming again, but far more intensely than she’d ever felt and she assumed it had something to do with the passion of the emotions running through them.

  Sliding her hands slowly down Del’s neck, Rae hooked her thumbs in Del’s suspenders and pulled them from her shoulders, dropping them along the blonde’s sides. She then moved them to the front of Del’s shirt, and began to unbutton it as she continued to kiss the blonde.

  Del moaned as she felt Rae’s hands move down her front, pulling away from Rae’s kisses to trail across her jaw. She turned them around, pinning Rae against the dresser and started pushing Rae’s coat off her shoulders. She moved from Rae’s jaw to her neck, tossing the now abandoned jacket to the floor.

  Tugging Del’s shirt from her pants, Rae growled as she tried to pull the now unbuttoned shirt, but couldn’t because of the holster. “This needs to come off now” she growled.

  Del looked up at Rae, bronze skin flushed, lips swollen, and eyes dark from arousal, and she knew she couldn’t do this. “Rae, we can’t. I want to, you have no idea how badly, but I don’t want it like this. I don’t want it to be in some random room at an inn.” She reached up and pulled Rae’s head down, resting her forehead against Rae’s. “I especially don’t want it to be because you are angry with me. I want it to be more than angry sex, that is fast and then over.”

  Rae closed her eyes and tried to calm her racing heart. She knew that Del was right, but she also knew that this felt so damn good, and now that she had a taste for how they felt together, she knew that she would never get enough. “I want you...I want this feeling to last, but I understand what you are saying. I didn’t want you thinking that I’m just someone who lets people walk all over them. I believe that what goes around will come around...it’s nature’s cycle.”

  “Oh Rae, I didn’t think that at all. I knew that as soon as you read me the riot act for my gun. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” She brushed dark curls back from Rae’s face. “I’m sorry, if I hurt your feelings.”

  Leaning into the caress, Rae closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling for a second longer before she answered. “I wasn’t talking about you. Not really. The people in this town have talked about my family because we are witches, and talked about me because I don’t know my father. I will not lower myself to their level by refusing to help them. I can’t...it isn’t in me.”

  “I know,” she rubbed her nose playfully against Rae’s. “You’re far more forgiving than I am.”

  Smiling down at the blonde Rae whispered, “Maybe I’ll rub off on you.”

  “I’m hoping,” she wiggled her eyebrows. “Did you want to hang out for a bit? We can pop a movie in the TV; just hang out for a bit. Or if you want we can talk some more?”

  Reaching down, Rae started buttoning up Del’s shirt. “We can just watch TV, but could you put the gun in a drawer please?”

  “Yeah, I can do that.” She waited for Rae to finish with her shirt before she unclipped the holster and put it into the nightstand drawer. “Is that okay, or would you rather the Jeep?” Del was really hoping Rae didn’t want that, she wouldn’t be comfortable with it out of reach if needed.

  Crawling up the middle of the bed to lean against the headboard, Rae smiled. “That’s fine, now where’s your remote?”

  Del laughed, grabbed the remote from its position half under the bed. She handed it to Rae and then grabbed her laptop from where she’d had it set up on the bed. Closing it, she set it on the nightstand, and joined Rae on the bed. She settled against the headboard, not sure if Rae wanted contact or not.

  Taking the remote, Rae waited until Del was comfortable before saying. “Are you sitting way over there for a reason?”

  “What? Oh, I just wasn’t sure, I mean, I didn’t know if…” Del rolled her eyes at her own stupidity. “I just wasn’t sure what you were comfortable with and I don’t want to push you.”

  Scooting down a bit, Rae opened her arms for the blonde to lie down. “I was just unbuttoning your shirt...you’re not the one that’s pushing.”

  Not waiting to be told twice, Del scooted across the bed to rest against Rae’s side. Settling her head on Rae’s shoulder, she took in the scent of the other woman, letting it calm her nerves. She felt content to just lie like this, and enjoy how her curves seemed to match Rae’s just so. “I think I could get used to this,” Del whispered into Rae’s neck.

  Wrapping her arms around the blonde, Rae sighed. “I know how you feel. This feels so right. I can’t stay too long though...I have responsibilities at the house that I can’t walk away from, but I don’t want to leave just yet.”

  Nodding, Del wrapped an arm around Rae’s slim waist. “I understand; it wouldn’t look good for you to stay too late here anyway. The townies are on to me I think and nobody hates snoops like small town folk,” she chuckled. “Not to mention, I might have peeved off your Chief earlier, the stupid Neanderthal. Thinks women need to be in the kitchen. He actually had the audacity to suggest I go home and wait on a husband and let him take over.”

  Letting her fingers run through golden hair, Rae didn’t bother holding back the question, even though she already knew the answer. “What did he want to take over exactly?”

  “I already told you, I was brought here to find someone for Regina. Nice try though. I’m not letting you get involved.” Del tipped her chin to place a gentle kiss on Rae’s jaw, closing her eyes at Rae’s touch.

  “You are a stubborn woman Delaney...I can help you, but that’s okay. You’ll figure it out in time.” The brunette didn’t bother turning on the television, she was enjoying this time alone with this woman.

  “I should say the same for you Raelin.” Del enjoyed the quiet, letting Rae’s presence calm her nerves, pushing back the weight she’d felt since her encounter with Chief Brito. She breathed in deeply, taking in Rae’s scent, letting it soothe her as Rae’s fingers continued through the ends of her ponytail. Moving to rest on her elbow, she quickly pulled out the hair tie, letting it fall loosely around her shoulders before settling back into the other woman’s side.

  After enjoying the silence for a few moments, Rae asked. “What did I say in your dream again? And what were we doing?”

  “Um, I was leaning up against the Jeep when you walked up to me and told me to uh...listen to what my mind and gut said, and to be careful about what I see with my eyes. I told you to be careful, let me do my job, and not to provoke anyone.
And then, I uh…” she hesitated, feeling her face flushing red. “Then I kissed you, and it felt so right, and pushed away this heavy feeling inside me.”

  “And I also said that together, we can banish the darkness...and we can.” Rae let her hands rub along Del’s back, feeling the underlying strength beneath the skin. She also felt that it had been a long time since the woman had gotten more than one good night of sleep in a row. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on giving her just that.

  “Yes, you did say that. I just don’t want you to be hurt.” Del could feel her eyes starting to close against her will and she fought to keep them open, not wanting this perfect moment to end quite yet. “You’re cheating putting me to sleep like this.”

  Continuing to massage her back and the suggestion that she go to sleep, Rae whispered, “We will have plenty of time to do this again...sleep now...tomorrow will arrive soon enough with all of its problems.”

  Despite her efforts to the contrary, Del felt herself slipping into what promised to be a deep and restful sleep. She had just enough time before she drifted off to mutter a lazy goodnight, tightening her hold around the brunette’s middle.

  Rae stayed right where she was for a few more minutes, making sure that the blonde was truly sound asleep. Carefully she moved from underneath the sleeping woman before gently covering her up with a sheet. Walking over to the nightstand, she opened the drawer and placed the gun on the corner. She didn’t like the feelings that she got from it, so she made a mental note to do a cleansing as soon as she got home. Walking over to the door, she turned out the light, but before she locked the door and walked out, she whispered, “Sleep sweet Del...I’ll be around when you need me.”

  j

  Driving back to the house, Rae couldn’t keep from smiling. She couldn’t believe that she had gone there to kiss or to do something more, but she was glad that Del had stopped them. Pulling up to the back door, she turned off the truck and sat there for a long time until Rori came through his door and jumped up on the hood.

  “That was some drive you took. You look about as guilty as kid with his hand in the cookie jar. Do I dare ask?”

  Removing her keys from the ignition, she got out and walked towards the house. “Like I said before, a lady never tells. Anything new here to report?”

  “I thought she promised to have you back before curfew?” he asked wryly, trotting along behind her. “And no, still the same I’m afraid. Seems like your Miss Delacroix really upset the Chief though; according to Boots from Mrs. Jefferson’s place; he’s been on a rampage through downtown. Ticketing everything that moves, and what’s worse, Mack and his crew were outside and witnessed the whole thing. They don’t seem too impressed with Delany’s disrespect, so to speak.”

  Stopping to look at the feline as he caught her up, Rae couldn’t help but feel afraid for the blonde. “That is so not good. I don’t care where she goes tomorrow; I want her watched by at least two at a time. Set up a relay if you have to. Del is the key to getting this town back into harmony and I will not let anything happen to her if I can help it.”

  “You are doing this because Del is the key, or because you love her?” Rori locked his gaze with hers, holding it until she answered.

  Rae opened and closed her mouth a few times before she answered. “I don’t know if I love her. I know that given the chance and the time, that yes, I could fall in love with her. Maybe I am...I just know that I was told that she was coming and that she’s important. Can’t I fall in love with her Rori? Isn’t it my turn for happiness?”

  “Oh my dear child.” Rori trotted over, standing to wrap his paws around her leg and nuzzle her thigh. “I just don’t want to see you hurt. You do deserve your little slice of good. Does she make you that happy?”

  Reaching down to pick up her friend to hold him close, Rae whispered, “I believe that she can, and I want to take the chance...if I fail, I will at least have tried to grasp the brass ring, and not let to pass me by.”

  “Very well then, I will do my best to keep the cats on her tail, but I’ll be keeping my eye on her Raelin. She takes one step out of line and I’ll use her legs as my scratching post every chance I get.” He nuzzled her chin purring, throwing an amused chuckle across their link.

  Shaking her head, Rae carried Rori inside and took care of the few things that needed doing before she bathed and headed to bed. As she laid there in the darkness, Rae thought back to the sight of the blonde sleeping peacefully. Reaching once one last time to the lines, she set up a wall of protection around Del’s Jeep and room; hoping that it wouldn’t be tested during the night. Closing her eyes, she smiled as the memory of the blonde followed her in sleep.

  A Chapter 7 a

  Del woke slowly, letting her body float back from dreams filled with bronze skin, dark eyes, and gentle hands. Sighing as she stretched she made a mental note to thank Rae for the sleep she’d gotten that night. She hadn’t felt this rested in a long time. Thinking back over the moments before she’d drifted off, Del couldn’t help but smile to herself as she readied her shower. Memories of gentle hands soothing her tired muscles and playing gently with her hair got her distracted as she stepped into the shower, and thoughts of whispered words in Rae’s gentle tone had her wishing the woman had stayed.

  Standing under the warming water, Del let her hands move down to cup and tease with her breasts wanting it to be Raelin’s hands and mouth touching them. Leaning so that the steady downpour would hit her chest, one hand slowly drifted down until it tangled with her blonde curls and met with a different type of wetness.

  Biting her bottom lip, she moved her fingers slowly into herself, and then retreated before the process started again. With her head back, and her eyes closed, the blonde imagined that it was the bronze bodied, copper-eyed vixen of her dreams touching her and she soon shuddered her release.

  After a few minutes to get her bearings and letting the hot water run over her, she quickly finished washing and got dressed. Tightening the tie she’d put on, she noticed her holster sitting on the nightstand. She could have sworn she’d put it in the drawer when Rae had asked her to. She picked it up, and checked it over, popping the clip out and once assured it hadn’t been tampered with, sliding it back home. She clipped the holster into place without thinking, and slipped the gun into its familiar spot on her left side. Grabbing her jacket she headed out the door and the diner for a quick breakfast before she paid a visit to the Reverend.

  j

  Del let out a frustrated sigh as she drove to the local church. The cat was out of the bag it seemed. She’d felt every set of eyes on her as she entered the diner and felt the glares the entire time she’d been eating. Knowing she’d need to be hyper-aware of her surroundings from here on out, she quickly finished her meal and headed out to the church. For the first time in what seemed like forever, she wanted to ditch the job, drive out to Rae’s house, fall into her arms and never leave.

  Sighing, she prepared herself for a questioning, while pushing thoughts of Rae to the back of her mind as she opened the door and approached the man standing near the altar.

  The slightly paunchy, dark haired man turned to face the blonde as she walked in. “May I help you?”

  “I sure hope so,” Del replied. “I’m Delaney Delacroix; I’m a Private Investigator looking for Jenny LeBlanc. I thought you might be able to answer a few questions for me.”

  “Jenny! I didn’t realize that she was missing. Her mother must be in a state. I’m Reverend Preston, and I’ll help you any way that I can.” He motioned to a nearby pew for her to sit down on.

  She politely waved off his offer, preferring to stand in case she needed to get out fast. “Yes, she’s been gone over a week now and her mother is worried sick. Did Jenny visit here often? Was she a regular here at church?”

  Shaking his head, he himself leaned against the end of a pew. “Not really, her and her mother tried to come to a few times, but as much as some of my members claim to be good Christians, they ju
st can’t stop blaming the innocent for their parent’s mistakes. Amelia came forward and asked for forgiveness for having an affair with a married man, but some of the people wouldn’t give it, I’m sorry to say.”

  “Did Jenny ever confide in you outside of church? Did you ever talk to her much?” Del was getting impatient. She knew this man was in on whatever was going on, and listening to him play the concerned Reverend was making her stomach turn.

  Crossing his arms over his chest, the Reverend could feel the hostility emanating from the young woman, but wasn’t sure of the reason. “No, her and her mother keep to themselves, and I am ashamed that I haven’t stepped forward as an example for my flock.”

  “Oh, I’m sure that’s hard for you, not being able to be there for them.” She opened her jacket to pull out her well-loved notebook and made a point of showing a flash of gun. She flipped to a page with a list of names and showed it to him. “Have you seen any of these other girls recently? They’ve also gone missing in the area. Most aren’t from here, but generally speaking, if a girl gets lost in a strange town, a church is usually where they feel safest. Chances are a few might have passed through here.”

  His eyes widened at the sight of the gun, and then narrowed as he took a look at the list. “If you don’t mind me asking, who hired you to find Jenny? I wonder why they didn’t go to Chief Brito.”

  “Sorry Reverend. I take client confidentiality very seriously. You know how it is. Probably didn’t want to bother your Chief. Like I told him yesterday, she probably ran off after getting upset. Happens all the time; no sense sending the boys off on a wild goose chase.”

  With his hand shaking, he handed the list back to the blonde. “I’m sorry; I don’t recognize any of those names. Is there anything else that I can help you with?”

  Del tucked her notebook back into the inside her jacket, inwardly smirking, watching the man squirm. “Well, thank you for the information Reverend. Here’s my card, you be sure to let me know if you see anything.” She handed him her card, turned on her heel, and left the church with a swagger; knowing she’d won this small victory. His obvious anxiety had been more than enough in Del’s mind to confirm his involvement.