I have magic!He grinned. Tomorrow, the Congress of Magic would surely let him stay. He went into his room and let out a cheer of joy.
I. HAVE. MAGIC.
37Ellie
Ellie opened her eyes to find Prospero staring at her from a chair across from her bed. A quick glance verified they were alone in Ellie’s room at the castle.
“Hi…? Where is everyone? Why are you here?” Ellie felt her cheeks warm.
“I swear you need a minder, Miss Brandeau.” Prospero stood and came over to the bed. She brushed a hand over Ellie’s cheek “The others are all over at the Congress of Magic. So I volunteered to stay with you.”
“How long was I asleep?” She sat up abruptly, not thinking about the fact that doing so would put her face-to-face with Prospero.
Ellie’s experiment was apparently a bad idea. Or maybe magic after booze was?
“Is the tree still there? The pool?” Ellie tried to stand to go look out her balcony window.
Prospero put a restraining hand on Ellie’s arm. “Slow down. Your creations are still there, and this is the morning… well, theafternoonafter your visit to the tavern where I tried to convince you to let me…”
Ellie couldn’t help herself. “Love me? Seduce me? Ensnare me?”
“Yes.” Prospero closed the distance, capturing Ellie’s mouth in a kiss that was surprisingly tender.
When Ellie brought one arm around Prospero’s back to pull her closer, Prospero pulled away from the kiss.
“You, my dear Miss Brandeau, are overdue for a meeting with the heads of houses. And you are magically drained.” Prospero leaned in and dropped tiny kisses along Ellie’s jaw and throat. “And, might I add, remarkably forward.”
Ellie chuckled. “Not all of us can be polite Victorians.”
“Whatever made you think I was polite?” Prospero whispered. “Patient, yes. Polite, not truly.” She pulled the edge of Ellie’s shirt aside and kissed her collarbone.
Ellie shivered. “If you aren’t planning on seducing me, you might want to stop now.”
“Oh?” Prospero leaned back and looked at her, holding her gaze. “And if I was planning on doing so?”
For a flicker of a moment, Ellie’s common sense took control.Bad idea. Very, very bad idea.But then, Prospero caught her bottom lip in her teeth, looking vulnerable and unsure, and Ellie’s hesitations vanished entirely.
“I’d suggest you get on with it since the castle is empty enough that no one will hear you moaning.” Ellie tugged her T-shirt off and tossed it aside. She reached back to unhook her bra.
Prospero stopped her. “Let me unwrap you.”
“You do know I still might not stay in Crenshaw,” Ellie reminded her as Prospero leaned in and kissed the now-exposed tops of Ellie’s breasts. “Just because I sort of like you doesn’t mean…”
“You do know you might not even like me if you get to know me.” Prospero sounded like she was trying to make light of it, but Ellie heard the doubt.
“Hey?” Ellie caught her chin and tilted her face up. “I like you enough that I’m no longer ready to decide if I want to stay or go home.”
“Truly?”
“A gorgeous woman walked into my workplace andkissed me.” Elliecarefully began to unbutton Prospero’s vest. “And then I appear here, only to findyouagain, wanting me to help you save your world…”
Prospero shrugged off her vest, and with a gesture and muffled word, her shirt was gone, too.
“Neat trick.” Ellie plucked the strap of the corset-looking contraption that was still in her way. “You forgot this, though.”
“I believe I was to be the seducer here.” Prospero looked at Ellie’s bra. “May I?”
“Yes please. All of these clothes can go.” Ellie was breathless as Prospero removed her bra and gently pushed her backward onto the bed.
