“That’s the problem. It never is. Half the time my magic works, you know, on small stuff.” He flipped his thumb up and a small flame blossomed at the tip. “But when I try bigger things, things that matter, it’s unpredictable. Point is, it’s not worth me trying anything when it could blow up in my face.” His face was covered in shadow as he looked away.
Calli tossed her blanket back and got off the couch. “All the more reason you should learn how to use it. Besides, every warlock should be able to control their magic. It’s a part of you.”
He laughed as he got to his feet, but the sound was raspy with old pain. “You sound like my father. He wanted to send me to a witch tutor this year.”
“Really? That’s not so bad.”
“One that teaches children, the kids that couldn’t keep up in regular magic school. Picture witch kindergarten.”
Calli flinched. “Ouch. But, you know, maybe private lessons with someone who won’t treat you like a kindergartner are more your thing?” She walked up to him, head tilting back so she could keep her eyes locked on his.
He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Oh? How private are we talking about?”
Calli laughed and pushed against his bare chest, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he stepped closer, gently grasping her wrist and rubbing it with his fingers.
Her heart leapt in a mad rhythm as her gaze dropped from his bewitching green eyes to his sensual lips. As much as she was tempted right now to give into his sensual suggestion, she knew that this flirting was a way for him to distance himself from the problem. She couldn’t let him use it as a coping mechanism, or a distraction.
“Not that kind of private.” She managed to say. Barely.
“Too bad… that kind of private could have been fun.” His low and husky voice sent shivers down her spine. “Every time I get a spell right… you take off a piece of your clothes.”
“Strip magic lessons?” She giggled, but then the reality of how… hot that would be actually sent a wild hot flash through her entire body.
He didn’t have control over his magic, but his flirting was almost as powerful as a lust spell. She gave herself a shake, reminding herself that what he was really trying to do was distract her from his problem.
“Look… since you can’t fix my garden or replace my prized pumpkins… why not agree to one lesson?” She tried to push him back, to give herself some space so she wouldn’t keep thinking of sex, lots of sex, but he kept hold of her wrist, keeping her close to him. “If you hate it, then fine, but if I manage to teach you something, then you have to stay here a while and let me show you more about your magic.”
Calli had no idea why she offered that, but there it was. “Sage says I’m a great teacher.”
“Who have you taught?” Malcolm asked.
Knowing he wasn’t going to like the answer, she finally said: “Mostly kids.”
“Oh great, it the tutor situation all over again.” He tilted his head back to look up at the ceiling.
“Yes, but there’s no pressure here, and I’m betting one on one lessons with me would be more fun than whoever your dad planned to send you to.”
“Can’t argue with that. You are certainly much prettier than Curtis Batsford,” Malcolm snorted.
“Seriously though, you’ll think about it, right?”
He bit his bottom lip, then released it as if considering her offer.
“You don’t have to get back to the office right away, do you?” she asked.
Malcolm shook his head. “I was taking the week off when my dad summoned me to Boston.”
“Perfect. Just think of it as an unexpected change in vacation plans.”
His eyes narrowed a little. “Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. Everyone should be able to control their magic. It’s a part of you. Hiding from it doesn’t change that.”
“Is that all?”
She gulped. He still hadn’t let go of her wrist, and she could feel the warmth of his fingers. She couldn’t answer him.
Malcolm reached up to twine a lock of her hair around his finger. His focus lowered to her mouth. “One lesson…”
