Etienne took a sip of his wine. “He was an amazing Traiteur. He went back and forth between the Northshore and Oberlin to make sure my grandfather’s community still had access to a Traiteur.”
“Jesus. Etienne. That’s so much to go through. I’m very sorry. He sounds like he was an incredible man.”
“He was, and so is my grandfather. It was hard on him, too. We got a lot closer after my dad died, and he helped me learn everything I needed to know about treating. Of course, med school helped tremendously with just basic knowledge.”
“Wow,” she said in genuine awe. “You’re a super healer.”
Etienne barked a laugh. “Well, I don’t know about that. But enough of the sad stuff. Where do you want to start? I’m assuming you’ve practiced treating since this past Saturday?”
“Yes, but only once. A urinary tract infection. I haven’t treated since. I definitely need practice in quickly centering myself and just more of everything, really. More pulling my magic forth, more experience with various ailments, more advice on how to get a treating practice up and running.” Ophelia took a large sip of her wine.
“Got it. Let’s start with the basics, then. Should we go to the living room so we can sit?”
Ophelia nodded, and the two situated themselves on her rose-colored couch.
“I want you to try an energy transfer. Let’s get that down first, and then we can move on from there.” Etienne held out his hands palms up, and Ophelia placed her hands on top of his.
“Okay.” She released a breath. His hands were warm and slightly rough from callouses on the pads of his palms, and her hands looked small and feminine in his.
“Just center yourself, pull on your magic, and visualize sending it to me.”
Ophelia closed her eyes and searched for that peaceful place in her head. She had run this morning, so her body was alreadyexhausted and relaxed. The wine helped too. After about a minute, she found it, then imagined her internal string secured around her beating heart and pulled. Her magic meandered around the string, flowing through her body toward her hands. She wanted her magic to thank him for healing her after the Passing and helping her now, and for him to feel her appreciation. She thought of that as she let the magic flow through her hands into his. A satisfying shiver erupted through her, followed by a completely wonderful and whole feeling.
She opened her eyes, and her magic leisurely receded. She curiously examined Etienne for his reaction.
“Holy shit,” he whispered incredulously.
“What? Was that okay?”
“Yeah, it was just…” Etienne was at a loss for words. “Your magic spoke to mine, I guess. That’s the only way to describe it.”
“Oh.” Ophelia was a tad embarrassed and placed her hands back in her lap. “Um, what did it say?”
Etienne ran a hand through his hair as if he was still flustered by her magic. “It thanked me.”
Ophelia’s amber eyes sparkled. “Good. I was thinking that I was grateful for you helping me now and with the Passing.”
Etienne nodded. “It was just…so intense. I’ve never felt someone else’s magic like that.”
Ophelia’s brows cinched in worry. “Did it feel okay, though?”
“Yes, it was just unexpected.” They sat there for a beat, lost in their own thoughts, until Ophelia broke the silence.
“Could you do it to me?” she asked. “I’ve never been on the receiving end of it.”
Etienne nodded. “Of course. I don’t know if I’ll be able to replicate what you did, but I’ll try.”
They resumed the hand-holding position, except Ophelia was now holding his large hands in hers. She watched as he took several steadying breaths and closed his eyes. She wasn’t sure if she should close her eyes as well, but she was too curious. It was an opportunity to freely study his features—the strong slant of his nose, the furrowed brows, the full lips. She was stuck on thatthought as shame consumed her for crushing on him when he had never returned the sentiment, especially when she was interested in someone else. Mateo was perfectly attentive, gorgeous, and, most importantly, into her.
She took her own deep breath to center herself and opted to close her eyes after all. She was curious what Etienne’s magic would feel like. A second later, she felt warmth disperse through the palms of her hands and seductively wrap around her arms. It felt like someone was caressing her with ribbons of silk. She smiled at the pleasantness of it.
The ribbons of silk made their way through her body, twirling around her chest and stomach and abruptly dropping to her core. Her breath hitched. She didn’t know what was happening, but his magic was moving closer to her most sensitive parts. His magic felt glorious. She felt herself naturally sink into the touch of the ribbons. The silk ribbons transformed into caresses of smooth velvet, causing her walls to pulse and her clitoris to swell in pleasure.
A deep moan involuntarily erupted from her, and the sound was like a bucket of ice water thrown on them. Ophelia jumped back from him, gasping.
“Oh, my God. Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”
“Ophelia, wait. Wait. What did you feel?” he asked urgently.
