Free 2 Hungry, Hungry Hoodoo by Liz Schulte

larger world out there than the small one that wouldn’t accept you.”
    I felt a bit stung by his words, though I knew that wasn’t his intention, and he gave me a curious look before holding the door open for me. Jaron was already waiting inside.
    Jaron gave Sy a small nod and followed me back to his living room.
    “You’re late,” he said.
    “I lost track of—”
    “If it happens again, I’ll end this arrangement. I won’t come second to him.”
    I closed my eyes and bit back a snarky retort. Jaron had the manners of an invading horde, but I needed him. He had my memories. “Then let’s not waste anymore time.”
    He raised an eyebrow and pulled a container of breath spray out of the air. He did two squirts then offered it to me with a wink. I reached out to take it, but he caught my hand and pulled me toward him. His hand splayed against the small of my back, yet he barely touched me. My heart sped in my chest and my lungs constricted. He leaned down, his mouth almost to mine.
    “Why hadn’t you met Sy before now?” I asked, stalling while a new rush of nerves washed over me. If kissing Jaron meant nothing to me, it would’ve been easier. I wouldn’t feel like I was hurting Cheney—but it did mean something and that scared the crap out of me.
    Jaron paused, his eyes meeting mine for just a moment, then he closed the rest of the distance between us. His lips gently brushed against mine, making my head lull back. I curled my fingers into his blue button down shirt, fighting the urge to push him away. I could feel a memory bearing down on me, but it wasn’t quite there. A need to know what it was overcame my reservations. I broke the kiss but kept ahold of his shirt and dragged him to the small counter that divided Sy’s miniscule kitchen from his living room. I nudged Jaron. “Up.”
    His hands encased my hips and he lifted me up, setting me on top of the counter. I kissed him this time, harder, winding my fingers into his soft waves and pulling his face closer. A mewling sound formed in the back of my throat and his tongue slipped in, stroking mine. With the motion, everything drifted away.
     
    I was lying in bed next to Cheney, listening to his even breath. What the hell was I doing here? I glanced at the clock. It was almost time. A rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I slipped from between the covers and silently moved out the door. I lightly ran down the stairs out front, ignoring the chill of the night air biting my skin. My thin, champagne colored silk nightgown did little to cover me, but I didn’t care. It had been months since the last time Jaron agreed to see me. I wove through the trees, deeper and deeper into the forest, until I found him waiting for me.
    “You’re late,” he growled.
    “But I’m worth the wait.”I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his hard chest, inhaling his scent.
    He brushed my hands away and cold air assaulted me once more. “I warned you, Selene, before you left.”
    “Yet, here you are.” I gave him my most dazzling smile. “Now stop complaining and keep me warm while we talk.”
    He frowned and shrugged his jacket off, handing it to me. It was a poor substitution, but I took it. “What do you want?”
    “I figured out how expedite this entire process.” I waited for him to react.
    He sighed. “I’m listening.”
    “I’ll become a changeling.” I bit my lip in excitement. “It’s brilliant, isn’t it? I’ll get away from Cheney and come back twice as powerful. It will work. We can do it.”
    Jaron crossed his arms and looked down at me. “What makes you think so?”
    “My mother was a human witch. If I do this, the fae will have no control over me. I’ll be free.”
    “Freedom is an illusion. It won’t change anything. You’ve spent all this time winning the prince over and now you almost have him where we need him. Why stop?” His eyes were dark and unreadable.
    “I’m not stopping. I’m strengthening the