Free Deceiver's Bond: Book Two of A Clairvoyant's Complicated Life by Katherine Bayless Page B

There’s something special about you, besides your ability to block my magic, which is unusual enough. Even if you don’t see it, I do. I feel it, every time you touch me. And I don’t just mean the spike in my libido. My magic is more responsive and I seem to have better focus when we touch.”
    His smile twitched upward. “I spike your libido, do I?”
    I rolled my eyes. “You know you do. And you’re changing the subject.”
    “I know. It’s a better subject.”
    His deep voice rolled over me, but I steeled myself, determined not to get sidetracked. “It’s not just the thing with my magic. You have a way with women. I don’t think you affect me precisely the same way, but I’ve seen how other women react when you’re around. They can’t seem to take their eyes off you, and I’m willing to bet all you’d have to do is crook a finger and they’d come running.”
    “So you’re saying I can’t just crook my finger at you and get what I want?” He shot me a wicked smile, eyebrow raised. “What we both want?”
    The blatant shift in his demeanor threw me off, which, given his previous standoffishness, set off my alarm bells. I kept my gaze steady, in spite of my cavorting stomach, and replied, “That doesn’t work on me. I’m different. And you know it.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Yes.” I couldn’t tell whether he was sincerely flirting or trying to distract me, possibly even using his glamour to do so. “Is that something you’ve grown accustomed to? Crooking your finger?”
    His smile promptly faded. “No.”
    “It comes with consequences. Doesn’t it? All those jealous, possessive girlfriends.”
    He considered me for several beats before nodding almost imperceptibly.
    I softened my voice. “And it put you off dating. How long has it been since you saw anyone?”
    He shrugged, absently running his fingertips along the edge of his plate. “A while. Something over four years, I guess.”
    “I’m sorry. From experience, I know how hard that is. But you don’t have to worry about me. You can crook your finger at me anytime you want.” I smiled and folded my arms along the edge of the table, peering at him. “I’ll come to you because I care about you and think you’re sexy as hell, not because you’ve glamoured me.”
    He frowned. “Glamoured. You make it sound like I put on makeup and go out on the hunt. Is that what you think?”
    “That’s a good analogy. That’s exactly how the spell is used. But you wouldn’t be sitting here right now if I thought that’s what you’d been doing. I think it happens without your knowledge.”
    “Because I’m part elf.” He imparted the last word with a definite edge.
    “It’s something the sidhe and other fae are known to do. Is it the only explanation for your girl troubles?” I leaned back and shrugged. “Who knows? It’s not like I have firsthand experience with going weak at the knees at your first glance. When we first met, I wanted to slap you senseless more times than I can count.”
    He chuckled as a small smile broke through his frown, although lines of tension cooled his expression.
    “It’s not the worst thing in the world, you know—you being part sidhe. Normals won’t look at you and know you’re different. In fact, other than telepaths, most magic users won’t even know. I didn’t. Not at first, anyway.” I shrugged. “I guess what I’m saying is: You don’t need to feel weird about it.”
    “No need to be testy, you mean?” Vince smirked.
    “Something like that.”
    “Well, no promises,” he said, again running his fingers through his hair. “This whole thing is weirder than shit.”
    “Believe me, I understand. I’m not spreading it far and wide that I have these new powers.”
    He studied me. “It’s that weird, huh?”
    “Yeah. That weird. Even for me.”
    I wanted to ask him whether he believed he was part sidhe and had the ability to glamour, but I didn’t want to push him. It was enough that he