Free Acting Witchy (Witch Hunters) by Thayer King Page B

she said when he fell silent. “According to you, Keith was always the mastermind behind your mischief.”
    He chuckled. “He was. Though if you met him now, you’d never know he was the same boy our mother gives credit to for her first gray hairs. He’s grown staid in his old age,” he said with a grin. Mystique recalled that Keith was only a year older than Sean’s twenty-eight. “Keith is the more powerful of the two of us. I’ve never really applied myself because I didn’t have the latent talent he has.” He shrugged. “I was blessed with charisma and that was enough for me. Acting was a natural career choice. How did you get into it?”
    “I was in a play in high school. I enjoyed it so I took drama in college and loved it. It wasn’t what I’d envisioned I would do growing up…”
    “Oh? Let me guess. You wanted to be a doctor?”
    She bit her lip and shook her head. “Actually, I wanted to breed Newfoundland pups. I still watch dog shows every chance I get. I gave up that dream pretty early though. I was supposed to go into the family business. My mother was very disappointed when I didn’t.”
    “What’s the family business?”
    She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll never be welcome now.” His quick inhalation of breath and the pain in her chest told her that she’d hurt him. She squeezed his fingers and brought his hand up to her mouth. She kissed his knuckles. “Sean, I didn’t mean to sound as though I was blaming you. I’ve been an outcast…since I was born. Leaving to pursue an acting career only widened the chasm between my mother and me.”
    “Why, Mystique Gray, I do believe you’re being nice to me.”
    “You say that as though it’s never happened before.” At his arched brow, she blushed. She had been tough on him. “I’m sorry.”
    “No, it’s fine. I’m a big boy with a big ego. I can take it.” He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her brow. Pressing his forehead to hers, he stared into her eyes. She tensed, worried another declaration of undying love might be forthcoming. Instead his lips curled upward in a sexy grin. “I’m hungry.” He gave her a quick kiss and led her back to the car.
    They decided to try a restaurant called The Bridge Tender located at the foot of the Wrightsville Beach Drawbridge. The interior was beautiful, as were the views of the Intracoastal Waterway. Though their menu featured fresh seafood, they both ordered the Angus beef steaks. It wasn’t until dessert that Mystique realized she was enjoying her time with Sean.
    The waiter had situated them in a booth where they could have some measure of privacy but the occasional fan still noticed Sean. He was polite and didn’t decline signing autographs. She was surprised when a few people recognized her and wanted her signature also.
    It was dark by the time they returned to the hotel. She felt the tension between the two of them ratcheting up as they entered the elevator. He wanted sex. She knew it. Since their binding it was difficult to distinguish his desires from her own. She didn’t know if she could make love to him again and hold something of herself back. Each time they came together, she knew their closeness would grow. Eventually, they would be open books for one another. She wasn’t prepared for that level of sharing.
    He entered her suite with her. When he leaned down to kiss her, she stopped him with a hand to his chest. Her lips tingled in want of a taste of his mouth on hers. But she knew they’d never be able to stop at a few kisses. “I can’t have sex with you. I need more time.” When his expression turned stormy and he would have left, she said, “It’s not about you. I’m trying to figure out how this changes me. I’ve avoided this foreign energy inside of me all my life and what you’ve done has forced it back upon me.”
    “It shouldn’t be foreign. It’s a natural part of you. Being a witch is working with nature, not against