Chapter 20

The water sluiced down Maddy’s body, washing away all the tension. She smiled and tipped her head back to rinse the remaining conditioner. She was beginning to think they weren’t going to find anything that would work. The timer in the kitchen was set to go off every half hour so they could check it often before going to bed. They had three more days to find out how long the charms would hold before Colin had to return to his own life.

Standing under the spray, she let it flow over her. She opened her eyes to see Colin standing, looking in the curtain at her. He was naked, and judging by the reaction of his body, he’d been standing there for a few moments before she sensed she was being watched. He didn’t say a word, just stepped into the tub and pulled the curtain closed. He stepped into the spray with her and pulled her against his hard body. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her mouth to his.

He wasted no time with words as he lower his mouth to hers and began to devour her slowly. He wrapped one strong arm around her waist and lifted her into his body as he turned so they were directly under the spray. Maddy slid one leg up behind him and wrapped her knee around his hip. His hand moved down to grasp her thigh firmly, pulling her leg higher and leaning into her body.

His kisses were intense as heat flashed through her body, she pulled back to look up at him and gasped when she saw the heated look in his eyes. He looked back at her for a moment before dropping his lashes to cover his eyes and look down at her body. Leaning her back, he rested her shoulders against the wall and bent his head to take one hard nipple into his mouth. Her breath caught in her throat as he slowly ran his tongue over it before closing his mouth around it. He did this a few more times, and she began to feel needy, wanting more. She hooked the leg he still held around behind him and rocked his body into hers. He lifted his head and moved to take the other breast into his mouth. Her hands tightened around his head and grasped his hair. That one move from her heated his blood. He straightened back up again and crushed her mouth with his.

Maddy clung to him, not wanting him to break the kiss. His tongue moved into her mouth with the same rhythm as his hips rocked into her. She grasped his shoulders and tried to pull her body higher on his.

Colin reached behind her and boosted her up on his body while she continued to kiss him with a frenzied passion. Holding under both of her thighs, he guided her body to lower over him. She moaned into his mouth and tightened her grip around his neck. He lifted his mouth from hers and bit into the side of her throat as he thrust hard up into her again. She dropped her head and moaned into his ear, driving him to do the same again. Her muscles were quivering around him, gripping him so tightly that he groaned when he thrust back into her. He lifted his head and looked down at her as he plunged into her hard enough that their bodies made wet slapping noises when they connected.

Her chest rose and fell as she panted and gasped. He thrust again and again, harder each time, until it drove her over the edge. He eased off when her muscles clamped so tight around him he was afraid he’d explode. He wanted more.

Maddy gasped when he pulled out of her completely and set her feet back on the bottom of the tub. With one strong arm, he spun her around to face the wall. Her legs were shaking, and she hadn’t even caught her breath. Colin wrapped one arm around the front of her as his other one slid slowly down her back to rub gently between her legs. Her knees buckled, and she was sure the only thing stopping her from falling was his arm around her. As one hand reached up and cupped a breast in his hand, running his thumb over a sensitized nipple, the other rubbed firmly over her still pulsing clit. She moaned and dropped her forehead against the wall.

Colin moved both hands to her hips and grasped them tightly as he slowly slid inside her again. She was so tight from this angle he had to force his way through her wet folds. Pulling back, he pulled her hips gently and moved her further from the wall. He pushed between her shoulder blades and bent her forward more. Pushing into her again, he grit his teeth at how good it felt to be surrounded by her. He pulled out slowly and then pounded into her, making her groan again. Grasping her hips, he did the same once more before picking up the pace and thrusting into her. She gasped each time his body smacked against her wet ass, and her muscles clenched around him. He was barely hanging onto what was left of his control.

Reaching around her, he pulled gently on one nipple and felt her muscles quiver around him. With his other hand, he reached down between her legs and rubbed it over her swollen clit. She cried out softly. Using his forearm, he pulled her body back over and over to slam into his while his hands rubbed against her. She groaned deep in her throat and dropped her head forward. He felt his body tighten as intense shudders shot through him just before he exploded inside her. Slowing, he rubbed her until she was gasping and wriggling her ass against him. He grinned and leaned forward to drop a kiss between her shoulder blades.

Straightening slowly, he pulled her tight against his body and held her there as they tried to remember how to breathe. Maddy leaned against the wall and was quite content to stay trapped between his body and the wall. Her legs weren’t even her own right now, so standing on her own wasn’t an option. She swallowed a few times and then leaned her head back against his shoulder. “I thought you were on kitchen detail?”

He laughed softly beside her ear. “Cook or naked in the shower with you? It wasn’t a really tough decision to make.”

Maddy leaned her head against his jaw. “This doesn’t get you out of cooking, you know.”

He laughed again. “No, but it certainly felt amazing.” He kissed the side of her neck and moved over to stand under the spray. “I’ll still feed you.”

Maddy turned around and watched him as the water cascaded down over his incredible abdominal muscles. “Good, because I’m not sure I can walk right now.” She reached over and wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled his mouth to hers. She kissed him soft and lingeringly and then rested her face against her shoulder.

Colin reached back and hit the water to turn it off. He bent down and scooped her up to hold her tight against him as he pulled the curtain back. He stepped out of the tub without any effort holding her at the same time. Grabbing the towel, he flung it on the counter and lifted her to sit on it. He reached over and picked up another towel, and wrapped it around her shoulders. Kissing her softly, he rubbed the towel over her face and down her neck.

Maddy leaned over and pulled another towel over, and quickly wrapped it around her long hair. “I’m going to miss you here all the time.”

Colin hesitated for a moment as he dried her one leg. “We don’t know yet how long those charms will work, so don’t go doing the happy dance just yet.”

Maddy frowned at him. “I won’t be happy to see you leave, it’s been so nice having someone here all the time.”

Colin straightened up and kissed her softly. “I’ll be coming back. I told you I’m not willing to walk out the door and wave goodbye.”

Maddy smiled as she looked up into those dark eyes. “Good.” She pulled the towel from his hands and ran it down his chest. “Now, about feeding me...”

He sighed and released her. “Give me fifteen minutes, and it will be ready.” He leaned down and kissed her hard on the mouth, pulling the towel from her hand and wrapping it around his waist.

Maddy sat there after he’d left, looking at the door. The truth of her own words hit her. She had enjoyed having someone to talk to and see when she got up in the morning. Colin was… She frowned. He was getting to be very important to her, and she honestly wasn’t sure that once he had some time back in his own world, he’d think she was such a good idea after all. Sliding off the counter, she stood up and turned to look in the mirror.

~

Maddy grinned over at Colin. He was slumped down in the chair, watching Sarabi do her leaps and bounds in the twilight around the yard. “So do we stay up all night and keep checking the charms, or do we check first thing in the morning?”

Colin rolled his head across the back of the chair to look at her. “It’s been five hours now, so if it lasts until the morning, that will be close to fifteen hours—more than enough to go to work and do anything apart that needs to be done.”

Maddy swirled and studied the small amount of wine left in her glass. “We’ll still need to know an exact time and to test it a few times.” She took a sip before looking at him. “I’m not too keen on you being at work and the pains hitting.”

He frowned. “Good point.” He looked towards the back of her yard. “Is there a way I could use the portals?”

Maddy looked at her big maple tree and then back to him. “There has to be. Children use them before their magic is developed, and I know a few mortals use them too.” She sat forward and set the glass down. “Come on, let’s go try it.”

Colin’s eyebrows shot up. “Now?” Maddy nodded and pulled on his hand until he stood. “Okay, so where are we going?”

Maddy continued to hold his hand as they walked to the back of the yard. “We’ll go to the academy. I know it won’t be anyone not from the community.”

Colin walked alongside her. Going through it with her had been one thing, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to do it alone. “So, does it always take you where you ask to go?”

Maddy grinned at him. “Yes, it does. Once, a very drunk witch ended up in the wrong place, but that’s not the portal’s fault if they can’t understand what she said.”

“So, speak clearly?” he asked hesitantly.

“It’s not going to eat you, relax.” She leaned over and rubbed her hand down his stomach. “You face the pains and spirits without hesitation but are afraid to step into a tree.” She smirked, and said that way it even sounded odd to her.

“Maybe,” he answered quietly.

Maddy stopped in front of the old maple tree and turned around to face him. “Do you want me to take you through the first time?” He nodded. Maddy bit her lip to stop from grinning at him. “Okay. Place your hand over mine as we did before.” She put her hand against the tree and smothered another chuckle when he weaved his fingers through hers and held her hand tightly. “To Hidden Cove, please,” she said softly and stepped into the tree.

When she stepped out at the Academy, Colin had his hand tightly around hers and was holding the back of the waist of her jeans. She turned and looked up at him. “Relax.”

He shrugged and released her hand. “It never hurts to be careful.”

Maddy smirked at him. “Okay now, let me think a minute about how we can do this separately.”

“Ramada?”

Maddy turned to see Ginger walking towards them. “Hi, Ginger.”

Ginger smiled. “I thought I was hearing voices for a few seconds.”

Maddy shook her head. “No, it’s just us.” She waited until Ginger was closer; she never liked talking loudly within Hidden Cove walls, too many strange things happened here. “Did you get my message?”

Ginger nodded again. “Yes. So the charm is still working?”

Colin nodded. “So far.”

“That’s great.” She looked from one to the other. “But why are you here so late?”

“We need to find a way for Colin to use the portals without me. So he can go back to work in a few days and get back quickly in case the charms stop working.”

Ginger nodded. “That’s a great idea.” She stepped closer to Maddy and ran a hand down her hair, then laughed to see the weird look Maddy was giving her. “I need a piece of your hair.” She held up her hand to show a long single strand of Maddy’s hair. “This area of spells and charms wouldn’t have been covered until you were married or pregnant, but all you need is a strand of your hair to give Colin so he can use the portals, they’ll recognize your magic and allow it.”

Maddy took the hair from her and turned to Colin. Stepping closer to him, almost leaning against him as she pulled the corded stone out from under his t-shirt, she wound the hair around that through the cord and then tucked it back under his shirt. She looked up to see him grinning down at her. The look in his eyes made her blush. Straightening away from him, she turned back to Ginger, and there was no mistaking the envious look on her face. “So now he can use them as I would?”

Ginger dragged her eyes from Colin and nodded slowly. “Yes.”

Colin winked at her. “Thanks.” He smirked at Maddy. “So, let’s give it a try.” He turned back to the wall. “I just ask to go home?”

Maddy shook her head. “Better make it Maddy Darcy’s home.”

He grinned over his shoulder at her. “Good point. I don’t want to know where I would have ended up saying my home.” He took a deep breath and placed his hand against the wall. “You’re right behind me, right?” Maddy stepped beside him and nodded. “Okay.” He paused for a moment when he felt the wood under his hand pulse slightly. “Cool.” He said more to himself than the women. “Maddy Darcy’s home, please.”

Maddy watched him step into the wall, she grinned at Ginger. “Thanks.”

Ginger smirked at her. “I am so jealous of—”

Maddy bent over and clutched her stomach. “No.” She reached out with her hand and touched the wall. “Home, please,” she gasped and took a step into the wall.

When she stepped out of the tree in her yard, she found Colin hunched over, clutching his stomach. She let out a long breath. “Charms wore off.”

He nodded and straightened up slowly. “Yeah. I thought I just had butterflies from doing this alone when we were at the academy. That makes it about five and a half hours until the twinges start and six hours until the pains.” He pulled her over against him and hugged her tightly. “Talk about taking away the rush of walking through a tree the first time alone.”

Maddy snuggled her face into his neck. “I thought the butterflies were from the look you were giving me.”

“Are you two okay?”

Maddy lifted her head to see Ginger standing in front of the tree. “Yeah, the charms wore off.”

Ginger looked at her watch. “How long do they last?”

Maddy stayed in Colin’s arms as she answered. “Six hours and the pains begin, so probably five and a half is as far as we’ll push it.”

Ginger sighed. “Is that going to be enough time for Colin to go to work?”

Colin ran a hand gently down Maddy’s long hair. “It will have to be. I can always bring home some data and reports.” He shrugged. “Or if I have a meeting or something, I can pop back here, and we can recharge them first.”

Ginger nodded. “I’m sure you’ll work it out.” She looked at Maddy. “Don’t play with whatever spell you used to start with, it might not work at all then.”

“I already thought of that,” Maddy said.

Ginger looked at them for a moment. “I’ll leave you in peace. I just panicked when you doubled over and thought I’d better check on you.” She nodded once more and then turned towards the tree.

Maddy watched her leave before looking back up at Colin. “She didn’t say she’s spent the last five years cleaning up my messes when I screwed things up.” She exhaled slowly, “So we’ll recharge them in the morning and then test them again throughout the day.”

Colin kissed the top of her head. “I agree.” He jumped when Sarabi suddenly appeared out of the dark and stopped right in front of them. “I’m buying her bells.”

Maddy laughed. “Good luck with that.” She stepped out of his arms and started towards the house.

-What fun would that be?

Maddy smiled but didn’t comment, mostly because she agreed with Colin — but would never hear the end of it if she said that out loud.