Hidden Magic (7 page)

The newest addition to her collection was sticking out a little, a paperback about dreams her friend Haley had given her. What did dreams have to do with convincing someone that psychic powers were real?

Heed the Goddess’s advice.

She removed the volume and carried it into the kitchen so she could have a cup of chamomile tea as she read. Settling at the small table with her drink a few minutes later, she flipped through the chapters until she found one titled,
Dream of Me Spells.

Could she send Zander a dream to open him to supernatural possibilities? Of course. That had to be why the Goddess had led her to the book. She skimmed the chapter, noting everything she’d need; white cotton fabric, pillow stuffing, lavender, rosemary and parchment paper. Yes, she had all those items.

Giddy excitement bubbled inside her as she grabbed her Book of Shadows where she wrote down all her spells and magic work. She hurried to her bedroom to prepare her altar. First she lit candles and placed them around the room at the cardinal points then started a cone of dragon’s blood incense for protection.

After she’d cast her sacred circle, she sat on the bed and sewed the cloth squares together on three sides. Next she wrote Zander’s name on the parchment and, “Believe in Jilly’s gifts.” Then she slipped the paper inside and filled the cotton pouch with the stuffing and herbs before stitching the last side.

Pressing the pillow to her heart, she shut her eyes and said the spell she’d written in her Book of Shadows. “Blessed mother, holy Goddess, send Zander a dream and awaken his mind. Carry my voice to the place where he sleeps. Give me a chance to divine the truth. Let him think well of me, loud and clear. So be it.”

She opened the circle then set the dream pillow on her bed. But as she changed into her nightgown, she remembered she hadn’t asked that her spell be for the highest good, an important component for white magic. Any misuse of power or anything negative she sent out into the universe would come back to her threefold. Although she hadn’t set out to harm anyone, quite the contrary. Surely the Goddess would understand her true intention.

Since she’d never done this type of witchcraft before, she ought to call Haley to make sure she’d cast the spell correctly. Glancing at the clock, she frowned. She’d have to speak to her tomorrow since it was after eleven and Haley was a morning person. They both had Beltane practice with their coven the next day. She’d talk to her then.

Rushing through spell work wasn’t her usual style but she’d had little choice considering time was a huge factor. The sooner Zander allowed her to help him, the sooner Hannah would be found.

* * * * *

Zander sat up in bed and punched his pillow for the third time. He rarely had trouble getting to sleep but tonight he couldn’t seem to clear his mind.

Of Jilly.

He’d promised her he’d give her an answer in the morning but his damn attraction to her was clouding his decision process. There was no room in his head for anything but this case. The longer Hannah was missing the higher the chances he wouldn’t find her alive. He couldn’t bear the thought of letting her down.

He couldn’t let his desire for a woman he’d just met impact his case. No reason he couldn’t ask Jilly out after it was all over. Problem was, the investigation was going slower than most and if it dragged on much longer, how the hell was he supposed to be near her and not act on his feelings? Not that he was some horny adolescent walking hormone, but he’d never experienced such intense feelings right after meeting a woman. What was it about her?

He glanced at his clock again. If he didn’t get to sleep soon he’d be no good for anything tomorrow. But the instant he closed his eyes, she was there again, wearing those sexy-as-hell fishnet stockings and that short leather skirt. Her earthy scent seemed to fill the air, beckoning him to taste her caramel skin.

No!

He turned onto his side and willed his brain to shut down. His eyelids grew heavy and he yawned. Finally.

Jilly was in his bedroom but now she had on a skimpy black negligee that left little to his imagination. Her cat-like eyes and slender figure were even sexier edged in moonlight.

She offered him a hand up and out of bed and even though he knew he was dreaming, he didn’t want to let her take charge. He grasped her wrist and pulled her onto the mattress. “Why are you here?”

“Because you willed me to be.” Her skin was so soft and silky, exactly as he’d imagined. This felt way too real to be a dream.

Throwing back the covers, he grinned as her eyes skimmed his naked body. She wanted him as much as he did her. He reached for the tiny silver buttons at the bodice of her nightgown and opened them one at a time. The fabric fell open, revealing the full swell of her breasts. He ran his thumb over one crimson peak. It tightened under his touch and she let out a pleasured gasp.

She clutched his upper arms, giving him free access to her, all of her. He stood, took her with him and slid her gown off her shoulders. It dropped to the floor and puddled at her feet.

God, she was beautiful. Tall and graceful. And all his, at least for tonight. He gathered her hair in his hand and tilted her head back so he could kiss her throat. Her scent was so exotic and real and completely intoxicating.

She moved closer, his erection the only thing between them. Her pebbled nipples brushed his chest. Her buttocks fit perfectly in his hands as he pulled her harder against him. Torrid need rose up in him.

“I want to kiss you,” she murmured. “Everywhere.”

He dropped his arms to his side to give her free rein. She skimmed her tongue slowly over his chest, grazed his nipples with her teeth sending a charge of torrid energy over his body.

But he needed to touch her too. He bent lower to caress the inside of her thighs, down one leg and up the other. Her nails dug into his biceps as he neared her entrance. She widened her stance, giving him greater access.

He parted her intimate lips, reveled in her drenched folds. She tightened her grasp on him as he pushed a finger inside her.

“Oh, yes, please.” She rolled her hips, urging him on.

He lowered his head to her breast. She moaned with wanton lust as he suckled her. Her fingernails cut into his skin as she stiffened. Then she cried out in pleasure again and again as powerful quakes convulsed her body. Watching her come only heightened his need. Finally she stilled against him, breathing heavily.

He led her back to his bed, stood facing her as she sat on the edge. Taking hold of his cock, she stared up at him, her eyes smoky with desire. She pressed soft kisses along his shaft. Pleasure coiled tightly inside him.

Then she took him into her mouth, flicking her tongue over his length, swirling it around him. His cock pulsed against her tongue. His balls constricted with raw need. He clenched his jaw, hanging onto his control by a thread.

He longed to come inside her as he drowned in the depths of her brown eyes. Hell, it was his dream. He could do this however he liked.

Pulling out of her mouth, he cupped her cheek in his palm. “Lie back on the bed, love.”

She did as he instructed. He hesitated a moment, took a beat to admire her beauty head to toe. Her nipples were ruby red and glossy from his attention. The plane of her stomach rose and fell erratically with her ragged breaths.

“Touch yourself,” he commanded. “Make yourself come.”

She blinked up at him as she moved her hand over the tuft of brown curls that shielded her sex. Closing her eyes, she let out a soft moan and rubbed her glistening red folds.

She lifted her hips, pushed two fingers inside and gyrated her pelvis. Her rhythm sped up as did her desperate whimpers. She stretched her legs taut and stilled a moment before exploding in her climax like a lit firecracker.

It was the sexiest thing he’d ever witnessed. She reached out her arms to him. His desire torched higher as he climbed over her and spread her legs wider with his knee. He pushed inside her one blissful inch at a time.

Her intimate muscles contracted, massaged him as he went deeper. He started thrusting, slow and deep and she made incoherent gasping sounds. Every stroke was heaven. He braced himself on his forearms and watched the delight play on her features.

His blood roared as his pace quickened. She lifted her hips to meet his every stroke. The erotic friction shredded his control. He exploded in euphoria as he emptied himself inside her sweet sheath.

She clenched her innermost muscles, milking every last drop of pleasure from him.

He woke with a start, drenched in sweat, clenching his cock. That was more real than any dream he’d ever had. All he could think was that he had to have her. He wanted Jilly in his bed more than ever.

* * * * *

Jilly handed Eloise the envelope containing her weekly rent for the back room the next day at
Mind’s Eye.
“I’ll be gone the rest of the afternoon but if anyone wants a reading, Taryn’s working next door. You can send them over to her.”

“I love Taryn dearly, you know that. Her mother was one of my best friends. But she doesn’t have a tenth the gift you do.” Eloise stashed the money in the receipts drawer behind the counter. “Going out with that policeman? Is it work or just a date?”

Jilly thought about the odd conversation she’d had with him that morning. He was suddenly onboard with her working on the case with him. Her dream spell must have convinced him. She just hoped she was able to glean some information at Hannah’s house later to prove to Zander that she could help him bring the girl home.

She tried for nonchalance in answering her boss. “Yes, I am going out with him.” No way was she going to volunteer that they were headed to the Saxon home, but she hadn’t lied to Eloise. Not really. She just hadn’t answered the question completely.

“You’ll be at Beltane practice tonight, right?”

“Of course.” She hadn’t yet memorized her invocations for the ritual but she’d deal with Eloise’s consternation about that later. She had to focus all her energies on Hannah now. Glancing out the window, she caught a glimpse of Zander’s car. The tension in her neck eased a little but that uncomfortable ache low in her belly resumed. “There he is. Bye.”

She hurried outside before Eloise had a chance to say anything else.

Zander was stepping out of his car when she approached. “I’m ready.”

“Well hello to you too.” He circled the vehicle to let her in and she couldn’t help but catch a whiff of his scent. Damn, he smelled good.

As he slid into the driver’s seat she looked back at
Mind’s Eye
and saw the curtain in the front window move. She wasn’t thrilled that Eloise was unhappy with her for associating with Zander but with Hannah’s life at stake, her boss would just have to deal with it.

He backed out of the parking space then turned onto the road. “I spoke with Joanne Saxon, Hannah’s mother. All I told her was that I’d have…an associate with me and we’d like to take a look at Hannah’s room.”

She bit her lip. Maybe being present when Zander explained to Mrs. Saxon that she was a psychic would be better. At least she’d be able to answer any questions or concerns the woman had. “I feel so awful for her. I can’t imagine what she must be going through.”

“It’s pretty rough.” He merged onto the main road.

She tried to hone in on his thoughts. So much was going through his mind that she couldn’t get a line on his mood. “Are you nervous?”

He chuckled and gave her a sideways glance. “No. But you are.”

“Are
you
psychic now?”

Another laugh. “Don’t need to be. You’ve been tapping your fingers on the armrest since we left your store.”

She clasped her hands in her lap. “I’ve never felt so much pressure to pick up impressions. The stakes are awfully high.”

His expression grew serious. “Yes they are. We have to keep that in mind and remind Mrs. Saxon of it if she doesn’t want to let you in.”

She gulped. “Right.”

He steered into a circular drive in front of a gigantic colonial style home with a perfectly manicured yard. The sort of place she used to wish she lived when she was a kid rather than the one-bedroom walk-ups she’d shared with her mother that came complete with cockroaches and peeling paint.

“This is beautiful.” White flowers filled several window boxes and two rockers sat waiting on the long white porch. How could anything bad touch anyone who lived in such perfection? She unsnapped her seatbelt and drew a deep breath for confidence. Then she shut her eyes a moment, tried to get herself into her magic zone.

“Okay?” Zander asked.

She opened her eyes and nodded.

He kept his hand on the small of her back as they climbed the steps to the porch. Giving her a reassuring wink, he rang the bell.

A blond as thin as a corn stalk who appeared to be in her early forties opened the door. She gave Jilly a cursory glance then shifted her gaze to Zander. “Hello, Detective.”

“Mrs. Saxon. This is Jilly Livingston, a psychic from over at Freedom Moon Camp. We’re hoping she might be able to help.”

A spark of apprehension shone in the woman’s sunken eyes. “Oh my. I never would have even considered…” She brightened a little. “I’m willing to try anything. Have you assisted other families in this situation?”

Jilly searched her brain for an answer that would reassure the woman but before she could answer, Zander spoke. “She’s an experienced psychic, Mrs. Saxon. May we come in?”

Mrs. Saxon stepped aside. “Of course.” She led them into a pristine room filled with expensive looking antique furniture and an oriental rug Jilly was afraid to step on. A grandfather clock chimed the half hour.

Jilly studied the woman, searched for an aura, but it was difficult to find.

“Can I get either of you a drink? I have ice tea or soda.”

Zander shook his head.

“Nothing for me, thanks.” Jilly finally caught a glimpse of a murky blue haze around Mrs. Saxon. The mother was afraid. A natural reaction.

“Would it be possible for me to see Hannah’s room, to look at her things?” she asked gently.