Impractical Magic Part 11

"I think so." There had better be a rational explanation for why she was in Brand's bed and he was lying beside her. "Why am I here?"

"We brought you here after you collapsed so Ewan could heal you."

"Heal me?"

Brand leaned toward the edge of the bed. "Why are you on the floor?"

"I... ah ... no reason." Rose pushed herself to her unsteady feet. She wasn't about to admit her fears to him. "What do you mean by heal me?"

"By wis.h.i.+ng to heal those children, you gave away your life force to replenish theirs. You almost died." "Died?" Rose sank onto the edge of the bed. "I remember feeling weak, dizzy, like I had no energy." "You collapsed." Brand's eyes were dark despite the nightstand lamp. "Fortunately Ewan knew what was wrong and managed to save you."

She'd almost died? True, her body ached something fierce, but she hadn't seen any bright light, didn't even feel weak any longer. "I guess I owe Ewan, then." She grimaced. "But I'm still not going with him." Brand laughed and rested his hand on her shoulder. "You scared me half to death, Rose." His touch was warm, sending slow ripples of heat through her veins. "I would think you'd be glad to get rid of me." She tried to keep her tone light, but failed.

"Do you really think that of me?"

She met his gaze, then shook her head. He would no doubt be thrilled to see her leave him alone, but he wouldn't wish her dead. Her pulse jumped as he continued to look at her, and she searched for a change of subject.

"What time is it?" He sat between her and the clock.

He glanced around. "Almost two."

"In the morning?" Had she slept over twelve hours?

"You needed to rest." Brand ran his hand down her arm, pausing to hold her hand.

How was she supposed to think coherently when he did that? "But your show?"

"I showed up, though I consider it among my worst performances. I was distracted."

His meaning was clear, but she chose to ignore it. Her heart was already racing. "Did you ... did you fly?"

"I did." He smiled. "It hasn't worn off yet."

"That's good." She eased her hand free of his and scooted a couple inches away. Any distance had to help at this point.

"I'm sorry, Rose," he said abruptly.

She frowned. "Sorry?" What had he done now? Her eyes widened. Had he taken advantage of her unconscious state? "You didn't... ?"

"What? No, oh, no." He produced a wry smile. "I'm not quite that desperate. I want to apologize for this morning."

The morning seemed like years away. Rose had to struggle to recall the events.

"You were right. I was thrilled when your magic worked for me and condemning when it worked elsewhere. That was hypocritical of me." For a moment she couldn't speak. He was actually admitting it? "I... I'm glad you realize it," she said finally. "Does that mean you're not going to hate me for having magic anymore?" "It means I'm going to try." Brand pushed off the bed and walked around to stand before her. "And this ... this thing today made me think." "Isn't that dangerous?" She tried to tease, to break the seriousness of the mood, but the slight smile he gave her in response wasn't enough to do so. "Usually." Brand captured her head between his hands, his hold gentle. She dreaded his next words. "This deal of ours is stupid."

"I won't argue that." But it was necessary for her to gain entry into his world.

He grinned and kissed her, a brief caress that nearly caused her to dissolve into a puddle right there. "I want to cancel the bet." "But... but..." Was he throwing her out? Again? "You can stay. Do your worst." He dropped his hands arid turned to face the patio windows. "But you don't have to leak magic anymore."

Rose stood. Was she hearing correctly? "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying the deal is off." Brand pivoted to face her across the dimly lit room. "You can use your magic."

Ten.

Grat.i.tude warmed Rose. He meant it. He'd actually let her use her magic and stay to get her story. "Have I told you what a special man you are, Brandon Goodfellow?"

His slow answering smile triggered a warmth of a different kind. "Not in the past seventeen years or so."

She was half tempted to accept his generous offer, but this had gone past proving herself to him. She had to prove she could exist without using magic to herself. "I never thought I'd hear you say something even close to this, which makes me even more reluctant to refuse."

"What?" He closed the distance between them. "Are you nuts? This is a win-win for you, Rose."

"It would be, I agree, but I can't do it."

"Why not?" Anger mixed with his puzzlement.

"Because you dared me into this and we both know it. You were angry. I was angry." Which had always been a dangerous situation for them.

"Which is why I admitted it was a stupid bet. Why stick with it?"

"I started out having to prove to you I could make it without my magic, but it's gone beyond that. I have to prove it to me now, Brand. Until you forced me into this, I didn't realize how much I did use my gift."

His jaw tightened. "You have it to use. Might as well."

"True." But he still hated that she had it. "And I'll use it again, but not now. This story I'm going to get like an ordinary person."

He started to respond, then paused. When he finally spoke, she had the feeling it wasn't what he'd originally meant to say. "What about your leaking magic? You're risking your life by not using your power."

"This was an isolated incident." At least, she hoped it was. After all, how many people would wish to cure an entire ward? "I'll be more careful and avoid people when possible."

Rule number one-no hospitals.

"Will that be enough?"

"It'll have to be." His concern came through clearly and Rose smiled, enjoying the knowledge that he cared enough to be concerned. It had been a long time since she'd felt that. "I'll be fine. I promise."

"Will you?" Brand ran his hand along the edge of her hair, his fingertips brus.h.i.+ng her face. "You almost died, Rose."

She had to swallow before she could answer, a quiver vibrating in her belly. "I should have known better. I won't let it happen again."

He shook his head. "You're going to give me gray hair."

Her chest tightened at the impact of his words. "I..." She had to stop and start over. "I come by it naturally. My father always tells my mother that."

Brand's eyes darkened, but his lips lifted in a half smile. "Knowing you and your mother, I completely understand." He dropped his hands to her shoulders, holding her in place when she would have retreated. "What am I going to do with you?"

His gaze focused on her lips, completely stealing her breath away. Aching need crossed his face, but she barely had time to recognize it before he claimed her mouth with a ferocity that startled her.

His lips demanded a response-one she was only too willing to give, any resistance gone at the first touch of his sensual mouth. A person would be willing to die in order to have him revive her.

He crushed her to him, flattening her b.r.e.a.s.t.s against his chest, as he devoured her mouth with an expertise that turned her legs to Silly Putty. Brand's kiss held a magic all its own-far superior to anything she possessed-and she succ.u.mbed to his spell.

Linking her arms around his neck, she met him kiss for kiss, wanting more, demanding more. Reason fled, overwhelmed by the ache building within her, the sensations flooding her mind and body.

He left her mouth and dotted kisses over her face and throat-feather-light touches that only added to her inner turmoil. She leaned back her head to allow him better access, her heart pounding so rapidly she feared it might jump from her chest.

In high school she'd always been envious-no, dammit, jealous-when he was linked with other girls. She'd imagined him kissing them like this, but the reality eclipsed her daydreams. His kiss managed to say more than any words-communicating his desire, his need, while making Rose feel as if she were the only woman in the world he would give it to.

When he cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, she gasped, his touch creating a larger shock than being hit by lightning. Her breast swelled, filling his palm, the nipple pebbling, aching for more. To her surprise, he gripped her shoulders and pushed her gently away from him. Dropping his hands, he took a step backward. "Go, Rose. Go now before we both regret it."

The huskiness of his voice plucked at the taut strands of need inside her. She wanted to go back to him, to experience that devastating kiss again, but slowly his words reached the small part of sanity that remained. Regret? Her body insisted there would be no regret, but her mind couldn't deny it. She was here to reveal his secrets, not make love with him. Brand was a complication she didn't need in her already chaotic life. Rose swallowed and backed toward the door, unable to look away from his blazing gaze. "I'm sorry," she whispered, hating his look of pain. He gave a rough laugh. "Not nearly as much as I am." With obvious effort he turned back to face the windows. 'The bus leaves in the morning," he added. "I'll be there." She wasn't going to give up now despite the small voice in her head that screamed at her to run as far away as she could get. Fleeing his room, she told herself she wasn't running from Brand or the incredible pleasure he could provide. No, it was worse, for she could never escape. Not from herself. Not from the sudden need to take what Brand offered.

She'd never wanted a man, never needed a man. Being Fae, she knew better than to fall for someone who would age and die while she remained eternally young. And especially not someone like Brand, who still resented her magic, no matter what he said. Yet she couldn't deny how alive he made her feel, the ache boiling in her gut.

d.a.m.n Brand. He was going to mess up her life.

Reaching her room, she closed the door and leaned against it. Going to mess up her life?

h.e.l.l, he already had.

The moment Rose stepped from her room in the morning, Sequoia enveloped her in an enthusiastic hug. "How are you? Are you okay? I'm so sorry. I was so dumb." Sequoia's words tumbled out, overrunning each other, until Rose laughed. How like her cousin. "I'm fine. Don't worry about it, Tree. It wasn't your fault."

"You sure? You're okay?"

"Positive." True, Rose hadn't been able to sleep after returning to her room, but considering she'd just slept about fifteen hours, she wasn't concerned with that. And she did feel fine-energetic and ready to go. As far as she could tell, she'd suffered no lasting ill effects as a result of the previous day's episode.

"But I feel so responsible...."

"It wasn't your fault." Rose hugged her cousin's shoulders. "Neither of us knew what would happen. I was fortunate that Ewan was there." She grimaced. "I guess I owe him a thank-you. Is he around?"

A strange look drifted across Sequoia's face. "I don't know. He disappeared last night and I haven't seen him since."

"Not a great loss." Though she did owe him a sincere debt of grat.i.tude, Rose didn't want to argue any more over going to the magical realm, which he'd undoubtedly insist was the payment for her life.

"Yeah." Sequoia agreed, but her tone and expression reflected just the opposite.

Rose frowned. Was Tree actually falling for him? "You all right?" She was going to have to explain to Sequoia about the Fae sensuality. They exuded it naturally and looked upon lovemaking as an extracurricular activity. Few even grasped the concept of commitment.

"I'm fine." Sequoia produced a faint smile. "Want some breakfast?"

Rose shook her head. "We need to get going or we'll be late for the bus." She still preferred transporting to walking from place to place, but traveling with Brand was doing great things for her legs. "We've plenty of time. You're actually early for a change." Lifting one eyebrow, Rose grinned. "I'd rather play it safe." Especially after last night. Brand would want her to leave. A part of her wanted to flee as well. But she had a story to get-a story that was becoming more difficult to do every day. But she would get it. All she had to do was resist the temptation Brand provided.

Yeah, easier said than done.

Just thinking about his kiss made her go achy and tin-gly. Not a good sign.

Even worse, her heart skipped a beat when she saw Brand standing on the bus steps. He produced a welcoming smile as they approached, and she found herself automatically smiling in return.

"It's about time you two showed up," he said.

"Hey, we're not late," Sequoia protested.

"Almost." He waved them inside. "I have breakfast ready."

"Breakfast?" He cooked? Rose smelled cinnamon rolls and bacon as soon as she entered the bus. "What's going on?"

"I knew you'd be better off not dining around other people," Brand said over his shoulder as he led back to the table. "And I also knew you'd be here, so I ordered breakfast to go." He opened the white Styrofoam containers on the table to reveal ma.s.ses of pancakes, hash browns, eggs, cinnamon rolls, bacon, and sausage. "Think I got enough?"

"How many you expecting to feed?" Sequoia asked. "The entire crew?" "Just us." Brand waved them into seats and placed gla.s.ses of juice before them. "And Carter, though I'm willing to bet after the partying he did last night, he's not going to be much company today." Rose's stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn't eaten in over twenty-four hours. She spooned piles of food onto her plate. "Looks just about right to me. Come on, Tree. Dig in." They'd all served themselves and were eating heartily when Carter stumbled onto the bus, his eyes red, his chin unshaven, his face pale.

"Looks like the living dead do exist," Sequoia murmured.

"Want some breakfast. Carter?" Brand asked.

Carter's complexion took on a slight green shade as he shook his head. "I think I'll just sleep a while longer." With a halfhearted attempt at a smile, he staggered over to a far couch and stretched out upon it. Within moments his light snores were the only sign of life.

"Just as well." Rose was anxious to share the idea she'd developed during her hours of early morning contemplation. "I think I know a way to solve my leaking magic."

She glanced over her shoulder as the driver came in, then set the bus in motion. "Will he hear us?" she whispered.

"Doubtful. It's pretty noisy in here," Brand said.

Sequoia spoke around a mouthful of hash browns. "What's your idea?"

"I've noticed that if several wishes are done close together, they become less accurate, sort of diluted." She clearly recalled her dress reappearing much shorter than it had started, and from the slow smile on Brand's face, so did he.

"What if the leakage has a finite amount of magic?" she continued.

Sequoia stopped eating. "Huh?"

"What if my magic has to build to a certain level to start leaking?" Rose built a dam with her pancakes, then poured syrup into the pool until it overflowed. "Right now, my magic is being pulled from me. I think each wish drains some of the backup off."

She spooned the syrup out of the pool. "One wish. Two wish. Three wish."

Brand nodded, watching her closely. "Go on."

"Perhaps by making several wishes in a row, you can drain my leaking magic out so that it won't work for a while." Rose couldn't contain the excitement in her voice. If this worked, she'd be able to operate almost normally for the duration of this story.

"For how long?" Sequoia asked.