A Dangerous Witch (Witch Central Series: Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

oceanside edge of the pool and peered out into the moonlight, smiling as she spotted her husband, arms pulling him steadily through the glistening path the moon cast on the waters below.
    No mermaid antics tonight, just a man entirely one with the power of the ocean.  Devin was a glorious swimmer, but it was more than that.  He exerted a gravitational attraction on the water—a man pulling the sea into his hands.
    It almost made a certain realtor want to take a moonlight dip.
    Devin reached shallower waters, where the waves started to break over random rocks, and flipped over, bobbing in the roughness and staring at the moon.  And then he turned, eyes finding hers.
    Not a merman.  Just the passionate, exuberant, rock-solid man she loved.
    The stresses of the day washed off Lauren’s skin in a way that even magical waters hadn’t been able to manage.  She leaned out a little further over the pool’s edge, seeking his mind.  No point trying to shout over the waves.  Want a lift up?  There were porting spells for everything now, including one to pull swimmers from the sea.
    Nah.  He was already reaching for the steep and slippery rocks at the base of the cliff.  I haven’t worn off all my nervous energy yet.
    She grinned.  I can think of some other ways to use that up.
    His mind laughter shook more of the stress crud loose from her soul.  I always have enough energy for that.  He climbed, watching her now, part lustful intent, part inspection.
    Uh, oh.  For someone who didn’t read minds, Devin Sullivan didn’t miss much.  Lauren opened her mindlink a little wider, letting him see.  I’ve let go of most of the clutter.
    “Most” wasn’t going to satisfy him.
    Dev swung up over the side of the pool, an act of gravity defiance she dearly hoped no one else tried to replicate, and reached for her, ready to tackle whatever she couldn’t shake off on her own. 
    She laughed and squirmed as he pulled her into his ocean-cold chest.  “What, you can’t dunk yourself and warm up first?”
    He grinned.  “I thought you had some ideas for that.”
    There was more than one way to chase away the voices in her head.  She touched his face with her hand—and then felt his mind shift to a rueful chuckle.
    Just before the splash that suggested someone else had decided to come for a soak.
    Jamie, a squirming Benny in his arms, winced as he spied the two of them.  “Sorry.  Should have knocked first, huh?”
    Devin’s splash neatly soaked his brother—and left the toddler entirely unscathed.  “Don’t worry.  I know how to get even.”
    The new arrival looked highly amused.  “Get in line.”
    Yeah.  Probably not a lot of privacy with a couple of two-year-olds in your bed.  Lauren grinned and shifted her plans for the next hour.  She sat down across from Jamie, ready to help Benny be a motorboat.
    And glancing over at her husband, she had to smile.  Their best water witch could easily be in the direct line of fire of whatever came for Mia.  And he was already so relaxed, he was practically asleep.
    She knew that could change in an instant.  Life very rarely found Devin Sullivan unprepared. 
    But he also very rarely let it cause him grief in the other moments.  Lauren immersed herself in his ability to let go as deeply as anyone she knew.
    And held out her hands to catch the incoming, rumbling small boy.  In this moment, she was a motorboat catcher. 
    “Auntie” was a long and varied job description.

Chapter 3

    Lauren mentally ran through her list of curse words.  She needed new ones.  A whole bunch of new ones.  One for each stitch.
    Dev’s eyes twinkled her direction, hands knitting merrily.  “You’re still holding your leader yarn in a death grip.”
    Whatever.  She glared at his funky blue square, forming under his fingers without any attention from his eyes whatsoever.  Showoff.  “Fuzzball won’t care.”  The squares from today’s knitting lesson were optimistically