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“
Do you think
that went to plan” he whispered as his fingers traced her cheeks.
His eyes searched hers.

“
Yes, it went
perfectly.”

“
Let’s spice
things up a bit whilst we are in here,” he murmured with a wicked
grin.

She giggled as
his hand pulled at her bobble, releasing her hair. They brushed
through it sending mini electrical currents running through her
body. His lips brushed gently against her cheek, creating a pattern
along her jaw before seeking her lips. As he kissed her, she felt
him move her gently back towards the bed. Her head was spinning and
her heart was thumping as he broke the kiss.

“
Are you sure
we can’t just do it now?” he asked softly.

She laughed
into his shoulder, “No.”

“
Okay, well,
just make some moaning noises,” Jack chuckled as he nipped her ear
with his teeth.

She gasped
unable to stop herself.

“
More,” Jack
teased.

Cora giggled
and pushed him from her. She straddled him instead. Her hands
travelled down from his hair, as her fingers slid against his
jacket, she pushed it aside and continued kissing him. She felt his
intake of breath as her fingers pushed at his t-shirt and lifted it
over his head revealing his toned body.

“
I love you,
but your trousers are so staying on,” she whispered as his lips
traced the line of her neck.

He chuckled
and kissed her.

51

RESULT

The time had
moved painstakingly slow, especially with Alastair’s greedy eyes
watching her all morning. It freaked her out that his eyes
constantly rested on her concealed midriff as she worked. Jack
hated it too.

Jack sat at
the table watching Alastair with a scowl on his face. She really
didn’t know why Alastair was here in the shop. He didn’t need to
watch her all the time. She just wanted to go home and put her feet
up with Jack and try to forget about the last couple of days. Jack
had all but moved in to her house which she loved, but Ayden didn’t
like the idea of them sharing a bed. Ayden was keeping his
complaints firmly in his mouth. They were engaged, it was going to
happen eventually.

Since Jack was
living with them, they’d discussed extending the house so that
Ember and Clay could live here permanently too. Clay hadn’t been
back to his house in Yorkshire so there was no point in keeping it
and Ember was staying with Tabitha but she had a lot of clothes and
the flat was entirely too small. Cora felt it was best to keep the
covens together, not only that, she loved having everyone in the
same place.

Jack helped
her pick up the witches and bring them into the shop. Neither of
them spoke to Alastair. Once Alastair could see the day’s trade was
over, he stood up and made his way outside without speaking a word
to them. She didn’t care that it was rude of him. Silence was
better than hearing his annoyingly, grating voice. Alastair was
probably on his way to meet up with his buddy, Tavish, who they
were sure stood outside all day. They just couldn’t see
him.

“
You tired,
beautiful?”

“
Yeah, I could
just have one of Tabitha’s hot chocolates whilst wearing my pyjamas
wrapped up in a blanket.”

Tabitha had
been out on the job so she hadn’t seen Alastair’s ugly face sit at
the table all day. She’d been accompanied by Ember too. It was
typical she would want a hot chocolate when Tabitha wasn’t here to
make it, and only Tabitha could do it right.

“
Let’s go
home, watch a film and eat crap.”

She smiled.
Jack definitely knew her.

They opened
the door to her house and followed the smell of food. Opening the
door to the kitchen she found Ayden standing by the
oven.

“
What’s for
tea?” Jack asked as he shook off his coat.

“
Lasagne.”

“
Oh,
please
tell me you have
garlic bread there too?” Cora could already feel her mouth
water.

“
Yep,” Ayden
said with a grin.

She sat at the
table just as Ayden placed a loaded plate in front of
her.

“
This looks
great!”

“
Thanks. Oh, I
spoke to a contractor today and we can start thinking of the plans
to sort out what is happening to this house,” Ayden informed
them.

“
That’s good,”
Jack said as he picked up a slice of garlic bread and bit into
it.

“
Yeah, I was
thinking...” Ayden stopped eating and looked at the two of them.
“Well, I was thinking I would move in with Eli.”

Cora sat up a
little straighter. That hadn’t been part of the plan.
“Ayden-”

“
Now I know
what you are going to say, but I’ve thought long and hard about
this. Eli won’t have Jack with him anymore, plus I really get on
with the bloke. Also, you two will want your own
space...”

“
But... Ember
and Clay will be living with us.”

“
Yes, but I am
as close to a father as I can be, and I don’t want to hear or see
things between you and Jack...you are engaged to be married. I know
what will happen. I just don’t want to see or hear it.”

She coughed,
feeling embarrassed. “I will miss you...”

“
I know and I
will miss you too, but I can’t stay here forever. I know I’m your
last link to Laura. I understand this, but that won’t change
anything between me and you. I’m still here if you need me. I will
only be up the road.”

“
Does Eli
know?”

“
Yeah, we’ve
discussed it. He will miss you when you go, Jack, and I think we
will both be happier for the company.”

She nodded.
She understood. The memories were hard for him and she was moving
on, creating her own memories with Jack.

“
What is the
meaning of this?!” Tabitha’s voice boomed, bringing their attention
to the door that had suddenly burst open.

Tabitha,
Ember, Clay and Eli stormed into the kitchen closely followed by
Alastair and Tavish.

“
You again!”
Jack shouted. “What do you want now? You spend all day gawping at
my fiancée in the shop, and now you turn up when we are eating,
when we are at home. There has to be rules. You can’t do
this.”

“
Tab, what’s
going on?” Cora asked.

“
Alastair
seems to think he can demand things of us.”

“
Aye . A be
wantin’ for Cora tae dae a test.”

“
What?” she
demanded. “I don’t have to do anything.”

“
Yer need tae
dae a test today,” Alastair stated. He didn’t seem the least bit
perturbed by their angry tones, or the fact that Ayden wanted to
slam his head against a wall. Of course he wouldn’t. Alastair was
oblivious to anything that didn’t outwardly affect him.

“
I can’t just
conjure up pee at the drop of a hat!” she snapped.

Clay snorted,
despite the situation. He
would
find that funny.

“
Well, yer be
needin’ tae dae somethin’.”

Alastair
produced a pregnancy test out of his jacket pocket.

“
God, are you
some walking pharmacy now!?” Ayden growled. “You can’t just walk
into our home and demand things!”

“
A can, and A
will.”

Cora quickly
stepped between Ayden and Alastair. “Fine, but the next time you
come in here demanding something like this, I will kick your ass
with my element!”

She stormed
past the group, looking at Tabitha. She received a small nod, and
stomped up the stairs towards the bathroom.

*

Jack paced,
trying not to think that everyone was staring at him. This had to
work. Tabitha had assured them she could handle it. Jack didn’t
doubt her skills, but it had to work. His next concern was
Alastair.

If the man
demanded things now, what would he be like later? If Cora was the
leader of all covens now, she could demand that he leave. Alastair
couldn’t control every stage of the apparent pregnancy. Jack
continued pacing, letting Alastair see that he was
nervous.

Tabitha was
sat next to Ember, their hands entwined, showing their nerves. Clay
and Eli were standing by the door, casting worried glances at
Ayden. Alastair was sitting with a drink in his hand like he was
waiting for afternoon tea. Jack continued to pace, glancing once at
Tabitha who looked like she was chewing on a lemon. He could see
the nerves, they were different nerves than what Alastair assumed.
Cora had been gone too long. Something must be wrong.

Jack turned
and opened his mouth to say something to Alastair as the door
opened to the room. Jack watched Cora walk in. Her hair was hanging
limp around her face, it looked wet, like she’d washed it. He tried
to hide the smirk on his face. Had she put water on her face to
make it look like tears?

Her eyes found
his, never left his. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Alastair
get to his feet. Were they laying it on too thick? Jack watched as
she lifted up her hand, held within it was a white
stick.

Jack stepped
towards her as everyone in the room stood up waiting for the
answer. One they already knew. Alastair’s beady eyes were watching
Cora intently.

“
Cora?” Jack
asked. He put a quiver to his voice.

She seemed to
look around the room. Her acting was amazing. “It’s
positive.”

The plan had
gone brilliantly.

“
Good, nou,
yer nearly the leader ov all covens,” Alastair announced, satisfied
with himself.

“
What?!” Jack
demanded.

“
You can’t do
that!” Ayden stormed.

“
Well, we
can’t huv’ her the leader wi’out seein’ the sprog first.” Alastair
shrugged.

Jack saw the
look in Tabitha’s eyes, one that told Jack to bite his tongue.
They’d expected Alastair to try and hold onto the power as long as
he could. This was fine with them.

Jack held back
the grin. Now the fun work could begin. Now they would make
Alastair pay for everything he’d done. Their revenge, their
justice, went way back a way. Further back to before the Corenthio
Coven had descended on them and Alastair had had the means to stop
it.

Alastair would
die for what he had done.