Dangerous Lover (24 page)
Authors: Maggie Shayne
“Because I'm in love with you, Selene.”
Tears welled in her eyes so fast, so deeply, she couldn't blink enough to keep them from spilling over. How often had she dreamed of him saying those words to her?
He pulled her close again, and this time she lay across his chest, her head on his shoulder, his arms holding her. Nothing could feel as wonderful as being in his arms, she thought.
“I didn't think I wanted a relationship, a commitment. But I do, Selene. I want it with you. It's just like you said, all the fears and doubts vanish when you meet your soul mate.”
He gripped her shoulders, lifting her a little, so he could look her in the eyes. “I think you're the one, Selene. I think you were right all along. We're meant to be.” He searched her eyes for a long moment, then squeezed her shoulders gently. “Aren't you going to say anything?”
She'd been trying, but her throat was so tight, and now her face was wet with tears to boot. She waved a hand at her cheeks, to dry them, drew a breath and tried to swallow to free her voice. It was squeaky and soft, but at least she got words out. “What's to say? I've been telling you this stuff for days now.”
“Soâ¦you still feel that way? I mean, I didn't screw it up, taking so long to figure out what I was feeling?”
She smiled through her tears, sniffled and wiped a cheek with a knuckle. “I said I'd love you forever, Cory. It hasn't been close to forever yet.”
He smiled, finally. That sexy, slow smile she loved so much, and his bedroom eyes closed as he kissed her again.
“Damn,” she whispered, when their lips pulled apart. “There's gonna be one hell of a party at the Texas Brand when they let you out of here.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. Cause, uh, the last single Brand has finally met her match.”
“Not quite,” he said. “There's still Vidalia.”
“You have been paying attention, haven't you?”
“I love your family, Selene. They were amazing out there. Treated me like I was one of them.”
“You are,” she told him. “From now on, Cory, you are.”
This novel contains instances of a modern-day Witch practicing her skills in a number of ways, including the healing power of Reiki (an eastern tradition), the use of Pow-Wow (Pennsylvania-Dutch folk magic), and Shamanism, among other methods. While some see conflict in this, it is precisely the way modern Witches work. Shamanism, while seen by many as a purely Native American practice, has actually been used by cultures all over the world, from Laplanders to the natives of Peru. Northern Germanic Shamans were said to travel the skies with the help of sacred reindeer and return with gifts for their people. Witches have been said to travel the skies with the help of a magic broomstick. Both tales refer to the same practice, that of “journeying” into alternate worlds in search of wisdom and guidance: Shamanism. Today's working Witches believe that, from the point of view of a spirit, there's no difference between one religious system and another. They are all created by man as a means of understanding the divine, and any means of bringing us closer to the divine is both valid and sacred. So they use what works, the way great cooks do with recipes: borrowing from traditions old and new, creating new methods from the old and from scratch, keeping those that work best for them and for the job at hand. And it worksâMagic happens!
ISBN: 978-1-55254-761-8
DANGEROUS LOVER
Copyright © 2006 by Margaret Benson
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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