Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(67)

HIS DOORBELL rang. Jeremy slammed his magazine down, grumbling as he walked to the door. “Who the hell is stopping by so late?” He looked through the peephole, and his fist clenched when he saw who was on the other side. Against his better judgment, Jeremy opened the door. “You have a lot of bloody nerve coming to my home when I want to—”

Desmond thrust a hat and giant feather at him. “The shorts are in my pocket.”

Jeremy’s jaw dropped. “You think we’re having sex? The only thing I want to shove up your ass is my foot.”

Ignoring him, Desmond pushed inside. “You deserved everything on that fucking stage, and I’m here for what I deserve.”

“What do you think that is?” Jeremy asked, but he made no effort to stop Desmond when he shut the door.

“How many times did you get off on my essence?”

Jeremy looked away.

“That’s what I want.”

“I can’t do that so many times two days in a row!”

Desmond narrowed his eyes. He stalked over to Jeremy, looking down on him. “How many?”

“I was in the shower, so I didn’t have to worry about cleaning,” Jeremy muttered.

“How… many… times?”

Jeremy looked at his feet. “Five.”

“So my little Angel has been that pent-up.” Desmond gently raised Jeremy’s chin. “Would you like more of my cum?”

“We can’t,” Jeremy whispered.

“If you were really worried about unprotected sex, you did quite possibly the worst thing there is. If you said the real reason why you don’t want me to cum inside you, that would be real progress. But for now”—Desmond held up the wrinkled shorts—“put these on. We have a lot of work to do if I want to ensure you remember I’m better than any conjuring of me.”

“I already know that!”

“Fuck me so I’ll believe it.”

Jeremy snatched the shorts from Desmond’s hand and glared at him. “If you have what it takes, prove it.”

The smile that slowly lit up Desmond’s face carried every connotation of why he used to be called the Devil. “Be careful what you wish for.”





Chapter 18


JEREMY SAT with his head on his desk while Simone detailed the spell ingredients they needed.

“Hey, Sir Mopey, are you listening?”

Jeremy didn’t bother lifting up his head. “Sometimes I think I talk too much.”

“Have you pissed off any other witches lately? You sound like you got hit by a self-awareness hex.” Simone rubbed her chin. “I wonder if it’s permanent.”

“Bah!” Jeremy pointed at the door.

“I’m here for business.”

“A simple backtracking spell to find where Perry’s man went off to after that werewolf met him.” Jeremy waved at his door for Simone to go. “I can listen and annoy you simultaneously.”

“I hope Desmond strips you naked again.” Simone stuck her tongue out at him as she left his office.

Jeremy groaned. “That’s my biggest problem.” He still couldn’t believe they had fucked so many times. Even with magic boosting their stamina, it was a ridiculous amount of sex. And his goddamned feather. He rubbed his ass. Who am I kidding? I loved every moment of it.

Edarra knocked on his door.

“Come in, since everyone is leaving it open today.”

“A fun night or a bad one?” she asked.

He sighed again. “Fun.”

“Were you serious when we talked about a letter of recommendation from you being valuable?”

“Yes.” I know Clive and Mia volunteered, so that probably leaves one slot. Usually otherworlders badgered someone from their old world to write one. Edarra must have crashed and burned every contact she had left. The outcast witch in Jeremy respected that. “I can pen a letter by the end of this afternoon.”

“Thanks.” Edarra held out her hand, and Jeremy shook it. “It really means a lot to me.”

Jeremy shrugged. “You’re one of the few people I know who’s earned it. You’re a solid fighter, and while not adept at magic, you’re not out of your depth when it’s used around you.” He frowned at Edarra. “Why didn’t you work for Mia? Wouldn’t she be a warrior’s top choice for collecting heroic deeds?”

Edarra bit her lip. “It would have been too easy. I don’t think the jobs she’s hired for count as much in the impossible department with a bunch of weres and otherworlders on her team. Clive’s outfit is mostly humans, so him pulling off a heroic task holds more weight.”

“In other words, he’s more likely to fail.” Jeremy laughed. “I….” He trailed off as he noticed a knightly interloper behind Edarra. “That’s what you deserve for eavesdropping.”

Clive smiled. “I’m not offended, and if that’s the reason I have an Amazon on my payroll, I’ll gladly accept it.”

Jeremy rolled his eyes. “I see you’ve returned to being annoyingly positive.”

“I’m a wizard of many talents. Are the spell ingredients ready?”

“Probably not, since we’ve bugged him all day,” Edarra said, clearly less worried than when she first began working there about being caught gossiping.