Part 13 (2/2)

Dorcas and Ambrose had finally helped George accomplish that and now they could travel. They'd bought a Toyota Prius and had made several trips to Chicago for the plays, the food and the nightlife. On their last trip they'd discovered the Bubbling Cauldron, run by wizards and staffed by magical people.

”I'll look for you around eleven, then,” Anica said. ”Also, I probably don't have the right to ask you, but . . .”

”What is it?”

”I know you're both on the council and I suppose you're required to report everything to them.”

Dorcas laughed. ”They might like that, but I don't see it as my sacred duty.”

”Then would you mind not saying anything about this to anyone except your husband, at least for now?”

”You know an alert came down to the Wizard Council when you lost your magic. Most likely there's already a note in your file.”

”But they don't know why I lost my magic unless somebody tells them, right?”

”I'm pretty sure that's how it works.” Dorcas was sympathetic to those who screwed up. After all, she'd done it herself. She'd messed up a spell involving the Grand High Wizard's brother-in-law, which is why she and Ambrose had been s.h.i.+pped off to Big k.n.o.b, the Wizard Council's version of Siberia.

”I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone, then,” Anica said.

”We can be discreet.”

A relieved sigh traveled across the miles between them. ”Thank you.”

”Don't thank me yet. We haven't solved your problem.”

”No, but I have faith that you will.”

Dorcas wasn't so sure. Transformation spells were tricky, especially the older ones. She didn't want to rub that in, though. Anica Revere sounded as if she might be at the end of her rope and Dorcas knew exactly how that felt.

”See you tomorrow, Anica. Give my best to Lily.” She replaced the phone in its cradle. Hera's hemorrhoids. Now she had to finish working on that stain. Maybe she'd have to resort to Spray 'n Wash, but that would be admitting she couldn't do laundry magic. No self-respecting witch would ever admit that.

Once Anica got Jasper back in her apartment, she wasn't willing to leave again until the next morning when she went to meet Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell at Wicked Brew. She'd thought keeping the shop operating smoothly was important to her until she'd almost lost Jasper, but her priorities were clear now. Her employees would have to handle things at the shop, and if they couldn't, well, she'd shut the place down temporarily.

She sent Lily home to sleep and gave Julie enough cat food and litter to get her through a couple of days with her new charges. Fortunately the responsibility of a mother cat and kittens had distracted her new friend from the subject of witchcraft, but Anica knew Julie would ask again. If she'd been given skull earrings by a great-aunt, then she might come by her curiosity naturally. She might have a few magical people lurking in the branches of her own family tree.

After Lily and Julie left, Anica sliced up some chicken for Jasper, who had certainly earned it.

His self-sacrifice surprised her. After the way he'd manipulated her affections Anica had categorized him as a self-serving jerk. A s.e.xy jerk, but a jerk nevertheless. Yet he'd been determined to save this mother cat and kittens before going home with her to fix his own problem.

When she went into her bedroom to change into sweats, she left Jasper scarfing up chicken from the bowl she'd set on the counter, and Orion pacing underneath, meowing his protest.

By the time she came back out, Orion and Jasper were at opposite ends of the sofa, grooming themselves. She sat down next to Orion and leaned over to give him a good scratch. ”Poor guy. I know it's tough to be the one with your nose pressed against the candy store window, so to speak. Your life should be back to normal soon. You . . . smell like chicken.”

She knew Orion couldn't hop up on the counter, or else he would have done that while she was slicing the chicken. Jasper certainly had. He'd been right by her elbow while she unwrapped the package.

So there was only one way that Orion could have eaten any chicken. Slowly she turned to Jasper, who gazed at her innocently. Now she had to know for sure.

Standing, she walked into the kitchen and crouched down to examine the floor underneath Orion's thoroughly cleaned bowl. Sure enough, there was a damp smear on the linoleum. Jasper had drop s.h.i.+pped chicken to his buddy Orion.

She walked back into the living room. ”Jasper, I appreciate your generosity, but Orion's trying to shed some pounds. I realize you won't be here long enough to thoroughly corrupt him, but please don't get him started on any bad habits.”

Jasper might not be able to talk, but there was no mistaking the look he was giving her. Quite clearly it said, Bite me.

After the morning he'd had, Jasper was exhausted. He slept all afternoon and only woke up when he smelled chicken warming in the microwave. This time when Anica fed him she watched him like a hawk, so he couldn't share any with Orion. To make up for that he played hide-and-seek with Orion for a good half hour afterward.

Orion obviously loved it, creeping around corners and pouncing on Jasper, then trading off and letting Jasper skulk around and leap out at him. There was no animosity between them anymore. The chicken-sharing event had obviously clinched the deal as far as Orion was concerned.

Jasper played with Orion partly for the cat's sake, but mostly as a demonstration for Anica. He hoped she was getting the message that Orion needed a playmate and Jasper wouldn't be around much longer to serve in that capacity. Instead of putting her cat on a diet she should get him a friend.

Playing was fun but Jasper was still low on sleep. When Anica turned in early, he was more than happy to settle down on the end of the bed along with Orion. He didn't even have the energy to sneak into the bathroom and catch Anica taking off her clothes and putting on her pajamas.

He heard her brus.h.i.+ng her teeth, and then she came out in a flannel gown b.u.t.toned all the way up to her neck. She'd also braided her blond hair loosely and tied it with a ribbon. The getup seemed designed to discourage a man from thinking about s.e.x.

Jasper wished he could feel discouraged by her efforts to look plain, but instead he noticed how her nipples made two of the flowers on the gown stand out in 3-D. His still-active human male brain took that outfit as a challenge, not a turnoff.

He was still a cat, though, which meant that it didn't matter what his libido wanted at the moment. Would he transform again tonight? He had no way of knowing.

If he'd only get another ten minutes, though, he'd rather it didn't happen at all. Reentry was just too hard on the psyche. When he changed the next time he wanted it to be for good. He'd pinned all his hopes on the witch and wizard from Big k.n.o.b. Surely they could pull that off.

He dreamed, as he had ever since his transformation, that he was a man again. His past dreams had involved his condo, the office, and his normal routine. But tonight his dream had to do with s.e.x.

No wonder-he'd gone several weeks without any. Quite naturally the dream centered on a certain blonde, one who owned a s.e.xy red dress and knew how to dance a mean salsa. His erection throbbed as he dreamed that he'd peeled off that dress and lifted her onto a bed that was sort of like his at home except with antique posts like Anica's double bed.

Eagerly he climbed into bed with her and moved between her thighs. When he caressed her he discovered how wet she was, how ready for him. Thrusting deep, he felt the immense satisfaction of that ultimate connection.

They writhed together, hot and slick with sweat, both yearning for a mind-blowing climax. He moaned and called out her name.

”Jasper?”

The dream drifted away and he kept his eyes closed, wanting to sink back into the dream, back into Anica's lush body. If he opened his eyes he would see her bedroom through the eyes of a cat, which meant he could see extremely well, but it also meant he was still a cat. He didn't want to know that right now.

A warm hand touched his shoulder and shook him gently. Anica's voice hummed with excitement. ”Jasper, wake up. You transformed again!”

His eyes flew open, and instead of his cat night vision, he saw the room as shadowy and indistinct. Human sight! He also had the granddaddy of all erections going on, a holdover from the dream. Grabbing a corner of the quilt he covered his woody as he gingerly pushed himself to a sitting position.

Then he looked at the clock. Eleven thirty. He was a man again but he didn't know how long that would last. He didn't know how long his erection would last, and that was a more immediate problem.

Waking up in the same bed with the woman he'd been having dream s.e.x with wasn't helping. He could smell her, almost taste her. She'd moved her hand and was no longer touching him, but his skin remembered how warm she'd felt. He wanted her to touch him again. He wanted her touching him all over, but he had a specific spot that really demanded attention.

”Should I turn on the light?”

”Not . . .” Using his voice felt weird. He cleared his throat. ”Not yet.” He had to think, decide what to do next, but all his blood had drained south.

”I could get your clothes, leave them on the bed and go out into the living room while you get dressed.”

<script>