The Sorceress Screams Read Online Free PDF

I shook my head even
though he wouldn’t see it. “You don’t get to ask that.”
    Desmond gave
one of his irritated puffs. “Just remember one thing, Ms. Walsh.”
    I held my
breath while contemplating all of the delicious things Desmond might want me to
remember. Perhaps the zing of heat that had passed up my arm when he’d pulled
my hand close to his warm breath. Maybe his look of arousal in the middle of
the arboretum moments after he’d made me take off my panties to prove I wasn’t
using weaves.
    “He murdered
his last lover,” he said, dashing the memories.
    “So very chivalrous of you to remind me of that, Marino.” I smashed my thumb down on the disconnect button before he could
respond.
    Not that he
would have. Desmond didn’t care who he had to throw in front of the bus so long
as it stopped before it reached him.

Chapter Four
     
    I paced the
lower floor of the shop at ten ’til nine on Saturday night, dreading what was
to come. Desmond’s words echoed in my mind with each stride. We all have to do distasteful things
occasionally to further our ends. So much in my life fell under that
umbrella, and yet it wasn’t my ends I
furthered. It was the gods’ ends.
    And so I’d
dressed with manipulation in mind—in a mini skirt, complete with lacy petticoat
and striped thigh highs. Even though my hosiery hadn’t slipped once, I still
fidgeted with the bows. They would probably fall off before the clock struck
nine if I wasn’t careful.
    I’d sent Nell
home at eight because it had been a slow night and she’d said she had to get
ready for an event her mother was making her attend. The truth was I hadn’t
wanted her to be at the store when Maximo arrived. More importantly, I hadn’t
wanted her to see the clothing I’d brought from home. Glancing down for the
umpteenth time, I made sure my ebony shadow-striped corset covered everything
important.
    A Cadillac
Escalade pulled into the Sedona lot. Maximo drew himself out of the driver’s
seat with careless grace. He was clad in form-clinging black jeans shoved into
a pair of black leather motorcycle boots. A black knit T-shirt hugged his trim
waist beneath the black and silver plaid patterned vest that swung open when he
twisted around. He reached up, wiping a speck of something
I hoped wasn’t blood from beneath his lower lip. Fingerless driving gloves
coated all but the ends of his fingers. Muscles bunched in a scintillating
fashion beneath the olive-sienna skin as he moved.
    The vampire
looked like a rock star as he sauntered across the lot with the wind ruffling
his carefully styled, seemingly unruly locks. A sly smile formed on his lips as
he pushed through the front door, eyes locking on me.
    “I like the
courtesan look,” he said in a sensually low voice. His gaze skimmed from my
hair right on down to my lace-up, two-inch heeled boots. “It makes me want to
learn your price.”
    I glanced at
his pinky, in search of the ring. His finger curled. I drew my attention up,
finding him watching in amusement.
    “Your
assistant is missing,” he said. “I suppose we’ll have to wait the seven minutes
until nine.” He settled back against the windows and set his hands in front of
his pelvis in what might have been a relaxed pose.
    I had to admit
I was a little breathless. It was the second time I’d seen him in casual
clothing. And just like his ability to make simple suits look extraordinary, he
rocked the casual clothing better than any superstar.
    “How was your
week?” What had made me ask that? Probably the uncomfortable
silence that had descended.
    “It may prove
to be the best week of my life.” A wicked grin formed on his handsome face.
    Was that
because he’d had something to do with the coalition’s leadership change? Or
that he had a ring on his pinky capable of accessing every school of magic?
    He ought to be
having a horrible week. His
girlfriend was dead!
    I turned my
back on him. The rolling cart behind the display case would