Magical Midlife Love (Leveling Up #4) - K.F. Breene Page 0,38

when someone suggested a change in plan, but would push for all she was worth if she knew her plan was better. He respected that. He respected her.

Which was why he’d unwittingly grown close to her over the past half-year. She’d slipped under his defenses and wound herself through his very person, touching heart and soul. He’d tried to put distance between them to cool things off, but the damage had been done, something that had become incredibly apparent last night when he’d lost himself to blind rage. Hearing that clown speak about her like that…

Rage kindled down deep, barely controlled, threatening to rise.

Mine.

“You okay?” she asked.

She’d pulled him out of it last night. She hadn’t goaded him on like his ex, Destiny, would’ve done. She hadn’t watched it happen in horror, either, too scared to intervene. She hadn’t even forced his hand, which she could’ve. She’d kept her composure, cleared the room, and brought him out of the darkness. She’d known exactly how to handle it, and she’d even helped him deal with the fallout.

The situation last night had left little doubt of what he had to do next. But he didn’t trust himself. Not when he’d made such poor decisions in the past. He needed a second opinion. He needed to know if it was safe to continue down this road, or if he was putting Jess and everyone in this territory at risk.

There were few things in the world he dreaded more than asking his brother to help him with that. But Kingsley was the person best poised to help.

“I’m good,” Austin said. “Let me know what time you want to train with the mage. I’m curious to see what he can do.”

“I’ll text you.”

“And I’ll let you know about my brother. Depending on his answer and his schedule, you’ll have a better idea for that RSVP.”

She bobbed her head, her eyes tightening again. Nervousness flared through the link. She was probably wondering if he’d mention last night.

His answering hunger made her gasp.

He about-faced and walked away. Safer to keep those things at a distance until Kingsley arrived. He had always been the logical one, preferring to think things through rather than rushing in headfirst.

Of course, it remained to be seen whether he would come at all, given the way Austin had left.

Eleven

“Okay, ready?” I asked Austin, who stood across the clearing in the woods behind Ivy House with a knife in hand.

My son, tired from touring the town and surrounding nature on foot, had been content to play his video games for a while, so I’d snuck away to train. I wasn’t ready for him to see me bumbling around with magic. It would strip my new “rad mom” tag right off.

“Go for it.” Austin flared his arms from his sides a little, ready for my pounding.

“Now, Jessie, remember what the book said.” Edgar hunched over the large volume of the second training book, tracing the lines he’d recently translated. The spells in this book were much easier for him to read than the ones in the first volume. “It’s a spell meant to disarm. Too much power and you’ll literally rip an arm off. We’re starting to get into the big leagues now.”

“She’ll have this one just fine,” Niamh said, standing to the side with Jasper and Ulric. Mr. Tom stood behind Edgar, peering over his shoulder. “She has no problem following directions. It’s when she tries to change the spells that everything goes tits up.”

“Yes, thank you for that lesson on what we already know,” Mr. Tom said.

“If he knew it, why’d he say that?” she snapped.

I flexed my fingers, chancing a glance at Sebastian, who sat to my left on a log, placidly watching us. He’d suggested that I train as usual—he wanted to gauge where I was, magically speaking, before he gave any suggestions.

“You sure you’re ready?” I asked Austin, licking my lips. I hated this part. He was my human guinea pig, and most of the spells I tried out caused him pain or discomfort.

He nodded, and nothing but expectation and support swirled through the link.

Why did the connection feel so completely different now than it had last night? It had almost felt like his actual hands were cupping my breasts, and his slow thrusting—

“Where did yer mind go?” Niamh shouted, bracing her hands on her hips. “This isn’t the time to think dirty thoughts, girl. Keep yer head in the game!”

My face flared with heat and lust blasted through the