Spell Cat by Tara Lain Page 0,53
“Show-off.”
He smiled back. “Just for you, darling.”
“Okay, here’s a different kind of test.” She gathered energy in her palm—the tingle raced up her arm. “Catch.” She lobbed it to him; the swirling light ball sailed through the air.
“Whoa.” He stepped aside, and the ball dissipated. “How did you do that?”
“The same way you get to Carnegie Hall.”
“Practice?”
“Yep. Let me show you.” She stepped up beside him and put a finger on his palm. “Focus your mind here.”
“Okay.” His face got still.
“Close your eyes.” He complied. So adorable.
“Now, gather the stuff of the universe into your hand.”
The big eyes flew open. “What?”
“Shh. Close. Focus. You’re a physicist. You know the universe is made of energy. Can you feel it?”
She saw a crease appear between his eyebrows. Stillness. Then a small smile curved his pretty mouth. “I got it.”
“What’s it feel like?”
“Creepy.”
“Creepy?”
“Like tingly. And it’s getting warm.”
“Okay, good. Now just maintain—”
“Shit!” He pulled his hand away, shaking it. “Hot!”
“No problem. You just held it too long. Try again.”
He repeated the process. A small, glowing ball appeared in his hand.
She grinned. “Open your eyes slowly and see what you’ve manifested.”
“Holy shit.” His smile would have split a log, it was so huge.
She backed up a few feet. The crowded little room wouldn’t allow for much more. “Now throw it to me.”
“How?”
“Just like you would a softball. Gently, okay?”
He drew back his hand, holding the little glowing orb, and tossed it underhand toward her. She reached out and snagged it before it got by. Soft hands allowed the ball of light to float above her palm.
He clapped his hands like a happy kid. “That’s so cool.”
“Warm, actually. Good job. Come with me.” She held the light and led him into the little bathroom at the back of the apartment.
“Oooh, we could shower together.”
“You do have a one-track mind.”
“Hey, I’m at my sexual peak.” And didn’t she know it?
She held the hand with the ball of light in front of her. “Watch.” She reached in with her other hand, took the soap from the holder, and threw it onto the floor of the shower. With a flick of her fingers, she directed the ball of energy at the soap. The white bar exploded in a dozen pieces.
“Holy shit!” Jimmy danced back toward the door of the bathroom with big, wide eyes. “How did you do that? And don’t say ‘practice.’”
“Intention. All energy has the potential to combust, explode. I intended for it to explode… mildly. Hence, only twelve pieces. You try.”
He grabbed another piece of soap from the sink and tossed it onto the shower floor. That grin was infectious. “If I’m successful, I may not be clean for days.” He laughed.
She loved his humor. Now that he knew there was the chance for them to be together, he barely stopped laughing and teasing. He didn’t know what they might be up against. She watched him stare at the soap like it was a rattlesnake. Even Killian didn’t understand the threat they could all face. Her father was not to be trifled with, and this whole “misunderstanding” about the depletion by humans stank of her old man. She hadn’t told them yet, because she wanted to believe her father was innocent, but fat chance.
Jimmy took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The ball of light formed. He opened his eyes again and focused his gaze on the soap. The staring only helped with the intention. He didn’t really need it. His chest expanded as he breathed, and he threw the ball of light at the soap pretty grandly. Light scattered, but the bar of white split in two. She smiled. “Good job.”
He shrugged. “Didn’t look too impressive to me.”
“That’s where the Carnegie Hall part comes in.”
“Jeez, I can’t wait to show Sammy this trick.”
Whoa. She put a hand on his arm until he turned and looked at her. “It’s not a trick, James. And it is best if you don’t share it with Sammy. I believe, as Killian does, that you’re a particularly powerful witch. Not all witches have equal or, better to say, equivalent powers and capability. You don’t want to lord it over Sammy if his power is different from yours.”
“Hell, no, I’d never want to hurt my friend.”
“So wait until later to tell him, after we know more. Meanwhile, practice. You did well for a first attempt. I’m impressed.”
“Cool. Can we have sex now?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Oh, yes, my darling, now will be fine.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Dr. Barth, are