Xanthe was terrified. She'd barely managed to get away from the Central Coven's guards and now here she was. . . in this hot tub. . . with this naked stranger.
The best she could do at this point was to run for her life.
Xanthe swiveled, splashing water here and there as she began to waddle out of the tub,
But she wasn't fast enough. . .
In an instant, a hand shot out, gripping her arm. Before she knew it, the nude stranger twirled her around to face him again, holding her too close for comfort.
"Were you trying to escape?" He grounded out aggressively. "You're not leaving until you tell me who you are?" He paused. "How exactly did you get past security?!"
Xanthe remained silent. She wished she knew what he was talking about, but she was just as confused by her current situation. . . and by his identity.
She took a closer look at him. From his wet, tousled dark hair to his glaring grey eyes and down to his bare chest.
Hold up, she thought. There was something strange about this stranger.
Was he. . .
She gasped inwardly, her eyes darting up to his face and back at his chest.
. . .A MAN?!
Her hands moved before her brain stopped them. She cupped each one of his muscled breasts, fondling them to be certain they were nothing like hers.
And they, in fact, weren't.
He was indeed A MAN.
The stranger slapped her hands off his chest, his eyes flaring. "Why the hell are you touching me?!"
When she winced in pain, he hesitated for a moment before yelling again. "Are you going to tell me what you're doing in my house? Or should I call the cops?"
Before Xanthe could figure out an answer to his question—even though she wasn't quite sure what "the cops" meant—something in the water glided over her body.
"AHHHHH!" Xanthe screeched for the second time that day, kicking her legs frantically. "What was that?! What just touched me?! Is that a snake? Is there a snake in the water?"
She tried to peek into the water, but it was difficult to see through all that steam and herbal leaves.
Anxiety gripped her as she began to scream even louder. "I hate snakes. Get it away from me! Get it away!"
The stranger yelped in pain as he struggled to restrain her. "Stop kicking, you stupid fool!" He yelled. "That's not a snake! That's my dick—"
Suddenly, the sound of an opening door was heard not too far and a woman appeared in the doorway, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other.
"Hi, honey, look what I got from your cellar," she singsonged in a high-pitched soprano. "I thought we might need some wine. . ."
She trailed off upon noticing Xanthe. Her smile disappeared as fury took over.
Her eyes veered to the stranger. "Are you fucking kidding, Lorenzo?!" She yelled at the top of her voice. "I just left you for just a few minutes and here you're already messing with another woman. Are you for real?"
HIS NAME WAS LORENZO?
Lorenzo shook his head. "Ash. . ." He said her name in the most guiltless tone. "I don't know how to explain it, but I swear, this isn't what it looks like—"
Anger spread across her face like wildfire as she flung the bottle of wine and glasses against the wall.
"Screw you, Lorenzo! SCREW YOU!"
With that, the woman stormed out, slamming the door shut behind her.
"Ash, hear me out. . ." Lorenzo called, rising to his feet without thinking. "ASHLEY!"
Xanthe wasn't sure what she should focus on—the drama unfolding or the reproductive organ of this man dangling before her.
It was quite obvious which one of them won the battle.
This was her first time seeing a real penis. Hell, this was her first time seeing a man.
Unblinking, Xanthe stared hard at his huge shaft. "Is that what I think it is?" She thought to herself. "Oh my! It looks better than in the pictures. I wonder what it feels like."
Before she could even reach for it, Lorenzo turned his attention to her.
His gaze locked on her with so much murderous rage that it was a miracle she was still breathing.
But then, he realized he was standing butt-ass naked, in front of her, like some sick exhibitionist.
"Shit!" He spat as his hands flew downwards to block his huge length from her view, but that was a futile attempt.
Totally mesmerized, Xanthe watched with rapt attention as he scurried out of the water.
The man was just as beautiful behind as he was in front.
From his broad shoulders to his lean waist, down to that gummy-candy butt of his. . .
Get a hold of yourself, Xanthe! Now is not the time to admire the opposite gender's anatomy. You need to find a way out of this place!
That was all she needed to get her act together.
And with that, she drew in a deep breath and whispered one of the most effortless spells she knew. "Invisibilis!"
~
Meanwhile, Lorenzo couldn't stop cursing as he quickly shrugged into his bathrobe. Once covered, he called for security.
Not long, about three security men in black, smart suits came surging into the bathroom. "Are you alright, Mr. Staniforth?"
"I'm NOT alright, Luke," Lorenzo snapped. "Not until you drag that woman out of my house. . . and down to the nearest police station."
A confused expression glazed over the guards' faces as they quickly scanned the room.
"What woman do you speak of, Mr. Staniforth?" One of them dared to ask.
Lorenzo frowned at them, wondering if they were insane, before turning his gaze back to the jacuzzi.
And truly, no one was there.
But. . . but. . . she was just there a moment ago, he thought. Where did she go all of a sudden?
With his eyes, he began to search for her. He noticed wet footprints leading off the tub and the closer he stared, the more obvious they became.
Suddenly, he felt an intense twitching in his eyes.
Wincing, he squeezed his eyelids shut for a moment to ease the irritation. When he finally opened his eyes again, he spotted her. . . the crazy woman. . . hunched over and trying to sneak past the security guards.
"There she is! Right behind you!" Lorenzo yelled, pointing in her direction. "Get her before she escapes."
The guards turned in the direction that he was pointing, gazing around in no particular order. The confusion on their faces told him they were still unable to see her.
Were they kidding him or something? She was just right there in FRONT OF THEM?
However, the guards didn't seem to be the only ones in shock.
The crazy woman, as well, had a surprised look on her face as she met his gaze. "You can see me?" She asked in a high-pitched voice.
"Damn well I can!" He shot back at her.
Gasping, she fluttered her lashes rapidly. "You can hear me as well. How's that even possible?"
Before he could tell her how dumb she sounded thinking she was invisible, another guard spoke in a concerned voice. "Are you sure you're alright, Mr. Staniforth? Do we need to contact your assistant?"
Apparently, she wasn't the only dumb one in the room.
At that point, Lorenzo was riled up good. All his frustration and anger were now directed at the crazy woman. . . WHO WAS GETTING AWAY!
Since his security guards were proving to be useless, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
As he hurriedly slid on his clogs and went after her, Lorenzo swore to fire every single one of his security team for even allowing that sicko into his house in the first place.
~
Outside the bathroom, Xanthe was running down the corridor as fast as her weak legs and drenched robe could let her. To make matters even worse, she had no idea where the exit was.
Anxiety began to kick in as she searched frantically for a way out, but it was no use. Lorenzo was already onto her.
He snatched her hand in a death grip and sharply swung her around. The force sent her hood sliding down her head and her lush, blonde hair flying out in all directions.
"Stop right there! You think you can just sneak away after breaking into my house?" He snarled through clenched teeth. "I hope you have your lawyer on speed dial. 'Cause you're going to jail!"
Xanthe was so terrified that she didn't notice that her invisibility spell was wearing off due to his touch.
She couldn't answer his question or slip away from his tight grip. . . and his guards were now closing in on her.
The only way she could escape this man was through an Enchantment Spell.
She'd never cast one on a man before. She was well aware of its complications. But desperate times call for desperate measures, right?
With zero hesitation, she drew closer to Lorenzo, placed her free hand on his chest, and held his eyes in a piercing gaze.
"Tuum cor exure mea venere. Submittere ad meam voluntatem."
As soon as she spoke the spell, her eyes took a brighter shade of their usual green but only for a fleeting moment. Then, she tiptoed and snatched his lips in a binding kiss.
When she removed her lips from his, she spoke in a passionate tone, almost as if she were speaking to a lover. "You will tell your guards to stand down and you will escort me out of this house."
A smug smile grew on her lips when she felt his grip loosen around her wrist. His eyes turned submissive like he was about to say the next line after an enchantment, "As you wish, my love."
But, all of a sudden, his eyes turned back to normal and blazed more furiously than before.
"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Lorenzo roared.
Xanthe gasped. Her trembling hand instantly flew to her mouth as she staggered backward.
MY. . . MY POWER. . . HAS NO EFFECT ON HIM?!