Elusive Magic (Book 9, of the Ink Series)

Hello

As far as the eyes can see, there are bustling tourists and teenagers as I help Slade get the luggage out of our rental. A lot has changed in Cherry since we were here.

I drop my suitcase at my feet and go back to the first time I ever saw this place. I was so naive. I couldn't even imagine ever being that way again.

The salty air slips around me, settling into my skin and ruffling my hair. I yank the handle on the suitcase and start walking up the sidewalk to our air b n b. Slade made sure to rent the most expensive and iron-clad home in the area.

He is funny about his privacy now that his band has gone international. Everyone knows who he is and who we are, and I think it makes him and me a little uneasy. You never know what a crazed fan could do to you. And we have a family to protect.

"I told you to relax. Why are you carrying the suitcase?" Slade gripes following behind the kids up the porch steps. "Why must you always be so difficult ?"

"Sometimes I want to feel useful. What can I say?" I shrug and use the key card on the doors. "I swear if there is a bidet in every bathroom, I will spray you in the eye with each one."

Slade grins. "Come on, kiddos, leave your mom outside. She needs to look for her good mood. I think she lost it on the way here."

I find this ridiculous, and usually, I would laugh at his lame sarcasm but not this time. What exactly is one supposed to act like when they return home to say goodbye to their Grandmother for a second time? None of it makes sense.

We get unpacked, and Slade orders Chinese food for dinner. It's pretty much everyone's favorite. And after eating and a little walk outside on the beach, we get the kids to bed, and the house is quiet.

I'm standing in the middle of our kitchen, lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" He's in the doorway, in sweats and no shirt—and shit, it still never gets old. The way he smiles at me when he sees me. Just knowing he loves me—like really fucking loves me. It's enough to make all the bad shit go to the back of my mind for the moment. And that's enough for now.

"Nona."

"What about her?" He gives me the space he knows I need and stays in the doorway. "Are you thinking about all the times she nearly burnt the house down with those little cigarettes?"

I grin at the thought of her and her cigarettes. And then I'm just as fast sad. There will be no more of those near-death experiences.

"Do you know that someone told me the other day that I should look on the bright side about her dying?" I walk over to him and wrap my arms around him. I rest my head against his warm skin. Breathe in his scent. He smells like all my favorite things.

"That's what people do when trying to make you feel better." He kisses the top of my head. "But no, you didn't tell me anything. We've hardly talked about Nona."

"This lady, she said she's up there with the baby. And taking care of him now." I scoff because it's just stupid to me. "Am I supposed to feel better knowing two people that meant the most to me are together and dead?"

"Eh, I guess." Slade doesn't understand either. Or maybe he is just trying to make me feel better by lying.

"I would have never left her with my kids unattended for more than an hour. So that doesn't make me feel better."

He chuckles, smoothing my hair. "Not to mention house fires."

I laugh and look at him. "You really are the best human I know."

"Thank you."

"Being here makes me think about the first time we met. And all the stories about you. If I had listened to this town, we wouldn't have everything we do now." I kiss him long and slow to get my point across that he matters so much to me.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me. You and the kids. Nothing will ever change that." He guides me toward the living area. We take it in. It's so much more than we needed. It's obnoxious, and we both sigh.

"You really went too far with this fame, honey. This place looks like it should be in an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians."

Slade grins. "Says the girl who has Kim's number in her phone."

"Well, she is a fucking cool chick," I can't deny my girl crush on such a wonderful human being.

Slade scratches his head. "We should go to bed. I promised the kids we would go see Henry Park tomorrow."

I raise an eyebrow. The idea of setting foot there it's just hard to even handle. So much bad came out of that place because of this town. Not to mention the magic.

"I promise you it will be fine." He turns and dims the lights in case Gemma wakes up in the middle of the night like she usually does. "They just want to see where Dad came from."

"I suppose." I take his awaiting hand and follow him up the steps. "Are we going to have sex?" I squeeze his ass on the way up. It's hard to keep my hands off of him.

"I'm always down for sexy time," he says with a grin. "As long as Ryker doesn't interrupt." We stop at the door to Ryker's room, and both smile at the sight of him sleeping soundly for once. Usually, he tries to climb in bed with us.

"You used to come faster," I tell him, I walk into our room and push the button on the curtains, and they start to close. "I'm beginning to wonder if you need a little blue pill or something." I laugh and cover my mouth, so I don't wake up the kids.

Slade picks up a pillow from the bed and chucks it at my head. "Are you trying to be funny right now?"

"I'm just saying, maybe my dick riding skills aren't what they used to be. Maybe I should take one of those fancy Hollywood sex classes."

Slade shakes his head and takes his sweats off. I miss seeing his dick the moment his pants aren't on. But now that he is a dad, I see boxers. "I wish I could get you to ride me more. I hardly hit the gym anymore because I do most of the work when we fuck."

Now I am picking up the pillow and throwing it at his head. "You know my back hurts a lot. I'm not an acrobat anymore."

"Babe," he dodges another pillow. "I promise you I love every move you throw down on this dick."

I let him scoop me up and carry me over to the bed. He lays me down, and I stare up at him. I touch his face, my fingers moving to his lip ring. He kisses my fingertips and sets my heart into chaos.

I love this man so much. So fucking much.