That night at dinner it seemed like the entire table watched Phoenix and Zeta closely as they talked and laughed amongst themselves. Augusto looked around at his family and smiled. “Phoenix will be returning to London tomorrow for a few days, but plans to return to spend more time with Zeta, after that Zeta will be going to London for a while to spend time with him.” Maxwell smiled “She’s welcome to stay with us.” Erica was quick to jump in, “As long as she and Phoenix are chaperoned and he courts her properly.” Zeta rolled her eyes “Thank you Maxwell, but I’ve decided to stay in the apartment above the coffee house, it’s empty and will give me the privacy I need.” Maxwell looked to his father “You can’t actually be thinking of okaying this, she’s only eighteen what will it look like?” Zeta groaned “Who cares Maxwell?” Brice sighed “We do Zeta you’re a single young woman, you should be staying with your brothers.” Zeta laughed “Well I’ve made up my mind and I’m staying by myself so you all might as well get over it.” Turning to her father she smiled “Papa I spend ninety percent of my time alone, hell I live alone in a cottage and it has never bothered anyone before.” Kent groaned “It’s different in London Zeta, not to mention out here we don’t have to worry about anyone staying with you and not being chaperoned.” Phoenix laughed “Anyone like me you mean?” All five of her brothers and their wives nodded at once Augusto laughed “Zeta honey I don’t mind if you stay in the apartment, I trust you to know what’s best for yourself.” Brice groaned “You have it, backward dad, it’s you who has to decide what’s best for her.” Augusto frowned “Brice you worry about your daughter and let me worry about mine, understood?” Kent smiled at Zeta from across the table “I’m fine with it as long as Zeta and Phoenix have a chaperone. The town talks enough about you two we don’t need to give them any more material to gossip about.” Webster spoke up “We have a boy that works for us named Joey, I’ll make sure he stays with them at all times.” Gabriella turned to Zeta and smiled “Are you and Phoenix planning on going to the Wilcox annual Ball?” Zeta shrugged “Don’t know I guess we will figure it out when we get there.” Allison laughed “That will be comical the Warlock and his Witch at a ball, I can just see it now.” Phoenix laughed “It should prove amusing since I have been asked to attend by a dozen women and have denied them all only now to show up with Zeta who just so happens to be the prettiest woman in London.” Allison stuck her nose up into the air “Who says she’s the prettiest woman in London?” Phoenix frowned “I do, will you and Caleb be attending?” Allison glared “Yes of course, why do you ask?” Phoenix smiled “I’d suggest you borrow that pearl gown you got Zeta for her birthday but I doubt it would fit you, Zeta being so small and you being such a big girl and all.” Everyone laughed except for Allison “How rude, I’ve only gained a little weight.” Zeta smiled “A little in every direction maybe, I’ll tell you what Allison you stop teasing me and I’ll stop teasing you.” After dinner, Zeta returned to her cottage while Phoenix met with the other men to talk over brandy. Each of Zeta’s brothers was ready with questions. Caleb stared at Phoenix from across the room. “Let me be frank, have you taken my sister's innocence?” The room went silent Phoenix laughed “No Caleb I have not, we have just met.” A sigh of relief went over them all; Brice stood at his father’s side “Are you in love with her?” Phoenix frowned “I’ve never been in love before, I definitely care about her, I can’t imagine being without her, just the thought gives me a sick feeling. I’ve never met a woman like her we have a lot in common and I enjoy spending time with her which is a first for me. I figure a few more weeks with her and I’ll know for sure.” Augusto smiled “Good answer.” Webster watched his son with a smile “I’ve never seen you so happy, she’s your match son your mother would be thrilled.” Standing Phoenix walked to the door “Good night I’ll see you all tomorrow.” As soon as Phoenix left, he headed to Zeta’s cottage anxious to see her, when he arrived it was lit up with candlelight with a fire blazing. When Phoenix knocked Zeta ran to the door to open it “I was hoping you would stop by.” Phoenix first looked behind him to make sure he hadn’t been followed then stepped in picking her up as he kissed her passionately kicking the door shut behind him. “Damn you feel good in my arms.” Zeta smiled as he sat her down taking her mouth in a hungry kiss taking her breath away. “I’ve been waiting, I hate to see you go, but at least when you return we will have the entire estate to ourselves for a few days.” Phoenix followed her into her bedroom, Zeta frowned “Too bad we have to be chaperoned when I visit you in London.” Phoenix shrugged “Not at night we don’t, behind closed doors, it will just be you and me.” Zeta giggled “I like the sound of that.” Phoenix laughed “I thought you would.” Zeta cleaned off her bed “Does that mean you’ll stay with me tonight?” Phoenix gave her a sly smile as he rushed her picking her up he threw her onto the bed then jumped down next to her. “I can’t make love to you sweetheart but that doesn’t mean we can’t tease each other for a while.” Zeta smiled seductively as Phoenix leaned over and took her mouth in a hot and passionate kiss breaking apart he stared down into her eyes. “What I wouldn’t give to have you lying naked beneath me right now.” Zeta smiled as she slowly unlaced her corset watching Phoenix as his eyes widened with interest and awe. Leaning down he placed hot kisses across her neck and chest, pulling down her chemise until the tips of her rose-colored nipples peeked out. With a deep growl, he suckled them making them hard with arousal as Zeta whimpered in delight his large hands caressed them as she moved beneath him wanting more. “Damn honey you’re perfect, I need you.” Zeta smiled in delight as his manhood pressed into her thigh proving his ever-growing need for her. Reaching down he grabbed a hold of the material of her dress pulling it up until his hand touched her bare naked legs. Rubbing his hands up her thighs, Zeta’s breath grew ragged as his hand ventured closer to her pleasure core. Both panting with desire as he was about to touch the red-hot heat between her legs. Phoenix abruptly stopped pulling away “By the Gods woman I want you so bad.” Zeta tried to catch her breath “Then take me Phoenix I want you too.” Phoenix sat up and ran his hands over his face “My mind is saying stop by my body is saying go, go, go.” Zeta smiled as she watched him sit up “Where are you going?” Phoenix stood to leave “I need some air.” Zeta sighed as she adjusted her clothes “I’ve never felt so much desire before, it’s like my body is calling out your name.” Phoenix smiled “Trust me, honey, I want to answer, I mean look at me, look what you do to me, I’m as hard as a rock and my blood's on fire.” Zeta smiled “I can’t wait for you to take me.” Phoenix groaned “I can’t wait to take you, but not today honey, not now.” Zeta joined Phoenix outside looking up at the stars she smiled. “How long will you be gone?” Phoenix shrugged “A week at the most, will you miss me?” Zeta sighed as she leaned into his embrace “I know I will, I just hope you don’t forget me altogether.” Phoenix laughed “As if that’s even possible, will you be there to see me off tomorrow?” Zeta smiled up at him “Definitely, will you kiss me again before you head back to the house?” Phoenix laughed as he picked her up into his arms and kissed her, “Not only will I kiss you goodnight I’ll dream of you as well honey.” Zeta could hardly sleep a wink just the thought of a week without Phoenix seemed like a month and it hadn’t even started yet. At sunrise, she headed to the main house eager to see Phoenix but reluctant to see him go. Her brothers and their families had also started heading home but Zeta could care less, meeting Phoenix by Zeus in the stables she tried not to act like a little girl with a crush instead she waited until they were alone and gave him a seductive smile “Now don’t go forgetting me, and come back and see me soon.” Phoenix could tell she was trying to hold onto her emotions he himself was trying to do the same. “There is nothing harder than having to walk away from you and trust me when I say you’ll constantly be in my thoughts.” Leaning in he kissed her passionately wanting to take her with him but knowing he couldn’t. Zeta stood and watched as he rode away when he hit the tree line he turned and smiled back at her pausing a moment before riding away. Phoenix had only been back in London two days when Mariel Donovan approached him at The Hannity Social Club, she wore a light peach lace dress with matching gloves and a fancy straw hat with peach-colored flowers. Her red hair was down and curly, her cheeks smudged with rouge. “Phoenix Prescott it has been so long.” Phoenix stood giving her a proper greeting “Miss Donovan, it’s a pleasure to see you, are you here with your family?” Mariel smiled sweetly “Oh no I’m here with some lady friends of mine when I saw you I just knew I had to come over and say hello.” Looking at the empty seat across from him she smiled innocently “Would you like some company?” Phoenix’s thoughts went straight to Zeta but he smiled politely and offered her the seat then sat across from her, looking around he found the entire club watching with interest. Mariel removed her gloves and smiled “Will you be attending the Wilcox Ball?” Phoenix smiled politely “Yes, I’ll be attending it with Miss Zeta Steel.” Mariel grimaced “That little witch, the weird one, why in God’s name would you do that. Did you lose a bet?” Phoenix frowned “Excuse me but I will not allow you to talk about Zeta like that she is not a witch and I’m the one who asked her.” Mariel puffed up her chest “I just don’t see what you see in her.” Phoenix was getting angrier by the minute. “Zeta is smart, talented, funny and one of the most irresistible women I’ve ever met in fact, I’m courting her so if you’ll excuse me.” Phoenix stood to leave tossing money down on the table to pay his bill. “Miss Donovan good day.” Turning he walked away leaving her shocked and very much offended. Phoenix planned to return to Zeta at the end of the week and couldn’t wait to see her again; she was all he could think about. It had been almost a week since Phoenix had left and Zeta missed him terribly, her father had left for Bristol and wasn’t due back for a week, receiving the paper Zeta sat out by the creek and read it while Apollo and Artemis played in the water. Getting to the gossip pages she froze, “Our own eccentric Phoenix Prescott was seen entertaining Mariel Donovan at the Hannity Social Club. Sources say the couple looked rather friendly before Prescott stood abruptly leaving Miss Donovan in what looked like a stupor.” Zeta frowned unsure what to think but dying to find out. After packing a small bag and putting her dagger in her waistband she went to the stables to get Hermes dead set on finding out what exactly was going on. Apollo and Artemis followed along catching the eye of everyone they passed by along the way. Reaching London Zeta headed to the Sword and Shield a tavern she knew Phoenix liked to frequent. Arriving early in the evening she found a booth in the back, shielded by shadows she ordered a pitcher of ale while Apollo and Artemis lay at her feet under the table. She figured Phoenix frequented the bar so at some point she would probably see him, the barmaid Penny was nice and didn’t ask questions and since she was sitting in the shadows she didn’t get hassled all that much and when she did Apollo and Artemis dealt with them quickly. By six o’clock and her second pitcher Phoenix walked in and sat with two men, Zeta couldn’t help but smile when she saw him, the local whores were working the room and Phoenix’s friends seemed more than willing to accept their attention but Phoenix wanted nothing to do with any of them. About to show herself Caleb walked into the tavern mad as hell when he saw Phoenix he approached him holding the paper. “What the hell is this?” Phoenix stood to face him “Just wait for a second Caleb, she sat at my table and asked me to the Ball I said no and told her that I was going with Zeta, she called Zeta a bunch of names so I told her off and walked away.” Caleb’s face changed “Oh it says you were friendly.” Phoenix shrugged “She a lady Caleb what was I supposed to do, I was just being polite but after she started talking badly about Zeta I wasn’t polite anymore.” Caleb was so relieved he hugged Phoenix “I just hope Zeta didn’t read this.”