“That would be great, Maribella. Thank you,” Conrad said, his voice husky and deep as he watched me through glittering emerald eyes.

  He smelled good, like pine needles, grass, and fresh, clean earth. For a moment, I wondered if he’d shifted in the pine barrens while I was out there with my girls. Jaxson and Ryan sometimes did that, staying close to their mates.

  It was in a Shifter’s nature to want to be near his or her mate. Something primal and instinctual made them that way. Maybe as a witch I could not fully comprehend the primal imperative that forced such behavior. Jax and Ryan didn’t look as if they minded. In fact, both seemed to revel in their dominant, protective natures.

  But Conrad was not my mate.

  I had to keep telling myself that, despite his wanting to discuss our relationship at every given opportunity. His robust sigh after biting into one of the bars had me grinning, and pride filled me. I sure loved baking, but part of the joy came from witnessing others’ enjoyment of my creations.

  My skin still tingled, but I was feeling much better after expelling so much magic. Some of my special herbal blend would rejuvenate me even more, and I scooped a generous amount of tea into a ceramic pot while the water boiled.

  “These are fantastic. I might have said it already, but lemon is my favorite,” Conrad told me around another bite.

  “I know,” I confessed, and his grin widened.

  True, I was already aware he preferred lemon flavored goodies. Lately, I’d been making everything from Lemon Drop Demon Repellant cookies to Poppyseed Purifying Lemon Popovers, and of course, my patented Vanilla Lemonade Lucky Day Maker cupcakes—very popular with the boys over at the Home for Aging Warlocks off Mulberry Street.

  Yeppers.

  Lemon featured heavily on The Tasty Tart’s menu this month, but it went with the season. This was a special time. Spring was slowly turning into summer. Warmer temperatures, longer days, hotter nights. That meant bright, vibrant flavors were in vogue.

  It had nothing to do with the persistent Python sitting at my kitchen counter, quietly munching on my goodies. Truthfully, he wasn’t that quiet. Conrad’s throat rumbled pleasantly with every swallow. A dollop of lemony goodness plopped on his pinky, and he frowned, catching my eye.

  I watched the sexy Shifter lick it off with that long, talented tongue I remembered so well. Holy cow. Had it really been weeks since we last danced the horizontal mambo?

  My girly bits started to tingle as he graced me with another wicked, hot look. Made me wish he was doing something else with that deliciously long appendage of his.

  Did I mention snake Shifters could change their tongues from whole to forked at will?

  Sexy, yummy, tempting man. Yes, please.

  CHAPTER 7

  Ahem, anyway, yes, they could. I’d witnessed it myself, and the resulting escapades were positively sinful.

  Fine. I miss him.

  My body certainly did. I was witch enough to admit it. Just not out loud yet.

  “What’s rattling around that pretty head of yours, sweetheart? You are positively permeating pheromones,” Conrad murmured with a deep, lusty inhale.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I quipped.

  “Damn straight, I would,” he growled, suddenly standing right behind me.

  His glorious arousal pressed against my back, and I trembled, remembering how good he felt buried deep inside me. I was fond of sex. It was fun and, when done right, was worth repeating.

  Conrad did it right.

  Shaddyap! I snapped at my inner voice. What could I say though? I was a total slut for the man.

  His lips brushed the space below my ear, and I couldn’t think anymore. Heck, I couldn’t do anything anymore except moan softly in response.

  He had a way with kisses. His tongue snaked out of his mouth, licking my lobe. He bit the soft flesh there, releasing it quickly and spinning me around to face him.

  “I want to know everything about you, sweet witch.”

  “I’m a Virgo and eating is my love language,” I replied immediately.

  “Ha ha! Good to know. We have the eating thing in common, but my choice of delights is likely different,” he growl-hissed suggestively, and there went my panties.

  Sexy man wasn’t done torturing me yet. He dropped nibbling little kisses along my jaw and licked the seam of my mouth, begging entry. Once I gave it, he changed the game, teasing me some more.

  Conrad brushed his surprisingly soft lips against mine, never crushing like he usually did. He touched the tip of his tongue to my searching one, but never gave me what I wanted, what I craved.

  I chased, and he withdrew. But when I backed off, there he was, searching, engaging. Dammit. He was too good at this. He was making me mad with desire.

  “I want all of it, Maribella. Every last one of your secrets. Mine. But I can be patient. I’ll wait for you to be ready.”

  “Ready for what?” I asked dumbly.

  I was so focused on his sexy as sin mouth, so rattled by visions of what that dexterous tongue of his could do, I was hardly paying attention to what I said.

  Conrad had me in a lustful haze of need and want. Drunk on desire, that’s what I was. My body seemed to have developed a mind of its own. Like it was cognizant of what it needed despite my brain screaming danger, warning, do not enter, do not pass go.

  It knew what it wanted. And what it wanted was him. Before I could take back my silly question, Conrad had my face in his hands. His emerald eyes glittered, and excitement sizzled in my veins. Then he leaned down, claiming my mouth with his in a hard, rough kiss that damn near burned me alive.

  I could have avoided the kiss, but why bother when it was what we both wanted? Passion flared between us, my body igniting like it had been struck by lightning.

  I had always liked sex. I was a fan of orgasms and feeling a man’s body against mine. But I had never had sex the likes of which I’d shared with this man. Conrad Boman was in a class all by himself.

  Tall, lean, and muscular, with a face carved by the gods themselves, the Shifter was made for loving. But I wasn’t that shallow to think he was a walking, talking sex toy.

  There was more to him than that. Conrad was warm, caring, and kind. He had a quick wit, sincere charm, and sparkling good humor. The Shifter was simply too good to be true. And the way he kissed me—oh my Goddess—it was divine!

  The man made my toes curl. I was keenly aware of the fact nothing separated us except a couple of layers of silk and cotton. Mainly, my robe and his jeans. Both were easily expendable. I knew from experience he never wore drawers.

  Yummy man. Sexy snake.

  “Bella,” he moaned against my mouth.

  It wasn’t enough. I wanted more of him, more of this.

  “Wanna give you everything you want, sweet witch. Don’t you know how hard it is for me to stay away?”

  “Then don’t,” I replied, already unbuckling his belt.

  I couldn’t help it. All the time I’d spent avoiding him and talking myself out of this seemed to fly right out of my head. I wanted Conrad. I couldn’t deny it.

  “You’re my mate, Maribella Strega. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s true.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “A Shifter knows, believe me. My python knew the second I saw you—”

  “Wait, which python? This one?” I whispered naughtily, sliding my hand inside his pants, and giving his dong a good, long stroke.

  “Fuck. Yes. That one. But also the other one,” Conrad growled, grabbing onto my wrist.

  “I see,” I teased, licking a trail from his neck to his mouth.

  “Bella, if you don’t stop, I am going to take you right here. I am trying to be a gentleman and give you space, but I’m only human. Partly,” he amended.

  I paused a moment, hand still wrapped around his throbbing cock, and I considered what he said. My body was on fire with lust for this man, and no, that had never happened with anyone else.

  Was he right about his claim? Was I really his mate? I didn’t know. All I knew was this felt right. His kiss. His touch. The way I lit up with joy when I was with him.

  My hands on his warm skin felt way too good to ignore. Like they belonged there. Like I belonged there. It was too much, too soon, too fast. Could I trust this man with my heart?

  “I don’t want space. I want you, but I need time, okay?”

  “Time?” he asked between kisses, hissing deeply as I squeezed his shaft again.

  “Yeah, I mean, I am not ready to be your mate. But I want to be with you. Like maybe we can just see each other a while?”

  “So, you want to date me?”

  “Exactly. You know what I am saying—oh, that feels good,” I moaned as he pulled my hand away and hoisted me up in his arms, kissing my earlobe.

  I’d almost forgotten how strong he was. With my legs around his waist, and his big hands cupping my bottom, I was reminded in the best possible way.

  “First, if we are dating, it’s exclusive. Agreed?” he asked, but he was also sliding one hand up my robe, finding my nipple with unerring accuracy.

  I was extremely sensitive right there, and the bastard knew it. My eyes rolled back, and I gasped as he twirled the nubbin between his fingers, walking with me until my back was leaning on the far wall.

  Conrad tugged my robe off my shoulders, bearing me for his pleasure, and mine, I hoped. The man’s chest rattled with a deep hissing growl—a sound only he could make. It was super sexy, too.

  “Agreed?” he repeated, stopping his ministrations.

  “Yes, yes, agreed!” I yelled, desperate for him to keep touching me.

  “Second, while we are dating, I have full rein to pursue your acceptance of my claim. I plan to seduce you, Bella, but only because you are already mine.”

  “You snake! You just want to use my weakness for you against me.”

  “Damn straight,” he growled, taking my lip between his teeth, then soothing the hurt with his tongue. Fuck, I loved it when he did that.

  “I am going to love on this luscious body of yours until you have no choice but to believe me when I tell you. You. Are. Mine.”

  Before I could reply, he was kissing me again, tearing at his clothing while he did. His hot, hard length slid along my dripping lips.

  “You’re so fucking wet,” he hissed.

  Of course I was wet. He was hotter than the sun and I’d been waiting for this for weeks.

  “No more sweet talk, Con. Fuck me already,” I ordered, desperate and no longer in control of my mouth.

  With one well-aimed thrust, he sheathed himself inside my waiting sex. Holy hell, the man was big and hard. His curved abs flexed as he moved. It only took minutes, and I was already coming.

  “That’s my girl, give it all to me,” he growled, allowing me to slide down on my wobbly legs before spinning me around.

  He placed my hands on the wall for support, pulling my hips so my ass was primped and positioned just right. Then he filled me again. He was a rutting beast, whispering naughty words, even pulling on my blonde ponytail to turn my head for his kiss, while he fucked me from behind in my kitchen hall.

  Truth was, I loved it. Every minute he loved on me was something divine. I came again, and he soon followed. Wondering how I was going to make it up the stairs to my bedroom when he left, I allowed him to wipe the evidence of our romp from my thigh with a warm, wet paper towel.

  What did I do next? I was still trying to catch my breath, but I had no idea what to say or how to act.

  “Well, um, that was—”

  “Only the first round, sweetheart. I hope you had a good dinner,” he said, picking me up princess-style and catching my lips in a smoldering kiss before he carried me up the stairs.

  He was wrong about dinner. I’d only eaten half a grilled cheese earlier that evening, but after another couple of rounds in the bed this time, Conrad scrambled up some eggs and toast as a delicious midnight snack.

  I’d never had such an amazing time with a man, boyfriend or not. Then it hit me. He was my boyfriend.

  Mate.

  No. Not my mate. Not yet, and that was my choice. Conrad was special. Even if he only stayed a little while, I would not regret what we’d shared. Fear and reservations tried to worm their way inside my mind, but I pushed them back.

  It was true. I did not know how long this would last, but I was determined to enjoy my time with him.

  Every. Last. Second.

  CHAPTER 8

  I was fast asleep on something hard and warm when my phone started ringing. I opened one eye, daring to sneak a peek at whatever this was—not my pink Egyptian cotton sheets with the huge thread count.

  Ermagerd.

  It was him. Conrad Boman. Dude was bagged and tagged and resting peacefully in my bed with his entire body wrapped around mine like the huge python he could shift into.

  Somehow, he was not only serving as my full body pillow, but he also had his legs entwined with mine and his arms wrapped around me in a way that should not be humanly possible.

  I flipping loved it.

  So did certain parts of my anatomy if that warm, tingly feeling meant anything. The phone rang again, but Conrad slept through it. Whoever it was on the other line, they were persistent as hell. Wiggling my booty, I slid across the big, sexy beastie and grabbed the receiver.

  “Hello?”

  “My witchy, you must come. There was small fire—”

  “Petyr! Oh no!”

  I sat up, my chest tight at the thought of another attack. Blasted arsonist jerk wad. Why was this mystery person so intent on messing with me?

  “Hey, give me the phone, love,” Conrad murmured, taking it from my stiff hands. “Petyr? Yes, it’s me. The boys are on their way. Is anyone hurt? Good. Got it. Yep, I have her.”

  Those last three words jerked me from my stunned reverie, and I looked down into his face. He did have me, didn’t he? It was too late. My efforts to stop myself from falling for the sexy Shifter were all for naught.

  He’d already made such a place for himself in my heart, and my day to day. Before my panic grew anymore, I vaulted off the bed, tangling my legs in the sheets and falling to the floor. Conrad slid down and joined me, his face full of sympathy. He brushed my hair back with his fingers and cupped my cheeks.

  “Don’t borrow trouble, Bella. We will figure everything out. Right now, put on some clothes, and we will go to the bakery together. I’ve already called the boys. The fire was set in the dumpster this time. Whoever it was, they couldn’t get past your security system,” he told me.

  Then he stood, gloriously naked, and the word megladong flashed across my brain as his semi-stiff trouser snake seemed to grow under my gaze.

  “Bella,” he growl-hissed, and I shook my head.

  “Right. Let’s get dressed,” I mumbled, and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

  “Right, we should hurry,” Conrad said, using my spare toothbrush in the sink beside mine.

  My house had one of those his/hers vanities and I adored it. Of course, I’d used it for my excess hair care products, but maybe I could make a little room since I was warming up to the idea of having him around more.

  Please, pretty please with cannoli cream on top, do not break my heart.

  “I don’t think the Goddess will mind,” I said aloud and used my magic to clean and dress us both.

  “Thanks, sweet witch,” Conrad grinned at himself in the mirror.

  He was now wearing his jeans and black t-shirt, but both were freshly laundered. His skin and hair shined like they’d just been washed, and even his boots looked polished.

  “You look scrumptious,” he told me, stealing a kiss before lifting me over his shoulder and carting me off to his truck.

  I dressed myself in a pair of practical black capri pants and a three-quarter sleeve cotton pink shirt, along with my favorite pink Crocs I always wore to work. My blond locks were in a ponytail, and I had minimal makeup on.

  We arrived after the firetruck and pulled in behind the Sheriff’s car. Jaxson was interrogating Petyr, and I noticed Gryn and Ivan were there as well. Not just them. Conrad held the door open for me, and I blinked, not realizing he’d moved.

  “Bella?”

  “Thank the Goddess you’re alright!”

  Suddenly, Donny and Evie were right there. Both my besties were embracing me like I hadn’t left them after the bonfire just hours ago.

  “Yes, I’m fine. What are you two doing here?”

  Truth was, I’d been feeling kind of glum about our friendship. Ever since we’d discovered Grandpa Al was all of our grandfather, I’d been trying to make peace with my place in things.

  “Of course we are here! We’ve been trying to get you to open up for weeks, Bella,” Evie mock scolded.

  Her big eyes glimmered with unshed tears, and I found myself teetering towards the edge of weeping. One sniffle from Donny and I’d be done for.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “She’s right, you know. We have been worried, Bella cakes,” Donny said, using the old nickname she had for me during our schoolgirl days as she twirled my ponytail around her finger.

  “About what, though? I’m fine—”

  “Fine? This is the fourth time someone has attacked your store, and I had to hear that from Jax, Bella! What the hey?”

  “No, I told you guys—”

  I paused and thought for a minute. I definitely may have mentioned it once or twice, but they were right. I’d been playing my cards close.

  “I’ll be back, sweetheart,” Conrad said, rubbing my shoulder and brushing a kiss across my cheek.

  He nodded at the girls, then walked over to Jax and Ryan. The bear was gulping down a bottle of water. He had soot on his nose, and I noticed the stink of burned garbage. It was probably ten times worse for the guys. They were Shifters, after all.

  “Oh, wow, that stinks,” I murmured.

  “I’m on it,” Donny said, giving me one last squeeze before she walked towards the mess to weave a little magic.

 

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