Darcy’s heartbeat felt like it might never slow down again. She’d never been into risk taking, but the thrill of doing something like that in public sang through her blood. As if the thrill of being with Adrian wasn’t enough already. The coven insisted shifters were barely more than beasts, but he could be as gentle as he was forceful. He’d kept his hands between her and the tree trunk, and she knew he’d wanted to bite her again, but he hadn’t.
She leaned her cheek against his shoulder as they walked. He felt so good. Smelled so good. Goddess, she’d wanted to bite him back there. To put her mark on him and let the entire world know that he was hers and she was his and nothing could change that. But she couldn’t do that without becoming a shifter, and she’d worked too hard to become a witch to give up now.
They reached the apothecary shop just as Hazel, the owner, was flipping the sign on the front door to OPEN. The single story log cabin looked as if it had been here since the Gold Rush, but was well-maintained, with marigolds in the flower boxes at the tiny windows and wildflowers growing from the sod-covered roof.
Hazel smiled and pushed open the door when she spotted Darcy. “Good morning, Darcy. You’re out early.”
“M-morning, Hazel.” Darcy felt her voice shrinking, even though Hazel had never been anything but kind to her. “I need p-pearl dust, please.”
“Of course.” Hazel gave Adrian a curious glance but didn’t linger, heading into the store.
Earthy, herb-scented air rushed over Darcy as she led Adrian inside, moving past shelves overflowing with books, glass jars, teacups and teapots, mortars and pestles. A few exquisitely woven grass baskets sat next to a pair of hand-sewn mukluks in a case that also held semi-precious crystals and jewelry made by a local artist.
Adrian paced slightly behind her, cautiously looking at everything they passed. She squeezed his hand in assurance. “This’ll only t-take a sec.”
The back corner of the store held a huge cabinet with shelves and drawers, the area sectioned off by a wooden workbench and some thick rope. From the rope hung a piece of paper that said, Please Ask For Assistance. Hazel stepped over the rope and opened one of the cabinet doors, pulling down a scale and a glass jar.
A scrawny husky mix with one blue eye and one hazel eye poked its head around the counter. Darcy held out her hand to the dog. “Hi, J-jake.” Jake was Hazel’s familiar, but he’d always seemed like a plain old friendly dog to Darcy. He even liked belly scratches and the occasional liver treat. Suddenly, his tail went down and his ears laid back. He barked once, sharply.
Hazel’s smile tightened as her gaze moved from her dog to Adrian and Darcy’s clasped hands then up to Adrian’s face. “Shifter, huh? I don’t see many of you in here.” She measured pearl dust into a small brown bottle. “Making something special?”
Darcy shrugged, for some reason feeling as though Hazel’d caught them having sex in the alley. “Just something t-to help me with my test tomorrow.”
“Ah,” Hazel nodded, uncertainty still in her eyes, and handed Darcy the bottle. “Your aunt mentioned you’re trying to join the coven. You don’t need to join one to be a witch, you know.”
Aunt Willow insisted respectable witches had covens, but Darcy would never say that to Hazel. She’d heard that Hazel’d had a falling out with hers. Like my mom. She wondered why, but it would be rude to ask, so she just nodded. “Th-thank you.”
After paying for the dust, Adrian drove her home, taking her through the neighborhood where he’d grown up and pointing out his old school, his parents’ house, and places he’d played as a child. The last time he’d mentioned his family, he’d seemed resentful, but now he seemed less bitter. She wondered what had changed. “Your family sounds nice.”
He pursed his lips and nodded. “They’re not be as bad as I once thought.”
She took his hand into her lap and stroked the back of it. “Can I meet them?”
Turning his palm up, he grasped her fingers and shot her a smile. “Someday. I have a few issues to work out first.”
Did Adrian worry about introducing a witch as his mate? Aunt Willow came to mind, and she wondered how the witch would react to meeting Adrian. Not well. Shifters and witches did not mingle, let alone mate. She decided to drop the matter until they’d both had time to adjust.
He walked her to her door, and she was relieved to find the terrible smell from her botched potion had dissipated. She turned to him shyly. She really should start working, but she wasn’t ready for him to leave. “W-would you like to come in?”
He feathered his fingers along her cheek and kissed her nose, her mouth, then pressed his forehead to hers. “I’d love to. But I have to go to work, and I know you need to make your potion.” His voice was huskier than usual as he added, “I had a great time with you this morning.”
“I d-did, too.” She wrapped both arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “Can I see you later tonight?”
He hugged her back. “Yes. How about we actually eat those steaks tonight? I’ll be back after I do some paperwork for my boss.”
She realized she was grinning like an idiot against his chest. He wants to come back.
He kissed the top of her head and put his hands on her shoulders to push her upright. “Now go get that potion made so the rest of the night can be mine. I have naughty plans for you.”
Tingles jetted through her at his promise. She nodded and held up crossed fingers. “Wish me luck.”
His eyes crinkled, and he wrapped his hand around her crossed fingers, bringing them to his mouth to kiss the tips. “You got this. Third time’s the charm, right?”
She nodded and watched him trot down the stairs back to his waiting pickup. Floating on air and full of confidence, she returned to her apartment and assembled her ingredients, absolutely certain he was right.