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“I can’t believe I always miss the good stuff,” Prim pouted, folding her arms over her chest. “Maybe if I followed you around like a love-sick wolf, I’d get in on the action once in a while!”
Wynona rolled her eyes and fought to control her blush from the wolf comment. “Waking you up late at night in order to come watch me try and bait Callista Umbra was not exactly high on the priority list,” Wynona said wryly.
“I know!” Prim threw her hands in the air. “That’s the problem!”
Wynona laughed softly and finished with her hair. She looked over herself in the mirror and turned to Prim, striking a pose. “What do you think?”
“I think you could wear a burlap sack and those golden eyes wouldn’t leave you for a second,” Prim said with a snort.
Wynona gave her friend a look. “No. Really. Am I okay?”
“You’re stunning and you know it,” Prim offered. She shook her head. “I don’t know how you pull off such dark colors so well. You’re like a living Snow White, but with much better curves and hair.”
Wynona choked on air and began to cough. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?” she asked through her gasps.
Prim shrugged. “I’d take it as one. Only I don’t want to look like Snow White.”
Wynona finally caught her breath and shook her head. “And just who would you like to resemble?”
Prim pursed her lips. “I don’t know...there aren’t a lot of fairy tales where the princess has pink hair.”
“True.” Wynona put her make up away, took one last look in the mirror and walked out of her bathroom.
Violet was sitting on the dining table, pouting and grumbling under her breath.
Wynona walked up. “It’s a date,” she explained for the thousandth time. “That means Rascal and I are supposed to get to know each other...alone!”
Violet sniffed and began grooming her fur, completely ignoring Wynona’s explanation.
Wynona turned to Prim and shrugged. “What more can I do?”
“Let the mouse brood,” Prim said with a wave of her hand.
Violet took offense to the comment and began chattering loudly and shaking her fisted paws in Prim’s direction.
Prim stuck her tongue out at the rodent.
“Really?” Wynona asked the two. “What are we? Three?”
Prim grinned and bounced on her toes. “I’ll never tell.”
Wynona rolled her eyes. She pointed a finger at Violet. “I’m going on a date. I love you, but I think I’ve earned this time alone with Rascal, so you’ll have to get used to it.” She then turned to her snickering fairy friend. “And you can help by not making the situation worse.”
Prim huffed. “Fine. But the mouse started it.”
Violet went off again and Wynona groaned.
“You two are impossible.” She grabbed her coat and checked the wall clock.
Just as the hour chimed, a knock came on the door.
“It’s him!” Prim squealed in delight. She rose up on tiptoe as if trying to fly from the floor and put her fisted hands in front of her mouth. Some of the herb plants around the room began to tremble and dance, matching Prim’s excitement.
Wynona wanted to join in the joyous shout, but her heart had suddenly decided to begin beating so hard she struggled to breathe. This was it. The night she had been waiting for.
Wynona didn’t have a lot of experience with men, but she felt certain that her feelings for him were more than just a mere crush. She could feel his presence when he was in the room. His touch not only gave her butterflies, but soothed her worries at the same time. When he wasn’t around, she wanted him to be, and when they were together, she found herself able to read his emotions better than any other person she’d ever known.
It was possible that her feelings were based on the fact that they had been through some dangerous situations together, but it didn’t really seem that way. From the first time he’d winked at her, Rascal had been upending Wynona’s world and she found herself looking forward to more of it. Much more of it.
“Well, go on!” Prim whispered loudly.
Wynona nodded, her nerves nearly making her knees buckle. She wiped her clammy hands on her skirt before finally finding the courage to open up the door. “Rascal,” she breathed, at once delighted by his appearance.
His black, button up shirt brought out the brightness of his eyes, which were already glowing, and the way he’d rolled up the sleeves looked casual and cool all at the same time. His forearms were tan and strong and completely swoonworthy. His fitted jeans and motorcycle boots were the perfect finishing touch to his look and Wynona knew she’d be the envy of every woman they crossed tonight.
Rascal’s eyes went down and then back up in a slow, lazy manner. He whistled low under his breath. “You look amazing,” he said, his voice slightly gruff.
Wynona smiled and didn’t even bother to fight the blush creeping up her neck. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “You look wonderful yourself.”
“She better, after all that time in front of the mirror!”
Wynona closed her eyes and counted to ten. Prim was a lot of fun and Wynona’s first real friend after escaping her family, but sometimes her uninhibited way of speaking was more than Wynona could handle.
Rascal chuckled. “It was well worth it,” he said, holding out his hand.
Wynona smiled in relief and reached out to take his offer. His palm was warm and reassuring, absolutely perfect as she walked across the threshold with him.
“I’ll have her back by midnight!” he playfully called into the cabin.
“Don’t bother,” Prim shot back. “I’m living vicariously through her, and midnight isn’t nearly enough time for a good make-out session!”
“Oh my word, Prim,” Wynona groaned. “Please, stop.”
Prim just grinned and wiggled her fingers in farewell. “Have fun!”
“Please ignore her,” Wynona muttered as Rascal walked her to the truck. “I’ve learned to only listen to about half of what comes out of her mouth.”
“Actually, I appreciated her approval,” Rascal said. He paused before opening the door for her. “And she’s right.”
“Right? About what?”
“Midnight isn’t nearly enough time,” he whispered, leaning in and caging her against the truck. His eyes glowed brighter than ever and Wynona found herself entranced by them. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Should we give her something to enjoy?”
Wynona opened her mouth to respond, but the only thing that came out was a sigh as he leaned in to nuzzle her neck.
Rascal’s lips brushed along her skin, leaving watermelon sized goosebumps in his wake. He paused and took in a deep breath.
“Are you smelling me?” Wynona asked with a soft laugh.
“Yep.” He leaned back, grinning wildly. “Does that bother you?”
She tilted her head at him. “Is it like...a wolf thing? I mean, you smell fantastic, like woods and fresh rain, but I don’t usually lean in just to smell your skin.”
He came down and met her nose to nose. “You should try it sometime. And yes, it’s a wolf thing.” He ran his nose along her jawline. “Smell is very important to us and yours is...intoxicating.”
Wynona melted against the truck door as Rascal continued to kiss and nuzzle the sides of her face and neck. “Rascal,” she whispered.
“Hmm?”
“Please.” She wanted...no, needed him to stop kissing her everywhere but her mouth. The anticipation was going to make her explode if he didn’t just put her out of her misery.
“Please?” She could feel Rascal’s grin against her skin. “Are you asking me to kiss you properly, Ms. Le Doux?”
Growing tired of his games, though slightly amused by them, Wynona reached up and put her hands on either side of his face, bringing him around to face her. “Hugo Strongclaw, you’re driving me crazy.”
He jerked back. “You know my first name? How?”
She grinned and let her hand slip into the back of his hair. When his eyes flared and grew brighter, she guessed she was doing something right. “A woman has to have some secrets,” she whispered. “But this woman is also getting impatient. If you want any chance of—”
Apparently, Rascal took her threat seriously because he didn’t even let her finish her sentence before claiming her lips.
Wynona gasped slightly at the attack before settling into the all-too pleasurable sensation of Rascal’s kiss. His large hand went around her waist, tugging her into his chest, and his other dove into her hair. It didn’t matter that it had taken her nearly an hour to create the perfect wave. All Wynona wanted was more of Rascal Strongclaw.
His hold was firm, but still made her feel precious. He kissed her with confidence but was still being gentle enough to claim the title of gentleman. All in all, with each press of his lips, Wynona found her knees growing weaker and weaker.
But it was when he tilted her head to gain better access that Wynona felt something within her begin to shift and eventually burst.
She jerked back from Rascal with a loud gasp as purple lightning shot through the air around them.
Rascal immediately covered Wynona as if to protect her, but she pushed at his chest.
“It won’t hurt us,” she whispered.
“How can you be sure?” he growled, glancing over his shoulder at the display. “I don’t think your grandma liked me kissing you.” The disappointment in his voice was easily heard and Wynona knew she had kept her secret long enough.
“It’s not my granny,” she said.
Rascal whipped his head around to look at her. “Excuse me?”
She shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but I think we need to talk.” The lights slowly came to a halt, until just a few sparks floated through the air. Rascal had backed away from her and Wynona held out her hand, catching one of the pieces of magic. It sizzled against her skin, but didn’t hurt before absorbing into her palm.
“I think you’re right,” Rascal said in awe. His wide eyes moved from her hand to her face.
Wynona dropped his gaze, suddenly feeling awkward and out of place. She had just had the most gloriously intimate moment of her life, and now she found herself terrified that Rascal was going to run from the weirdness that was her life. “If you don’t want to go out...I’ll understand.”
He reached out and put his knuckle under his chin, bringing her face up until they could see each other. Still holding her, his thumb caressed her jawline gently. “It’s just another piece of the puzzle, Wy,” he said in a low, rumbly tone. “I didn’t ask you out because I only liked what I saw on the surface.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead sweetly. “That’s just a bonus.”
Wynona sighed and smiled as he helped her into the truck. She had a lot to figure out about herself along with figuring things out with Rascal, but knowing he wasn’t running screaming into the night made her feel cherished and warm all over. Perhaps with his expertise and her book knowledge, between the two of them, they could figure out what exactly was happening to her.
And if it took a few more mind blowing kiss experiments to come to any conclusions...well, Wynona decided she was definitely up for the challenge.
Ready for Wynona’s next adventure?
Don’t miss Le Doux Mysteries #3
“A Sip of Murder”
Third time's a charm...until someone commits murder.
With her sister back at the castle and the tea shop thriving, Wynona feels like her life is finally on track. The fact that a certain werewolf is hanging around an awful lot, only makes it all sweeter.
Until her best friend, Primrose, while pretending to be a vampire, becomes a suspect in a murder investigation.
Wynona's life is once again turned on its head as she navigates the world of Hex Haven's most passionate fangirls. The deeper she digs, the more confusing the evidence becomes, and the harder she must work to clear her friend's name.
With her own magic completely out of control, a burgeoning relationship distracting her, and a police chief with an eternal grudge against her family...Wynona isn't quite sure how she's going to pull this off. But for Primrose's sake, she has to try.
Get it at your favorite retailer!