Witch Way to Love Read online

  She shoved strands of hair from her eyes, the ends dripping down her cleavage. She watched as his gaze tracked the motion of the water droplets, his eyes flaring as the water disappeared between her breasts. He licked his lips. An unconscious move? His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. Did he think of reaching for her? Did he want to touch her as badly as she wanted to be touched? Still, he made no move to come to her, to reach for her, to beckon her closer.

  “I should probably go,” she said softly, wishing he would negate her statement, ask her to stay.

  His intense gaze burned into her, setting her aflame. With her rising desire, the temperature in the room rose, as well, creating a steam room effect in the living room. Even with the change in their environment, he didn’t break contact. What was he looking for? If he wanted her consent for things to move forward, he had it! If he wanted her to beg…well, she’d never been one for begging. Besides, he was the one who had a tail.

  Coming to a decision, one she might very well regret later, she turned and placed her hand on the warm doorknob. It turned easily in her palm and the door swung open. Outside, the night lay still, the calm after the storm. Moonlight filtered through the large, black clouds, a few stars peeking through. She took one step, then another. She was at the bottom of his porch steps before she felt his presence.

  Breena looked over her shoulder to see him limned in moonlight just inside the door. He took her breath away, even soaked as he was. It just made his shirt cling to him, made his jeans hug his muscular thighs. She clenched her thighs together, staving off her growing need for this man, this enigma. The man who wasn’t man, but who wasn’t entirely a wolf either. A man who would remain a puzzle once she walked away. She wasn’t ready for that moment yet, but he didn’t call her back inside, didn’t say a word at all. He just merely watched her.

  Forcing herself to pull away from his presence, she turned on her heel and began her long trek home. Now that she had her wand, she could translocate, but the walk would do her some good. The air was balmy, the humidity causing steam to rise from the now wet pavement. It was a hot night, even for July.

  She forced herself to not look back, but she wondered if he still stood there, watching her. Or had he gone back inside, putting her out of mind? A man like that had to have women waiting in line for a chance to jump into his bed. She doubted she would very memorable to him. Her wand, on the other hand, would probably stick with him for a while.

  Chapter Two

  Cade closed the door, shutting out the tempting vision of one hot, sexy witch walking away from him. It was in his wolf’s nature to chase after her, go after his prey, but he fought the urge. It had taken all his will power to close the door the first time. It had been a mistake to kiss her, even if she had instigated it. She was a tiny thing. It wasn’t like he couldn’t have pushed her away, held her at arm’s length, but he’d been curious. He’d wanted to know what she would taste like, what she’d feel like in his arms. Good. Too damn good, that’s how she’d felt.

  He surveyed the destruction that lay before him. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get all of the water off the floor, but if he didn’t do it soon, the floor would be ruined. Thank the goddess it had only rained in the living room! The rest of the house hadn’t exactly had an easy time of it, but it would be much easier to clean up. No time like the present.

  Grabbing the mop from the kitchen pantry, he began sopping up the water. He’d barely finished the task when he felt a pull, a tugging deep inside. Cade frowned, not understanding the feeling, or where it came from, but it was insistent and he wasn’t sure he could ignore it. He put the mop away and began clearing the debris in the kitchen, but he began to feel almost panicked. Buttoning his shirt on the way to the door, he stopped long enough to put on his boots and grab his keys, then locked up and hopped on his motorcycle.

  He allowed the feeling to guide him through the city streets, out of the jungle and into the city proper. As he crested a hill, he spotted three wolves circling a small woman. Hell, not just any woman, but the sassy witch who’d turned his life, or rather his house, upside down. The feeling intensified the closer he got to them and he wondered why. Had the witch sent out a distress call and his inner beast was answering? Or was it his other half that was responding to the tempting little morsel?

  Cade neared the group and came to stop, killing the engine and putting down the kickstand. The wolves either didn’t notice him, or figured he wasn’t a threat. It wouldn’t really be a big deal to take on all three of them, but he’d have to let his secret out, and he wasn’t ready for the witch to know who he was, not yet anyway. If they crossed paths again, he might consider it.

  “Didn’t your mommas ever teach you not to play with your food?” he asked, drawing their attention away from the witch.

  “Stay out of this. It’s no concern of yours. Go find your own woman,” one of them snarled.

  He sighed and rolled his neck on his shoulders. Maybe he could take them in a fight without using anything extra. No matter how he looked at the situation, he realized it was going to come down to a brawl of some sort. Whether with fists, claws, or something else, he couldn’t say. Obviously using reason wasn’t going to work on the young pups. The oldest looked like he was barely twenty. Of course, looks could be deceiving when it came to the paranormal. For all he knew, the pup was fifty years old, but he highly doubted it. As for himself, he was carrying a good two hundred years, plus a few extra. Not that he looked a day over thirty-five.

  “I’m afraid it is my concern, because that’s my woman you’ve cornered.” He eyed each of them, daring them to contradict him. He silently prayed to the goddess that the witch held her tongue. He didn’t have to wait long for the young upstarts to mouth off.

  The one with spiky brown hair sneered at him. “She’s not yours, or anyone else’s. She doesn’t wear a mark, from either wolf or vampire.”

  Well, shit. He hadn’t thought of that. He’d never marked anyone in his life.

  “Doesn’t mean she isn’t mine. The relationship is new and she isn’t ready to be bitten. You don’t just jump into that kind of commitment.”

  The third one looked from him to the witch, then back again. “So if she’s yours, what’s she doing walking around alone at night, on the night of a full moon? Shouldn’t she be holed up in your den?”

  If she were his mate, she would be. Hell, even if they were just dating, he’d have her naked and under him, all night long. Just thinking about sinking into her hot, wet pussy had his dick standing at attention. The tang of her fear hung heavy in the air, and it was an aphrodisiac to his kind. He adjusted his pants as discreetly as possible.

  “We had a fight,” the witch blurted. “I sort of demolished his house and decided to walk home in order to cool off.”

  The young pup—he’d determined to be the leader of the ragtag group—didn’t look like he believed her. He moved in closer, sniffing the air around her. His eyes flashed yellow, pupils dilating, as his wolf came closer to the surface. He moved in even closer and all but buried his nose in her hair. Cade knew from experience it smelled like citrus, a nice crisp scent.

  “Your scent is faint on her,” the wolf accused. “That could merely be from brushing against her on the sidewalk.”

  Cade arched a brow. “Does it look like I was out for a stroll tonight? I’ve been in my home since early evening. If you don’t believe me, you can ask my nosy neighbors.”

  One of the wolves moved in closer to the witch, hemming her in. She didn’t seem to like it much, as her eyes flashed with annoyance and she stomped on the wolf’s foot, making him howl and retreat a few steps. Cade’s lips twitched as he fought a smile at her show of spunk, even in the face of such odds. Either she’d reacted without thinking, or she trusted him to get her out of this mess.

  “This can go one of two ways,” Cade said. “You either hand me the witch and go about your business, find someone else to molest tonight, or I teach you a lesson in mann
ers. It’s a lesson you won’t forget anytime soon, I can promise you that.”

  The middle wolf snorted. “As if you could teach us anything, old man. We’re younger, faster, and smarter.”

  “You aren’t too smart if you’re messing with my woman. Do you even know who I am?”

  If his words and mere presence wouldn’t put the fear of the goddess in them, maybe his name would work. There was a chance the witch would recognize it, but he’d just have to take that gamble. He hadn’t seen her around town before, though, so maybe she was new. Women usually had one of two reactions to him once they knew who he was. They either fell to their knees at his feet, all but begging to belong to him, or they cowered in fear. Something told him the witch wouldn’t cower, but he didn’t think she was the type to beg either. Not that he would mind seeing her kneeling at his feet…preferably with his pants open and his cock filling her mouth.

  Damn it. If he kept thinking that way, even the witch would be able to smell his arousal. He wasn’t about to give her the upper hand and let her know how much she affected him. He might want to strip her naked, lick every inch of her body before bending her over and plunging into her wet heat, but he wasn’t about to show just how much he wanted her. He’d never been so consumed by a woman before. From the moment he’d opened his door, she’d filled his senses and his head with her tantalizing little self.

  The wolves looked at one another before glancing his way again, looking a little less certain than before. They may not recognize him, but they sensed something wasn’t right, that he wasn’t just your average wolf. Maybe he was finally getting through to them.

  “Just let the witch go,” he said again, hoping they would comply. “You have to know she won’t give in to you easily. Wouldn’t you prefer someone a little less feisty? Maybe someone who would even welcome your advances? There are plenty of bitches out running tonight who would be up for a bit of fun.”

  “I’ve heard being with a witch is ten times better than fucking another wolf,” the spiky-haired one said.

  “Well, you’ll have to find your own witch. That one’s mine.”

  They seemed to confer with one another silently before the leader nodded and moved away, his packmates following. Not another word was said as they moved across the street and disappeared around the corner. The tension in Cade’s shoulders eased a bit as he assessed the witch, wondering how much longer she could hold it together. She had to know what they’d planned for her. Not many women could face that without falling apart at least a little.

  She trembled a moment, then lifted her chin and straightened her spine. “Thank you for your help.”

  He’d bet his Harley that it had cost her dearly to thank him, to admit that she’d needed help. Why she hadn’t zapped them with her wand, he didn’t understand. She wasn’t exactly defenseless, not anymore. Now, if they’d caught her before she’d found Sauren, things could have gone badly, very badly.

  “Why don’t you let me give you a ride home? Unless you’re going to translocate,” he suggested.

  “I can’t,” she said. “Sauren exhausted his powers tearing apart your house. I tried to use a bit of magick when those wolves circled me and all the stupid wand did was sputter, spark, then give out completely. It will be hours before I can use it again.”

  “You should have translocated from my house. You would have been home, safe and sound, and not wandering the streets. Don’t you know how dangerous it is out here, tonight of all nights?”

  She shrugged a shoulder. “I know the full moon is making the wolves a bit whacky, but—”

  “Not just the wolves, sweetheart. Try all shape-shifters. But being a witch, you should know that.”

  “I’ve sort of been out of the loop for a bit,” she mumbled.

  Both of his brows rose. “Out of the loop? What, were you living under a rock?”

  “More like locked in another realm. The witch’s council called me about twenty-five years ago and something went wrong when they sent me home. I ended up in the land of giants, stuck. I had to wait on the portal to re-open. The stars only align in that realm every twenty-five years, and only for a few hours. If I’d missed my window, I’d still be stuck there.”

  He’d like to say he was surprised, but his brief time with the witch had proven that if bad things could happen to her, they would. How many witches lost their wands? He understood why it had sought him out, even if she didn’t, but most witches could hold onto their belongings a bit better, even temperamental ones.

  “So, about that ride…”

  She looked down the street where the wolves had disappeared, looked the other way, then met his gaze again. Hesitantly, she nodded and moved closer to him, her wand still clutched in her hand, little good that it did her. He straddled the Harley and held out his hand, helping her onto the back. He started to tell her where to put her feet, but she seemed to know already. Cade wondered just how many motorcycles she’d ridden on, and with whom. The idea of this particular witch getting friendly enough to wrap her arms around some biker didn’t sit well with him.

  It would take a hell of a lot more than a motorcycle accident to kill him, so he didn’t have any helmets to offer her. Then again, being a paranormal herself, she was more resilient than a human would be. He’d just have to be extra careful on his way to her place, no sense taking any chances.

  “Where am I going?” he asked.

  “Two-zero-six Magnolia Lane. It’s the last house on the street and sits back a ways. If you don’t know it’s there, you’ll miss it.”

  He nodded, figuring the place was warded. After her ordeal with the council, he would imagine she’d have extra wards in place, keeping out everyone but those who had her permission to enter the property. Little did she realize, they wouldn’t do any good protecting her from him, and with that hot little body pressed firmly against his back, those thighs hugging his, she definitely needed some protection from him. His wolf was ravenous and was more than ready to take a nibble or two.

  The warm air blew over them as they prowled along the street, his bike growling loud enough to alert anyone to his presence. It had a distinct sound, unlike any other bike ever made, something he’d had done with a bit of magick. There were also invisible wards on the bike to keep anyone from stealing it. If someone touched it with ill intent, their hand would burn like they’d stuck it in a blazing fire.

  It was a surprisingly short ride to her home, and before long, he was pulling into her driveway. Her yard was overgrown with trees and flowering shrubs. It gave the mint green cottage a unique look, cozy even. He could easily see her living here, maybe sitting on the porch on a nice day, sipping lemonade.

  The witch slid off the bike, and he found himself following her. Cade told himself it was just to make sure she arrived at her door safe and sound, but deep down, he knew it was something more. That insistent pull he’d felt had died a little, but there was still something there, something drawing him to the witch. He’d felt it the moment he’d opened the door to her. It had taken him by surprise, and perhaps had made him less than hospitable, but he didn’t like the feeling. It was unlike anything he’d felt before, and he had little doubt that it spelled trouble.

  They stepped up onto her porch, the lighting coming on as they neared the door. He watched as she slid her key into the lock, gave it a twist, and shoved the door open. From what he could see of her home, it was tidy inside. Her wood floors gleamed like they’d just been polished, and her furniture looked…cute. He doubted the small sofa would be very comfortable for someone his size, but it suited the little witch.

  She turned and looked up at him, her green eyes seeming even darker than before. Her tongue flicked out across her lower lip and he tracked the movement, wanting to kiss her again, to taste her one more time.

  “Would you like to come in? I could make some coffee or tea,” she offered.

  It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse, but he found himself nodding, idiot that he was. He followed h
er into the quaint house and closed the door, turning the lock. Warded or not, her home really needed more than one deadbolt. It wouldn’t be enough to keep out a determined wolf, much less a lion, bear, or something bigger, like a dragon. She should take her safety more seriously, but it wasn’t his place to say anything. It wasn’t like she was his, even if the idea was becoming more and more intriguing. He had no place in his life for a woman, never had, but it didn’t mean that he didn’t spend some lonely nights wondering what it would be like to have a woman at his side. Something told him a woman like this witch would keep things interesting.

  “Coffee would be great,” he said as he followed her into the kitchen.

  The yellow walls gave the room a cheerful look, accented by the white cabinets and lacy white curtains at the window. It was a feminine room, but it suited her. The whole house did. He wondered how often she brought strange men home with her, invited them in. He inhaled deeply, taking in all of the scents, and was pleased to note there wasn’t even the hint of a male in the house. If she had someone in her life, he didn’t come here.

  He watched her putter around the kitchen, filling the coffee maker with water, scooping grounds into the filter. After she pressed the button to turn it on, she faced him, bracing her hands on the counter behind her. If only she knew what a delectable picture she made, with her breasts thrust out like that, he doubted she’d be in that position.

  “I guess I owe you an apology,” she said. “I don’t know why Sauren chose your house, but it does this sometimes. Last time, it went to the history museum and broke some antique dishes, a whole display full. Needless to say, I’m not welcome there anymore.”