Page 67 of Paws and Claws

Tabitha's breath caught in her throat. "That's quite a confession from someone who used to lecture me about proper motorcycle safety."

"I still might lecture you about that." He pulled her against his chest. "But now I'll do it because I care about keeping you safe."

"I'm in love with you too," she whispered.

His lion roared with joy as he kissed her, pouring months of built-up tension and newfound freedom into it. She tasted like cotton candy from the festival and something uniquely her that made his head spin.

When they finally broke apart, the magical sand around them glowed brighter, responding to their combined joy. Dominic had never felt more complete than in this moment, holding his wild witch while his lion purred.

29

TABITHA

Tabitha stirred the pancake batter, her wild magic swirling purple sparks through the mix. The kitchen smelled of coffee and maple syrup, sunlight streaming through the windows of what was now their shared home. A year of living with Dominic had taught her that mornings could actually be enjoyable - who knew?

"You better not be using magic on my breakfast," Dominic called from the bedroom.

"Would I ever?" She grinned, sending another spark through the batter just because she could. The sizzle of the griddle mixed with the classic rock playing softly from her phone.

Heavy footsteps approached and strong arms wrapped around her waist. His chest pressed against her back as he peered over her shoulder at the perfectly golden pancakes. "I see those purple sparks, witch."

"They make them fluffier." She leaned back against him, enjoying his warmth. "Besides, you love my magic pancakes."

"I love you," he murmured into her neck, his voice rough with sleep. "The pancakes are acceptable."

Tabitha's heart fluttered. A year together and he still made her feel like a teenager with her first crush. "Just acceptable? I seem to remember you inhaling three of them yesterday."

"Four," he corrected, reaching around her to steal a bite of the fresh stack. "And I was hungry after that chase through town."

"My big bad sheriff, running down jaywalkers." She turned in his arms, taking in his freshly showered appearance, his dark hair still damp. His uniform shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, badge gleaming on his chest.

"That jaywalker was carrying stolen goods." He captured her lips in a kiss that tasted of coffee and maple syrup. "Some of us still believe in law and order."

"Boring." But she smiled against his mouth, her fingers trailing along his jaw. "Though I suppose someone has to keep this town in line."

"Speaking of which..." He pulled back, his green eyes narrowing. "I got a noise complaint about loud music at three AM last night."

"Wasn't me." She batted her eyelashes innocently. "I was right here in bed with you."

"Uh huh." His thumb traced her lower lip. "Your friend Sarah just happened to mention your impromptu art session when I saw her this morning during my jog."

"Traitor," Tabitha muttered. "It was just a little magical art practice."

"At three AM?"

"That's when the creative spirit strikes!" She wiggled out of his grasp, flipping another pancake with a dramatic flourish. "Besides, no one got hurt."

"Mrs. Henderson disagrees." But his eyes crinkled with amusement as he grabbed his coffee mug. "Try to keep the music to daylight hours?"

"Yes, sir, Sheriff Sir." She gave him a mock salute. "Now eat your pancakes before they get cold."

After kissing Dominic goodbye at the door, Tabitha grabbed her art supplies and headed to her studio downtown. The space buzzed with creative energy as her students filtered in, each eager to learn from the now-famous wild magic artist of Saltwater Grove.

"Today we're exploring emotional resonance through color," Tabitha announced to her class, her wild magic sparking purple trails through her hair. "Let your feelings guide your brush strokes."

The morning flew by as she guided her students through exercises, helping them channel their own magic into their art. Teaching had become one of her greatest joys this past year, second only to her relationship with Dominic.

After class, she returned home to their house - still a thrill to think of it as theirs - and headed straight for her private studio. Dominic had converted the sunroom into her workspace, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that bathed everything in natural light. Her latest piece dominated the easel: a swirling landscape of purples and golds that captured the moment she first realized she loved him.

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