Page 23 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Midlife

“Mm.” I licked my lips while leaning toward him, mesmerized by the flash of yellow in his eyes. It felt as if someone else was speaking for me as I answered, “Okay.” I wasn’t sure what sort of spell this beast had over me, and I didn’t care. I had the feeling he had the power to prove to me sex was actually better than chocolate.

THOSE TWO GLASSES OFwine were doing backflips in my head as I sank beneath the steamy bubbles wearing nothing but my bra and undies while Ric sat in the tub across from me eyeing me like a lion stalking an injured gazelle.

Alone in a hottub...with an outlaw...a sphinx with a voracious appetite...who was being hunted by a succubus...or so he said.

I wondered if my instincts told me I needed to be here this night with him, or if he had me under a spell. And if I was spell cast, did I want to wake? Maybe after a soak in the tub. Or a roll between the sheets.

I was certifiably crazy, not to mention an irresponsible mother. At least I’d called my son before stripping off my clothes. He was playing his video game and didn’t want to talk other than to tell me Felicity had ruined dinner, and they had to order takeout, and how much he didn’t like her.

I was relieved to be picking him up early Sunday. And I knew I was being petty and vindictive, but I was glad Homewrecker Barbie was a terrible cook considering how much Colin loved food. I knew he missed my cooking, for he’d told me so morethan once, and believe it or not, this wasn’t the first time his new wife had asked for my recipes. Colin had once had the audacity to invite me over to teach her his favorites.

As if.

Hopefully, her blowjobs were worth it, because he was never getting another apple pie from me.

But back to the outlaw shifter, because he had somehow scooted closer to me, his feline pheromones sending my libido in a tailspin and liquefying my insides. His tattoos were on complete display now, swirling tribal flames racing up his arms and across his chest. I had to bite my lip while fighting my urge to lick my way up the ink.

“You like?” he asked while motioning toward the water swirling around us.

I eyed him over the rim of my virgin strawberry daiquiri. Did I mention he made killer daiquiris with fresh fruit and a delicious coconut milk in place of the rum?

I sank further in the water, letting the magical jets smooth away the tension in my shoulders. “Very much.”

“I lied.”

I clutched the stem of my glass, my gaze centering on his very full and kissable lips. “What?”

He waggled his brows, the lion shining through in his eyes. “I peeked.”

“Oh?” That dry chicken salad did backflips in my tummy as I stared down at my girls that rose to the surface like personal flotation devices. I could’ve balanced my daiquiri on them had I wanted. “What do you think?” I asked, then tensed. Yes, my breasts were big, but so were my hips and thighs. My stomach, though not huge, definitely wasn’t flat, the casualty of never completely shedding the baby weight while also working in a bakery.

He scooted even closer until our shoulders were touching and twirled a lock of my auburn hair around his finger, his deep purr sending a trill racing across my bones. “Your body is lovely.” He waggled his brows. “Especially your breasts.”

“Thanks.” For some reason, I believed him, even after surviving almost two years of breastfeeding a very hungry baby. One thing about my magic: I could smooth away blemishes, but I couldn’t defy gravity.

He frowned. “You weren’t enjoying the movie.”

I bit my lip. “Was I that obvious?”

“I could scent your discomfort,” he said as he took my drink from me.

“Oh.” I tensed when he casually set my drink on the side of the deck. Why did he do that? Was he going to kiss me? “I just, I didn’t want to tempt you with my chocolate.”

“Chocolate doesn’t tempt me like warm butter, or like you.” The purr that escaped him as he dragged his knuckles down the side of my face liquefied my bones and made me think of all kinds of wicked thoughts, namely how would his throaty purr feel with his mouth pressed between my legs.

He let out a dark chuckle while nuzzling my neck. “I could also scent your desire.”

I swallowed when his fingers grazed my thigh. “Sorry.” I had no idea why I’d apologized. I was vaguely aware of the word pouring from my mouth when I couldn’t think past straddling him and letting him impale me. I hadn’t been this horny in a long time, maybe ever.

“Why would you apologize for that?” He nuzzled my neck again, causing my gooseflesh to rise and my sex to swell with need. “You don’t have to be frightened around me. I’d never hurt you,mi amor.”

Mi amor.“Oh!” Merlin’s balls. When that deep Spanish burr rolled off his tongue, my nipples perked and my sex painfullyswelled as if my body was responding to a mating call. Surely, he’d enchanted me, and certainly I didn’t care. I wanted him so badly, I feared I’d combust.

“May I kiss you?” he whispered, his breath hot and heavy against my neck as his hand slowly moved up my thigh.

May he what? “Yes,” I heard myself saying. I closed my eyes and grasped his taut shoulders, expecting him to kiss me on the lips, but then he feasted on my neck. The breath expelled from my lungs. I should’ve been mortified at the way his predatory fangs raked down my neck as he massaged my shoulder and hip, sending trills of magic racing across my skin.

Great Goddess, who’d taught him to eat a woman like this? How indecent! I arched my neck to give him better access.

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