Page 35 of Chasing Stripes

Morning brought a mild hangover and crystalline clarity. Bartek arrived at Honeycrisp Bakery at precisely the time they’d agreed, determination mingling with nervous energy he hadn’t felt since his alpha challenge years ago.

Artemis greeted him with a smile that accelerated his pulse. Today, she wore a deep green apron that matched his eyes, her golden hair twisted into a loose braid that exposed the elegant curve of her neck.

“I’ve prepared more samples,” she said, leading him to the kitchen. Her scent carried notes of anticipation and that same sweet undercurrent of desire from yesterday, stronger now. “And made notes about possible combinations.”

The warm, fragrant space seemed even smaller today, their bodies navigating around each other with hyperawareness. Each accidental brush of hands or arms sent visible ripples of energy through nearby ingredients.

They worked side by side, testing combinations of pastries and spirits, making notes on what harmonized and what clashed. Bartek found himself cataloging her every reaction—how her nose crinkled when a flavor didn’t work, how her eyes brightened when a pairing succeeded, how her pupils dilated whenever he moved close.

“These are wonderful,” he admitted after sampling a bourbon-vanilla cake that practically melted on his tongue. “The pride would?—”

He stopped, an idea forming. The dinner invitation he’d planned suddenly seemed too impersonal.

Before he could reconsider, Tilly burst into the kitchen, arms laden with supplies.

“Don’t mind me, dears!” she called cheerfully, setting down her packages with a flourish. Her movement knocked a sack of flour sideways, sending Artemis stumbling directly into Bartek’s chest.

His arms encircled her automatically, steadying her against him. The contact sent a surge of heat through his body, their matching marks glowing brilliantly even through cloth. Her scent bloomed around him—desire mixing with surprise and a hint of embarrassment that made his tiger rumble with satisfaction.

“Oh my! So sorry about that,” Tilly exclaimed, not looking sorry at all. Her knowing gaze flicked between them. “Oh! I just remembered an urgent errand across town. Artemis, would you be a dear and check the pantry? We need those special spices for the festival recipes.”

Before either could respond, Tilly ushered them toward the walk-in pantry at the back of the kitchen, practically shoving them through the door.

“Third shelf from the top!” she called. The heavy door swung shut behind them with an ominous click.

Bartek and Artemis stood frozen in the dimly lit space, surrounded by shelves of ingredients and the concentrated essence of her scent. Every breath filled his lungs with her—vanilla and cinnamon now heavily layered with unmistakable arousal.

“Did she just...” Artemis began.

The sound of the lock engaging confirmed their suspicions.

“Lock us in? Yes,” Bartek finished, his eyes adjusting to the low light. The amber glow from his irises illuminated the small space, casting Artemis’s face in a warm radiance.

She laughed, the sound both nervous and genuine. “I should have seen this coming. She’s been none-too-subtly hinting about you since you opened across the street.”

“Haavi warned me your aunt had matchmaking tendencies.”

“Is that what he warned you about?” She looked up at him through her lashes, their bodies still closer than necessary in the spacious pantry.

Bartek swallowed hard, acutely aware of her racing heart and quickened breath. Her scent wrapped around him like a silken net, urging him closer. His control, already tenuous from days of fighting his attraction, threatened to snap entirely.

“Among other things,” he managed, reluctantly stepping away to search for the door handle. “Like how the handprints might be more significant than we’ve admitted.”

Her sharp intake of breath told him she understood his meaning. The marks between mates—ancient signs of compatibility that transcended species.

“Is that such a terrifying prospect?” she asked softly.

The vulnerability in her question struck him to the core. How could he explain his conflict? The responsibilities to his pride weighed against the increasing certainty that this woman was somehow essential to his future?

Before he could formulate an answer, he located the interior handle, turning it to release the lock. The door swung open, flooding the pantry with kitchen light.

Artemis stepped past him, a flash of disappointment crossing her features. “We should get back to testing.”

Back at the counter, they returned to their samples with forced professionalism. The chocolate-chili creation caught his attention—a bold combination that seemed to encapsulate the intensity brewing between them.

“This needs more heat,” Artemis murmured, reaching for the chili powder.

Whether her magic reacted to her emotions or his proximity, the container tipped too far, sending a cloud of fiery red powder erupting upward. It expanded in a plume between them, sparking with tiny magical flames as it made contact with the energy field surrounding them.

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