Page 11 of Shift of Destiny
He hid a sigh, knowing his what-are-the-odds luck was flaring again. “If she’d like, we can take it back in my truck.”
Moira pulled out a card from her chest pocket, then held it out to him. “Tinsel gave me her number and yours, but she didn’t mark which was which.”
“The bottom one’s mine.” Tinsel’s matchmaker streak had often annoyed him, but if it prompted Moira to call him, he’d send Tinsel a rum-soaked fruitcake every year on that date.
He would have unashamedly used his superior hearing to listen to both sides of the conversation, but he didn’t have to because she put it on her phone’s tinny speaker. It seemed a certain group of miscreant wolf boys had attempted a joy ride, only to have the sleigh dump them in the neighbor’s swimming pool, then fly off down the street.
“The sleigh went looking for someone it could trust,”explained Tinsel.
“Er, lucky it found us, then,” said Moira. Her indulgent smile said she was humoring an old woman’s fancy. “We’ll bring it right now, so Chance isn’t late for work.”
Tinsel thanked them and disconnected.
Chance approached the sleigh cautiously, in case its defensive magic thought he was another thief, but fortunately, it docilely allowed him to pull it back from Moira’s door so she could get out. It took both of them to lift the bulky sleigh into the bed of his truck. The illusion spell made her see wheels where there were none, but didn’t hide the tingle from the magic that ran it. She attributed it to a minor short in the non-existent electrics.
“I take it,” she said, wiping her hands on her jeans, “that the Wolf boys are known troublemakers in this town.” She laughed. “Their parents must be on everyone’s speed dial.”
He didn’t correct her impression that it was just one family named Wolf. The local population of wolf shifters thrived in Kotoyeesinay, so it could have been the pups from one or more of a dozen different families. It was more a sin of omission, but he felt as guilty as if he’d lied to her.
At Tinsel’s, Moira helped him carry the sleigh up to the porch. She was even stronger than she looked, which had both him and his beast purring inside. Especially when she explained she’d gotten a lot of exercise working on a dairy farm. His beast liked steak.
He was getting used to her subtle magic that sparked at odd moments, but he couldn’t tell what it was doing, other than fighting to be free of the town illusions. A witch might be able to figure it out, but he didn’t know very many people in town, owing to his loner nature, so he didn’t know who to ask, or more importantly, who Moira would believe. It occurred to him that Iolo Maxen at Turn of the Cards was a uniquedywylledelf who could handle any metal, loved technology, and specialized in repairing magical devices. Chance had done some fine woodwork repair on a magical spice cabinet, and liked him. Since she already knew Iolo, maybe the old elf could figure out what Moira’s magic was and help ease her into the truth.
He ignored his beast’s demand to scoop her into his arms and ravish her on the porch swing, and settled for politely slipping his hand into hers. His beast chuffed in vindication when she immediately drew him into a full-press embrace. He didn’t even try to stop himself from meeting her upturned face halfway and kissing her like she was the only woman on earth. To him, she was.
Their tongues twined like soft, questing vines, sending his heart thumping and the sound of hers racing. Her little moan of pleasure went straight to his groin and hardened him in seconds. He sternly reminded himself that humans liked things slow, and started to angle his hips away, but she grabbed his ass with both hands and pulled him tightly against her muscular stomach. “I like knowing you want me as much as I want you,” she breathed, nibbling along his jawline and down his neck.
“How could I not?” he asked, skimming his hands down her back to memorize the feel of her curves. “You’re perfect.” He nuzzled behind her ear to fill his nose with her unique and addicting scent, as complex as curry, with hints of cream, cardamom, and melting snow.
A distant chime sounded more than once. It took a moment for him to identify it as the huge grandfather clock inside the entryway of Tinsel’s home.
“Oh, hell, my timing sucks.” Moira pulled back to look up at him. “I’ve made you late for work.”
He started to deny it, but then he’d have to explain that he didn’t have a job anymore, and then he’d have to explainwhyhe didn’t have a job, and then… he swallowed. “I’ll, uhm, be okay. I’ll make up the time tomorrow.”
The only thing that made it possible for him to release her was that she looked just as reluctant to let go of him. He unashamedly adjusted his pants to ease his rock-hard dick into a more comfortable position. She gave him a sultry smile and smoothed her blouse, revealing the firmly pointed tips of her nipples, visible even through her bra. He swallowed again.
“Could we see each other again tomorrow?” she asked. Her tone was casual, but her expression was a mix of longing and trepidation. Her bravery humbled the man in him, and made his beast confident she’d be an excellent defender of his cubs.
“Yes,” he said firmly, giving her no reason to doubt him. “I’ll come find you after work.”
She smiled wider. “I get off at–”
The front door opened, revealing a beaming Tinsel. “Oh good, you got Blitzen back to his proper home.” She pointed to the sleigh. “Those wolf boys better be careful what they wish for in the next few months. I’ll be adding security… ” She peered up at him, then looked at Moira. “Oh, did I interrupt something delightfully steamy?” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively at them both. “Carry on, then.” She shut the door.
Moira laughed out loud. “Everyone in this town is crazy.”
“Ah-hem.” Chance cleared his throat loudly and gave her a mock affronted look.
“Yes, you’re crazy, too, and so am I.” She waved toward the street. “Go to work, or I’ll drag you upstairs to the Lost Princess bedroom so you can find me, and then you’ll really be late for work, and your boss will fire you.”
He gave her a mock salute. “Tomorrow,” he promised, then turned and walked briskly away, before he followed her in like a hungry stray.
It had been too long since he’d let his beast out, and now, he was paying the price with his lack of control. His beast didn’t like civilization or daylight, so tonight after it cooled off, he would visit the familiar peaks and let his beast run and hunt for a while, to get it out of his system. He’d start telling Moira the truth tomorrow.
