Page 37 of Spellbound & Speechless
She steps closer, and any other retort I have gets lost. My mouth is practically watering.
“You’rethe one who said I smell good,” she says. “That’s a compliment.”
“I didn’t say that.” I lower my face, refusing to shy away, even though I know it’s best. We need to get far, far away from each other. “I said you don’t smellterrible. That’s not a compliment.”
Her lips part. “Oh, you’re so rude!”
I chuckle. “I’m sure you’re used to people bending over backward to compliment you, love witch, but I won’t be one of them.”
“And why not?”
She doesn’t deny my accusation; somehow, that makes her more endearing. She knows she’s beautiful. Mystubborn side won’t acknowledge that I know, too, but she doesn’t need me to.
Aspen can have anyone she wants. I won’t forget that, even if the thought of someone else longing for her makes my wolf go ballistic.
“Because you don’t need any ego fluffing.” I lift a shoulder. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“I could say the same to you.”
“I was doing it.” I smile, all teeth. “Before you interrupted my investigation.”
We’re close enough for our chests to touch. She heaves in a heavy breath. The touch doesn’t come, but I’m close to begging for it. Any brush of her fingers, her chest pressed to mine, or even her hot breath on my skin…
I would combust from so little. From nothing. That’s how much I need her.
“I would apologize for the interruption, but I’m not sorry.” She steps away and tosses her hair over her shoulder. “See you inside—unless you’ll keep wolfing out.”
“No. No morewolfing out. You’ll be seeing me.” The words linger like a threat, but she doesn’t react as if it’s one.
Her arousal spikes again, stronger than ever. Does she… like me threatening her? Fuck.
Aspen leaves me alone with my hammering heart.
Chapter 14
Aspen
“It’ssad that a customer requested this.” I frown into the cauldron and stir it clockwise as I drop two cinnamon sticks.
“Why?” Juniper asks. “I think it would be sadder if theydidn’trequest it.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“If the potion helps,” Rowan says, “that’s what matters. It’sallthat matters.”
Potions may not be my specialty, but self-love is. When Juniper requests my help with a self-love potion, I have to answer the call. The potion is coming together—thank the goddess. Ruining a potion in front of Juniper would be mortifying.
As much as I adore helping people with their journey to confidence and acceptance, it’s always a shame that they struggle so much with it. It reminds me of my younger years, before I recognized the magic I carry.
Making this potion is bittersweet because it’s one I know well.
We sit around our kitchen late into the evening—or maybe it’s early in the morning. I never know the difference.We need the new moon’s energy for the potion, which means brewing at precisely three in the morning.
My beauty rest will have to wait, but if it means making someone else feel beautiful, it will be so worth it.
Mac ducks his head into the room. “Something smells good.”
I roll my eyes. He’s been getting on my nerves lately, especially with his… smelling thing. I’ve known enough werewolves to know that it’s one of their quirks, but his quirks are frustrating.
