Page 24 of Spellbound & Speechless
I don’t take my eyes off Aspen all night. She’s doing better at her job, gracefully dancing through the room to deliver the drinks and food, but every almost-slip… every sharp turn…
I want to catch her, to make sure nothing happens to her. I dig my nails into my hands to keep myself in place.
She doesn’t look at me all night. All her smiles belong to other people.
Good. It should be that way. Getting involved with me is a bigger risk than she knows. She’s already in trouble. The corrupt witch is already after her, making her dangerous forme, even if she doesn’t realize it.
I can’t find a moment of relief until her shift ends. She’s going home, and if there’s another attack, she won’t be here to see it.
The comfort doesn’t last long. Before I can exhale a sigh of relief, my wolf growls. Aspen is walking outside alone. None of her sisters offer to walk her to her car.
What the hell?
I guess a town like Starbrook is supposed to be safe, but it’s not anymore. My wolf pushes me out the door.
It’s not just my wolf, either. Dammit. It’sme. There’s a corrupt witch out there, and Aspen’s magic smells strong and sweet. Anyone would want to take a bite.
I approach her of my own volition, clearing my throat as I follow her out the door. “Let me walk you to your car.”
She glares at me over her shoulder. “Oh,nowyou’re being a gentleman?”
I glare right back. “Yes. I am.”
Or I’m trying to be. Can’t say I’m good at it.
She complains when I’m friendly and when I’m not. There’s no winning with Aspen, but I don’t care. If I keep her alive, my wolf may let me sleep at night. Considering the evenings I’ve spent tossing and turning, that’s a win.
When I’m up late in my little motel, I’m usually thinking of her. Fuck. That’s a lie. It’salwaysabout her. I won’t let my thoughts wander far, but they’re always there.
The feeling, the need that haunts me at midnight, is still here now. Her little pink dress shows off those long, perfect legs—and it’s low-cut. I don’t look for long, but my wolf growls. He has ideas of his own.
Taste… touch… fuck?—
“I don’t need you to take care of me.” Aspen stomps through the quiet street, rotting leaves crunching beneath her feet as she leads me to her car. “Now no one is watching the bar.”
“Ozan is there.”
“He was useless last time. Forgive me for not trusting him to keep my sisters safe.”
He wasn’t useless, considering that his magic weakened the corrupt witch… but she trustsmeto keep them safe? Interesting.
My lip quirks up at the corner. “I wouldn’t say he wasuseless. That’s harsh. Besides, this will only take a second. Nothing will happen.”
Aspen doesn’t lead me to a car at all. No. Her ride is a little pink electric scooter. As if I needed another reason to worry about her safety.
“Gods,” I mutter. “What is that?”
“Well, here I am. You can go now.”
“This isn’t yours. You’re fucking with me.”
“Yes, it is.” She hops on and kicksup the stand. “Do you have an issue with my scooter? It gets me around just fine. Has for years.”
“No, no. No issues.” I pick up the pink helmet and plop it onto her head, clicking the buckle into place. My fingers graze against her soft skin. I’ll be thinking about that touch for a while. “Uh… safety first.”
She’s still glaring at me.
“Do you really want me to go so badly?”
