Page 28 of Tricky Magic
Another persistent knock banged through the house. “I’m fucking coming!” she couldn’t help but yell.
A blush crept up her neck.
How embarrassing.
But whoever was on the other side wouldn’t know what they’d just interrupted.
“Almost, but not quite yet.” The voice that called from the other side of the door was gruff and sounded amused. It halted her steps, and she stood there with only one leg in her pants.
Who the fuck is that?
Ellea finished putting on the horrendous pajama bottoms and tried smoothing her ruffled hair before walking to the door with mock confidence. She opened the door, and right before her eyes was a broad chest and large hands holding a box.
As her eyes traveled up, she scowled, sounding like a hissing cat. Even in her frustration, the smirk that greeted her from across the threshold had her chest caving. This was not the look he’d had when they first met, that was one of judgment. Now there was a sparkle in his eye, and even though it pissed her off, she couldn’t help but feel turned on. She needed help and she needed him to leave.
“Whatever you are selling, I am not interested.” She went to slam the door in his face, but his large boot stopped her.
“This is already paid for. Agatha asked if I could drop it off on my way home,” he said through the small opening of the door. Hearing his deep voice again ignited something low in her belly, its husky tone was speaking to all the parts that never got the ending they wanted. He toed the door openly fully and smirked at her.
“You didn’t have to go out of your way, I could have grabbed it on a different day,” Ellea grumbled.
“I think what you meant to say is thank you.” He shoved past her with the box. “You’re welcome.”
Her scowl hardened at his audacity, and she followed after him, reaching to stop him from getting any further into her home.
“I can take that from you,” she said as he dodged her.
“It’s quite heavy, I wouldn’t want you hurting yourself.” He threw a cocky grin over his shoulder and slowly placed the box on the kitchen table before looking around the house.
He was dressed like the last time she saw him, in dark jeans and flannel with perfectly ruffled hair. Scowl lines seemed etched between his thick eyebrows, and he ran the tip of his tongue across a sharp canine as he judged his surroundings. Ellea wondered if other shifters were as massive. It wasn’t just his size; his menacing presence took up the whole cabin.
She suppressed a shiver that was more horny than scared and reached for the box.
Too heavy my ass.
As she went to move it just to prove a point, he reached to stop her. His hands grazed hers and he jerked upright, yanking his hand back as though shocked. She could have sworn his eyes blazed brighter. He quickly averted his gaze and looked over her shoulder.
“Is that adorable dog of yours around? I should check on her to make sure you aren’t torturing her again,” he said while pushing past her. She missed having a home that would stop this asshole from getting across the threshold.
“Excuse me, I don’t need strangers barging in my house throwing dog-abuse insults.” She headed toward the library and placed the box on the desk, and he followed after her, continuously looking around.
The man stopped abruptly, and his nostrils flared as he looked down at her hands.
Shit, I didn’t even think to wash them.
He stepped toward her, and she kept her feet planted, chin raised, refusing to back away. He may be tall and huge, but she was feeling anything but intimidated.
“I take animal care very seriously,” he stated, and she rolled her eyes at him. He sneered at her before ripping his gaze away. Maybe he was a wolven; with his attitude and sniffing around, it would make sense.
“That doesn’t give you an excuse to barge into my home. Thank you for dropping off my order, but I think you should go.” She pointed toward the front of the cabin, and he just stared at that damned hand.
“Your home? I thought an older woman and her son owned this place?” he asked.
She was one minute away from using her powers to kick this way-too-tall and way-too-handsome man out, but her powers didn’t rise in angst, ready to explode. Instead, they seemed settled, almost humming at the surface.
“That’s my nana and uncle, this is our family cabin,” she responded instead of kicking him out. She should kick him out.
“Ah, okay,” he said, still not moving.
