Mack took a long swallow of beer. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’ve got a motel room.” He lowered his voice so the bartender who was cleaning steadily closer couldn’t overhear. Jude hoped he hadn’t taken a massive overstep, but he was usually pretty good at these things.
It was so tempting to forget about the whole Coven test and enjoy tonight, but he had too much riding on success. Success had never come this easy. It never landed in his lap in such an attractive package. The odds that he’d run into the creature responsible in the first bar that he went to, and that the creature was the hottest shifter in a hundred-mile radius were so small…
Maybe it wasn’t Mack he was searching for?
But the odds that there was something else running around the tiny town of Mercy were even smaller. From what he knew about bears, which wasn’t a lot, bears were territorial. Mack wouldn’t be letting something else tear up his town. It had to be him, even though he didn’t appear sadistic or into killing for kicks. But even human serial killers looked like the guy next door.
Instead of being suspicious, he should be grateful and thank the Fates for dropping the solution at his feet. He’d get to keep his magic and tell Landstrom to go to hell. There were a few shifter bars back home in Sacramento, not that they advertised as such, but when people in the paranormal community gathered in numbers, there was a definite vibe. He’d avoided them because he’d never seen the attraction.
How wrong he’d been.
Mack gave a slow nod. “Could be interesting.”
Interesting? Is that all Mack had? “I’ll make sure it’s interesting.”
It certainly wouldn’t be anything the part-time bear was expecting.
Mack unleashed a full-on grin. It was high voltage enough for Jude’s heart to skip and lose rhythm. “Stop trying so hard. I was going to suggest my place, but you got in first.”
He was an idiot to be screwing this up without at least indulging in a friendly kiss or maybe a little more. Desire thrummed through his body. Mack didn’t seem like the kind of shifter who went a little mad with bloodlust—some did; one kill and they couldn’t stop. It was like the thrill of the hunt got into them.
Doubts circled Jude like sharks. Something wasn’t right.
Yeah, he was attracted to someone who killed cows. Clearly, he needed some help. The Fates hated him or were having a damn good laugh. At least he’d get out of Mercy in record time. One night. Case closed. Bed empty.
Mack finished his beer. “You wasting that?”
Jude glanced at his half-drunk rum. It was better he didn’t consume too much alcohol before using his magic. “Yup, got better plans than drinking alone.”
“Amen to that.”
Except Mack hadn’t been alone. “What about your buddy?”
“Ned?” Mack glanced over his shoulder. “Ned’ll be fine.”
Ned gave Mack the thumbs-up. Jude shook his head. Mack didn’t keep his sexuality a secret; did he keep his shifting a secret, or were a few humans in the know? How many rules was Mack breaking daily? Maybe he was a danger to the paranormal community in more ways than one. But Jude couldn’t ask without outing himself as a witch.
He cast his gaze over the people in the bar again. No one else’s eyes gleamed. There was no distinctive vibe from too much semi-magical energy. They were the only two paranormals in the bar. The warning that this was too easy traced over his skin, but he ignored it. It was about time something in his life was easy.
“Lead the way,” Mack said.
Jude had spent many years fretting about what people thought. He’d tried so hard to be normal for his foster family. It was only after the Coven had taught him how to control his magic that some of his weirdness had stopped. That had only solved one of his problems. He’d had to keep boyfriends secret. His parents had hated the way he didn’t tell them anything, but what could he say? He hadn’t come out until after he’d left home. His foster family, while nice, wouldn’t have approved.
It took a moment before Jude screwed together enough courage to leave with Mack at his heels. As Jude walked under the sign, that was still working perfectly, he tapped into the static and gathered power to his fingertips.
He didn’t want to use it. He’d never wanted to use magic less than tonight. He was taking a hot guy back to his room for all the wrong reasons. But if he didn’t, he’d lose his magic forever. One night wasn’t worth that. No matter how good-looking the guy.
They strolled down the sidewalk, and the motel drew closer and closer.
Jude was going to have to do something soon. He couldn’t zap Mack and leave him unconscious on the street. No, it was better to get him into the hotel room and do this in private instead of making a scene.
“I’m hoping you’ve got protection?” Mack’s hand brushed against his, but not to grab hold as if they were close, a couple.
For a heartbeat Jude was tempted, but he resisted. What he was planning was already bad enough. He didn’t want another layer of deception.
“Yeah.” Jude had nothing. He hadn’t gone to the bar to get lucky, he’d meant to talk to some of the locals about the cows, but somehow that hadn’t happened. He hadn’t gotten brave enough to strike up a chat and then he’d noticed Mack across the bar and his thoughts had gotten sidetracked. He’d felt a spark the first time their eyes met. And he knew exactly how a spark felt and how to turn it to his advantage. He also knew how easy it was to let that spark get out of control.
He needed the electricity, but he also needed to relax. No accidents
