Ethan’s brow knit together as she spoke.
“To my bakery. Or well, my now cupcakery.”
“I’ll walk you out,” he said.
As they headed back down the way she’d come a sudden urge to stay hit her. Her mouth opened and closed at the ridiculousness of it all.
“Well, Livi. It was nice to meet you. Any time you ruin something else let us know.”
Turning at the door, she smiled. “Yes. Sure. Be sure to send your girlfriend to the bakery, and I’ll give her any imperfections. The bakery on the corner.” She gave an awkward point to down the alley as her breath stuck in her lungs.
Girlfriend. He had to have one.
The air around them grew thick and hot. Her magic sparked within her, begging to play with the man in front of her.
“I don’t have a girlfriend. Am I allowed to come in myself?”
He braced his arm on one side of the door, not trapping her, but drawing her in closer.
Her eyes grew wide, and she pressed her thighs together.
“Of course. Anyone can. I just figured it was easier since you guys seem to always work odd shifts.”
He smiled. “Yeah. True. We do. Well Livi, I’m Ethan. Don’t be a stranger around here.” The way he said the words she couldn’t tell if he was as attracted to her as she was to him, or only trying to be nice.
“Of course. If I have any other mistakes, you’ll be the first to know. Or the fire station will.”
His body moved closer, his lips almost on her ear. “No, you had it right the first time. I’ll be the first to know.”
Gripping the handle, she turned, and the door swung open with a waft of heat.
“Of course.”
Good God, breathe. She told herself.
“Okay. I need to get back now.” Her body shook from restraint, desire, confusion. Dang it if she didn’t want him more than anything she’d ever wanted in her entire life.
“Have a nice day Olivia.”
Turning away she practically ran, her heart already sprinting.
No one had ever looked at her the way he had.
She pulled open the door of the bakery, nearly hitting herself in the forehead.
The weight of the door slammed closed behind her, and she stopped and smiled. Leaning against the cool metal, she didn't bother suppressing her happiness.
No one ever looked at her that way. She'd always just been little Olivia who didn't get accepted into the most prestigious witch academy even after all her sisters and brothers and parents and grandparents and cousins had.
Ethan, though. He saw her. The magic coursing through her veins a foreign and rich diversion to her normal life was somehow connected to him. Like he was the key to unlocking her.
Closing her eyes all she could see was him. What could she go ruin and bring back over, without seeming desperate?
Chapter 2
He loved the way her hips swayed with every step. She practically sprinted down the alley, and he couldn't pull his eyes off her ass.
His dick throbbed behind the sweats he’d been wearing for his workout before he'd been interrupted. He needed the relief, the burn of his muscles with each added weight and rep. Damn if he didn't want a different kind of workout now though.
Ethan grabbed his crotch and adjusted himself. Fuck. He didn’t think pounding the weights was going to fix this problem. He nearly came in his pants as he imagined burying himself balls deep into Olivia. The sweet scent of arousal still lingered in the air. She’d wanted him.
Once he saw her safely enter the bakery, he headed back to the kitchen.
“Hey man. This cake is better than your mom’s,” said Tristan, one of the guys he worked with.
Ethan scowled. “Do not insult my mother’s cakes.”
Another guy held up a little blue thing from the cake decor. “What is this? A baby booty?” They all tipped their heads.
“Well, if it is, I guess there’s a reason we’re eating this thing,” said Tristan.
“Kian, maybe you should take this home to that mate of yours. Bet she’d appreciate some cake," said Ethan."
Kian shook his head. “She’s eating us out of house and home with those cubs.” He smiled. “They’ll be strong, that’s for damn sure.”
Ethan couldn’t get past the little baker. His pants strained as his mind pictured her naked and smeared in frosting as he slipped inside her. He could practically hear her moaning.
Fuck. His beast, his wolf, was damn near howling as he warred with the overwhelming need to run down the street and mate her. Ethan's eyes widened at that thought. He fought the shift.
Double fuck.
“Ethan, you okay?”
Kian came up next to him with a plate of cake in hand. “You look like you just saw a ghost or something.”
Blowing out a slow breath Ethan shook his head. “Not a ghost. But, uh. What exactly screamed mate about Raine?”
Kian shrugged as he downed a bit more cake. “Eh. This damn cougar of mine really. He can sniff her out of a crowd. She’s just it. She’s the calm in my soul.”
“Awe. That’s so poetic man. You two lovebirds planning to redecorate next?” Tristan moved over to them licking his fingers.
Ethan gave Tristan a punch to the shoulder. Sure, if he had to admit it, these two were his closest friends, at least of the ones he’d picked for himself. They had nothing to do with the pack, and that might be why he liked them.
Ethan needed this job as a break from the pack, and money. Nothing was free.
As they stood there, Ethan watched Kian’s face, his brow knit. Instincts had him turning his attention to Tristan.
“Fuck me. He thinks he found her?” Tristan asked.
Kian shoved in the last of the cake, but his scrutiny made Ethan squirm. “Is that what this is about? You think that little-aproned thing is it? I’d say go for it.”
Ethan rolled his neck side to side. “Fuck. I don’t know. My damn
