Witch Way Out Page 4

  Mate.

  He dropped her on her feet so suddenly she swayed, and he steadied her but didn’t kiss her again. Didn’t touch her any more than necessary. Let her straighten her own clothes and tried to ignore the questions in her eyes. The hurt there at his rejections. She didn’t know. She couldn’t. What it meant to find his mate. Sure, Warren was living with a human. And he even had a relative involved with a vampire.

  But not a witch. The flighty spellcasters weren’t known for settling down; at least the ones he’d met at his family’s nightclubs were not the type. He’d danced and flirted with a few who had managed to coax him out onto the floor, but never had more than a passing interest in them.

  Not. Mate.

  Growwlll.

  “I’ll take you home now.” He turned and headed around the outside of the house, not wanting her inside where the beds were.

  Too many beds, any of which he might lay her down on and make love to her all night.

  No. Fuck her.

  No. Mate.

  No. Take her home!

  Chapter Five

  Luckily, the house seemed normal when Yuvan left Tina at her door. Meaning, the door was there. Neither of them mentioned what happened, or almost happened between them. He didn’t even kiss her good night which she supposed was all right, considering the utter confusion of the end of their evening together. She’d been so sure they were going to end up together on a pile of those cushions doing crazy naked things under the stars.

  And she’d been good with that. Then shocked when he pulled away. Was this some sick shifter trick? Get the girl so wound up she barely knows her name then step back and watch her squirm? Maybe try to get her to beg? She didn’t think it was a trick. He’d been just as into the moment as her, breathing heavy, heart pounding, growling at her!

  Then, for no reason she could fathom, poof, back to business as usual. As if they hadn’t been two seconds from doing the naughty. What was it? Her breath? She cupped her palm in front of her mouth and breathed. No, smelled a little like wine but not in a bad way. Armpits were fine, boots had stayed on, so no sneaky foot smell...nothing!

  What put him off so suddenly? It shouldn’t have been her eagerness. He’d made the opening move, after all. But he seemed so eager to get away.

  Still confused, she’d patted him on the arm and promised to pick him up the next night for her turn at hospitality. How odd he never asked where they were going. Just turned away. At this rate, he’d be a real downer at the club. Probably never even darkened the door of one before.

  He didn’t strike her as the type to miss a promised date. Or rather an evening out. She had no idea if they were going on a date. Or if they’d just had one. Maybe she should cancel.

  Ralphie waited in the foyer for her and trailed after her to the kitchen door where she let the harshams in and listened to their endless chittering about the man next door. She’d never seen them so excited. In fact, they’d never expressed the least bit of interest in anyone except her until now. The beasts were beside themselves with news about his house, his shoes, his bathtub, and his bear.

  Seemed his bear had spoken to them, although, in their rudimentary communications, they weren’t being very clear about what he’d said. They growled and made noises like a bear, which unfortunately did not translate into English for her. At least they were happy. At Zelda’s, they’d hung out in a corner like mismatched slippers and refused to talk to even her.

  She snapped her fingers to start the music but somehow, as she tripped up the stairs to her bedroom, her feet clanging on the steel steps, she missed the smooth music from dinner. Tina listened to dance beats exclusively. She’d have called herself a music lover, but maybe she needed to broaden her horizons? Perhaps she’d been prejudiced in not trying other sounds. And dancing. Sure, she loved the nightclub scene, but belly dancing might be fun. And, now that she thought about it...it was a dance beat. With another snap, a more exciting version of Yuvan’s sound throbbed and a smoky atmosphere filled the round room. Swirling her hips, she grinned at her reflection in the vanity mirror. What would her new bear friend think of her now? What a shame she hadn’t tried it before going over, but of course she’d had no idea he’d be serving the meal he did.

  Remembering, she fished in her skirt pocket and Ralphie arrived at her side in a blur of orange fur. “Here you go, boy. Hope you like lamb.” She unfolded the cloth napkin she’d wrapped it in and set it on the floor. “Eating on the rug without silverware just like we did, Ralphie. The whole thing was something to behold. And then, afterward, we—”

  Rinnggg.

  She found her cell phone in her other pocket. “Hello?”

  “Tina?”

  “Oh, Yuvan, it’s you! Thank you again for a lovely evening.” Almost more than that. Probably better it hadn’t gone over the edge, though. “You inspired me to listen to a new kind of music. Sure, it’s a little more lively than your version, but—”

  “Would you kindly keep it down?” The growl in his voice was anything but sexy.

  “What?” She was shocked. The bubble of the evening burst in a few harsh words. “Oh, sure.”

  “Thank you. Good night.”

  And he was gone, just like that. Serve him right if she didn’t even take him to the club tomorrow. It was a new one in the chain begun by the family setting them up all over the country. About fifty miles away but supposed to be well worth a trip twice that.

  As she slipped out of her clothes and under the covers, she could see a few stars twinkling outside her window and a big yellow nearly full moon. She dreamed of riding a big golden bear lumbering through the primordial forests of the Pacific Northwest, dappled sunlight on his fur and his low rumbling preceding him. The lord of all he surveyed.

  Morning came far too early to suit Tina. As it usually did. Normally, she preferred to dance the night away and sleep until at least noon before getting up and attending to business, but the destruction of her home and gardens had added a certain urgency to her day. If she were to be able to fill all the orders her customers might have in the coming months, she needed to get the greenhouse up and running. As well as her office and apothecary.

  She stood and moved to the window, yawning. Outside, the late morning sunshine cast shadows over her yard and when she opened the window a bit, a cool breeze hinted at the end of Indian summer. Having lived so long in the desert, she wasn’t sure about her stamina for the coming months and hoped following her desire to get as far away from the destruction as possible wasn’t a mistake. Snow always looked good in pictures, but in her own yard?

  Across the grassy space lay the home of her new friend, Yuvan Ursa. A bear. Ursa. Ursa...

  Still rang in her mind but she couldn’t pin down where she’d heard it. He’d been such a gracious host until their moment of closeness. After that he’d gone cold, then, on the phone, not nice at all. Were all bears like that? She didn’t know any others well enough to compare. But if so, their friendship wouldn’t last. Just because he was built like the cover model on a fitness magazine, with mesmerizing eyes and hands she wanted all over her body did not make him a prime choice as a lover. Wow, thoughts like that made her sound deep. Because those qualities would have been big in her list of “things to find in a boyfriend.” She’d had her share of attractive men, though, and good looks did not always make good connections. It didn’t even mean they’d be good lovers. But if last night offered any indication, he was the whole package. Unfortunately, the whole grouchy package. Why, he’d acted as if his making a move on her was her fault. She cast a glance at her boots, tossed against the wall in a heap. Maybe it was their fault.

  Yuvan woke in a snarling, grouchy mood. He should have gone for a run the night before, let his bear free for a while, but he’d been too mad to let him loose. The bear tended to reflect his emotions and none of those needed to be set loose on the countryside right then. He’d have knocked down trees and roared his frustration to the sky.

  Plus the dam
n animal was still calling Tina the M word. He deserved to be punished for that alone.

  From his bed, Yuvan had a view of the house next door and the turret. Since he’d lived there, heavy curtains had blocked the tower windows, but this morning, one section was drawn back. Had Tina decided to make that room her bedroom? And was she still lying there, in a sexy nightie maybe or did she sleep in sweats? Why did even that image make him hard as a rock and ready to go over there and climb the tower to cover her with his body and make her his? Maybe she slept in the nude, curled on her side with her bottom thrust out and...and he apparently had a thing for her fanny. He’d never been an ass man before. Of course, the front view had a lot to commend it.

  If she wasn’t his neighbor, perhaps he could have sated his lust and not worried about any further contact. She certainly hadn’t seemed that interested in him, not falling in love or anything, last night. She’d been very responsive to his kisses and touching, but didn’t declare her everlasting devotion. But then why would she? They’d just met!

  But even if she was okay with a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am encounter, he had his bear to contend with. And the growly guy was still muttering about mates.

  Heaving a heavy sigh, he prepared to go downstairs and finish cleaning up after his crazy over-the-top dinner extravaganza. Any other neighbor would have barbecued hot dogs or maybe offered spaghetti, but not him. No. He had to show off. Pushing the covers to the foot of the bed, he glanced out the window again and froze. No way.

  If Tina Marie Wales was something to behold in a short skirt and boots, Tina Marie Wales pressed to the window of her tower bedroom was something a man could not reasonably be expected to ignore. Most female bears were on the curvy side, and most male bears liked that, but Tina made every female of every kind he’d every beheld look like trolls. She raised her arms above her head and stretched, and he almost fell out of bed. Her hair fell about her. providing a flaming backdrop for the pale skin of her high, full breasts tipped with smoky-rose nipples and small waist flaring out to hips perfect to hold onto while driving himself into her to the hilt.

  Which, his bear reminded him, he could have done last night if he hadn’t been such a weenie.

  He so should have run the bear last night. Better he knock down a few trees than do what he had in mind right now. What would she say if he knocked on her door, lifted her into his arms, and carried her right back to that tower. As he pictured what might happen there, he slid his hand down his body to where his cock was once again jutting out in response to the incredible naked woman next door.

  She seemed to be looking right at him. And smiling.

  Chapter Six

  Dear Zelda,

  Yesterday was one long day. I already told you about my neighbor the bear inviting me to dinner, but now I need to share what happened. He made this crazy feast. All kinds of exotic dishes, and we ate with our hands on the floor. Well, our hands weren’t on the floor. We were on the floor, and we ate with our hands. Yeah, that’s it. Pretty sexy stuff. And the man can cook. You know I’m challenged in that area. I hope you’ve forgiven me for the aftermath of the six-bean salad.

  But then, after dinner we ended up outside in the garden in a gazebo and well, we almost...you know. Then he backed off, and treated me like a pariah or something. I don’t understand men. Just venting. He’s my neighbor, and probably the best option at this point is to pretend it never happened. Of course, it didn’t help that my window offers a great view of his, and this morning I saw him, umm, whanking off. If he’d rather do that than spend a few hours with me, I’m wasting my time even considering him as a lover. It’s been a long time, though, and I kinda wish things were different. Attaching a picture so you can see why it’s a huge waste. The man has the potential to reach great lengths, if you get my drift.

  Hope everything is going well. I’ll keep you posted.

  Blessings!

  Tina

  Tina hoped everything was okay at Zelda’s place. She hadn’t heard back from her yet, and she’d sent several updates. If she didn’t get a reply soon, she’d have to call on the regular phone or something.

  For the next several hours, she did her best to put him out of her mind. Her tasks were endless, her pantry still empty, and by two in the afternoon, hunger pangs outweighed anything else, and she headed out for the market. The day before, she’d noticed a little mom-and-pop type store in the small town just a couple of miles north, so she made that her destination. They might not have as much as a supermarket, but what difference did that make? They’d have cereal and frozen burritos, with any luck. Did they have frozen burritos in New England? Well, non-cooks in the area must eat something. Everyone couldn’t be the bear version of Martha Stewart on steroids. And she had no trouble leaving the house, so maybe it had been a fluke. Some old spell gone wrong that was now cleared up. Not a troll curse after all.

  She drove out of the driveway and past Yuvan’s house. Everything looked quiet. Wasn’t it odd that a man with his gift for throwing a dinner party never threw them? She mulled that over while covering the short distance to town.

  Tina navigated the covered bridge to enter a village that looked like an ad for Come to New England in the Fall. Neat buildings lined the main street, businesses with names like, Ye Old Pharmacy and The Maple House. Even the little store was called Village Grocer. Quaint in the extreme.

  The sidewalks were crowded with tourists spilling from a pair of buses. Leaf peepers she’d heard them called, up from the city to see all the colors. She tsked. We locals can’t find a place to park. Her grin stretched her cheeks. Even she recognized how funny it was to consider herself a local in one day.

  Still, she had to park on a backstreet and make her way around the corner to the store. Her heels caught in the cracks in the brick sidewalk. How much quaint was necessary? Inside, she found more of a gift shop than a grocery store. Lots of T-shirts and maple products. If they sold these here, what did they sell at The Maple House? The storekeeper spotted her standing there and waved her over.

  “What can I do you for?” No. He didn’t just say that.

  “Food? Do you sell any real food?”

  He looked at her blankly. “This is all real. Maple sugar and candy over there. We have these fine cheese gift packs and some venison sausage... How about jam and local honey?”

  “I live here,” she bit out. “And I’m hungry.”

  Understanding lit his eyes. “Oh. You aren’t a tourist, then? You’re in the wrong place.”

  “I’m starting to sense that.”

  Taking her shoulder, he turned her around and pointed. “Go outside and turn the first corner to the right. Down two blocks and a left. It’s pretty much a convenience store, but they have milk and bread and some frozen foods. You’ll have to go about twenty miles to the Walmart for regular shopping.”

  Of course. When selecting one’s new home, perhaps one should also check services in the local area. Even in the desert, she’d had access to a grocery store and a few other useful places and was within the Amazon-one-day delivery zone. She hadn’t tried yet, but suspected when she did, she’d find herself in the three-to-five day Prime zone.

  The convenience store yielded a bag of frozen burritos, a bottle of questionable wine, some cereal and milk, cat food, and bathroom tissue. And a ten-pound block of ice for the icebox. In short, her entire grocery list. Turned out Beetown had everything she needed for comfortable living. Except a microwave to cook the burritos.

  So, after taking her things home, she still had to make the trek to Walmart—stopping once along the way at a cider donut stand to keep her strength up—but once she’d returned from her trek, she snapped on the beats again and went about getting ready to take her grouchy neighbor dancing. Maybe a night of kicking up his heels would cheer the bear up. Maybe he’d let the bear out to dance! She’d love to get the answer to her question about what kind of bear he was.

  At the ding of the brand, shiny new microwave, she popped the door ope
n and withdrew a green chili, bean, and jack cheese burrito. Anticipation had her mouth watering until she remembered the feast from the night before. Still, a girl had to eat. Chewing the rubbery tortilla and questionable filling, she headed for a bubble bath. With all the running around, she hadn’t managed to get any actual business done, but she couldn’t scrimp on the time it would take to get ready for her evening out. A club night! With a sexy bear.

  Yuvan spent the day trying not to think about Tina. His little attempt at stress release that morning only left him needier and wanting her more. And the bear’s demands he go get his mate and bring her home were about to drive him crazy. The music streaming from her house had quit when she drove away, but started again each time she returned, each time seeming louder than before.

  Finally, in desperation, he stripped and headed for the woods and gave the bear control. Maybe after a good run, the animal part of him would be tired out and quit making demands he had no intention of fulfilling. How on earth could he live with a woman who required loud music to be happy? As he crossed the tree line, his bones and muscles stretched, elongating into the larger shape of his bear. A grizzly, bigger and scarier than anything in these parts, which was why he made sure never to be seen. Coarse fur covered his skin, and his snout emerged. Rising on his hind legs, he looked back at the rainbow house next to his then dropped to all fours and loped off into the woods. They had a lot of energy to burn off and miles of trees to do it in. If he played his cards right, they’d be able to come home and sleep afterward, peaceful and dreamless...and with his curtains closed, if she wouldn’t shut hers.

  The bear’s senses took over as well, enhancing his sense of smell, his vision much better than rumors would have it. He could see at least as well as his human form. The leaves and debris of fall crunched under his feet, the sweet breeze carrying fascinating scents. By the time he arrived at his back door, prepared to shift, the sun had set several hours before and a chill had entered the air. Not that he minded in bear form, but his human would be naked and cold pretty fast.