Masked Attraction (13 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Hand in hand, Daniel and Zoe returned to the prep room together.

She was at peace for the first time in years, both her human and her wolf happy.

“I will try,” he said out of the blue. “I do know how to do champagne and moonlight strolls. I’ll try to give you romance.”

She shook her head. “That would be nice, but if it doesn’t happen, that’s okay, too. Daniel, I thought I wanted romance. But I didn’t.”

“What?” He blinked in his mask. “Then what was tonight about?”

“What I
thought
I wanted. I should have seen it sooner. My words and actions didn’t line up. I kept saying I wanted romance, but instead of doing it, instead of seeking out dashing men with flowery words, I kept running away to have sex with you.”

“Because you wanted sex instead of romance?”

“Because what I
truly
wanted was a
connection
. A real connection. I was worried that without romance, I wouldn’t know what a real connection was. But I do.” She raised their joined hands to her heart. “Because I have that with you, Daniel. I’ve always had it with you.”

“You always will.” He kissed her hand, his breath warm on her skin. Then, as if he couldn’t help himself, he lightly kissed both breasts—or maybe that was her, raising her breastbone in silent invitation. He lifted his head with a jerk, his cheeks red. “Sorry. Can’t seem to stop.”

“Me either.” She smiled. “And I’m glad. That’s our connection, too.” She tapped the scroll case under his arm. “Come on. Let’s see what this bad boy has to tell us.”

They shut and locked the door to the prep room, where Daniel swept for eyes. A quick call to his cousin Sophia netted them the proper reveal spell, which coincidentally called for a drop of blood from the original owner and the new owner of the parchment. Or perhaps not so coincidentally—Daniel said magic worked that way sometimes.

The drops sparkled as they hit the water in the chafing dish, two lobes merging like a tiny heart.

He extracted his wand, using it to stir the drops until they mingled with the water. Then he dipped the wand in the water and tapped it three times on the first word, HEART. “Show me heart.”

Writing appeared, wavering at first, then solidifying into a flowing masculine script.

Zoe read, “HEART beats for a wolf and a Blue.”

“Suggestive, isn’t it?”

“Wolf, like me? But you’re no Blue.”

“No. But my cousin is. Let’s see what the rest has to say.”

He repeated the procedure for the other three lines. The complete prophecy was revealed.

Zoe frowned. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t know. That’s one of the fun things about a prophecy.”

“Are you sure the first line couldn’t be about us? I’m a wolf, and your eyes are a gorgeous star-shot blue.”

“Gorgeous, hmm?” He smiled. “Possible. But Blue is also a name for the witches in our family.”

“You’re Daniel Light Blue? Too weird.”

“No, just Daniel Light. Witches are named for their mother, wizards for their father. But my cousin’s name is Sophia Blue, and I have an aunt and another cousin with the same last name.”

“Then who’s the wolf?”

“We won’t know until the prophecy fulfills. But one thing seems clear enough. There are people, powerful, possibly evil people, who are also after the prophecy for the thing or things it points to. We’ll need to solve the riddle first to keep the ‘KEY’ safe.”

She shivered. “At least Zeus and Dorine weren’t able to read the invisible script. I’d hate to think of something so dangerous in Zeus’ hands.”

“He’s bad enough, but every one of those four buyers is a mage or has a master, or both.” He shook his head. “And it’s possible they
were
able to read it. Both Zeus and Dorine had physical access to the parchment. If either had a potion to reveal the ink for a short period of time…well.”

Horror clogged Zoe’s lungs. “Dorine almost would have had to. She’d have revealed at least part of the script, to show her bidders it was real. Those mages—”

“May all know the prophecy, yes. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll be here for you.” He wrapped her in his strong arms.

“You always have been, Daniel.” She felt an urge to nestle into his strength, but that would be later. Now she wound arms tightly around him in return. “And I’m here for you, too. Whatever’s coming, we’ll face it together. Not as a you and me, but as something stronger.

“
We
.”

About the Author

As a girl, Mary Hughes spun romantic, happily-ever-after stories to get to sleep. A husband, family, two degrees, and a blackbelt later, she's delighted to spin them for readers.

She has lived with love and loss, in bright times and dark, and learned we can all use a break from reality now and then.

So join her for action, sparkling wit and red-hot love. Strong men. Stronger women.

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Look for these titles by Mary Hughes

Heart Mates

Pull of the Moon
, Book 1

Shifters and witches? Forbidden on pain of death. Might as well stick a fork in a light socket. Yet those are the kind of sparks witch princess Sophia Blue feels when she meets wolf shifter Noah in her aunt’s bookstore.

But Sophia is stuck. Her aunt is missing and Noah, the last person to see her, is Sophia’s only hope. If not for that and her aunt’s new, cute little doggie, Sophia would run as far as she could from the sexy, hard-hewn alpha.

Noah’s stuck too. Before disappearing, the aunt hit him with a hex gone horribly wrong—he’s the doggie. By day he’s fifteen pounds of yippity-yip, and with five anti-alpha wolves nipping at his heels, that’s deadly dangerous. Only Sophia can help him, but she has lost her magic.

Then an evil mage from Sophia’s past shows up with murder on his mind, and all Noah’s instincts shout to protect the woman his misguided heart thinks is his mate.

Warning: Sinfully sexy alpha thrown together with a hot witch in a small town. Sass, sparkle, a meddling aunt, snafus, growling, fighting, and oh yeah, sex. Might want to get up to date on your shots.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Heart Mates:

Sophia, looking for her missing aunt, seeks alpha wolf Noah at beta Mason’s garage.

Any words forming in her brain never made it to her mouth as his lips claimed hers.

Male. Exciting. He dazzled all her senses, the scent of crisp cotton and fresh outdoors, the taste of dark and wild magic. His lips caressed her, soft and sweet, while the spear of his tongue blazed. Her sighs were underscored by his pleased growls.

Awash in him, her heart thudded and her blood sang. Bursts of pleasure sparkled like firecrackers. She lifted on her toes for more.

His kiss slanted and deepened, the wild taking of the wolf but also the mastery of the man, one who knew how to give a woman what she wanted. Her mouth opened and his tongue plunged. His fingers threaded in her hair to pull her closer. Their bodies melded like two candles dripping hot wax.

Mason cleared his throat.

Noah stiffened. Lifted his head with a soft sigh.

Without the liquid caress of his hot, expert mouth, Sophia’s sanity returned.
What had she done?
Witch and shifter…no, not,
never
. She gathered enough tattered willpower to step out of his arms.

“I’m sorry…” Her voice was breathy. Damn singing hormones. She tried again. “I’m sorry that happened.”

He stepped back too. “Why?” He crossed his arms, his biceps and pecs bulging. “I’m not.”

She swallowed her tongue, totally forgetting why she should be sorry. Oh yeah, shifter/witch taboo—but he wouldn’t know she was a witch. And even if he did, he wouldn’t care. Most shifters pretended the Witches’ Council didn’t exist.

“Hey,” Mason said. “I didn’t want you two to stop. I just wanted to let you know that if you’re going to get
friendly
—” Mason’s grin was so big Sophia wanted to punch him, “—I’m heading out now. There’s a couch in the office. Lock up when you’re done.” He lumbered off.

“Stars,” she said. “What was that all about?”

“He’s encouraging me to find a wife.” Noah grimaced.

Noah wasn’t mated.
Yes
. No. None of her business.

But poor Noah. He had his own Aunt Linda, nagging for the pitter-patter of little paws. Although with the confident way he stood there, bigger and badder than anything, it was hard to feel
too
sorry.

Noah thrust his hands in his pockets. It framed all that was glorious. “I should go too.”

“Wait. I wanted to talk with you.”

“Why?”

“Why? Um, well, the reason I wanted to talk with you is…” What had she wanted to ask? Are you dating? What’s your phone number?
What size condom do you wear?
She rubbed her eyes. “My aunt. Linda.” She dropped her hand and met his silver gaze. “I think you were the last person to see her. Do you know where she went?”

“I’m sorry, no. She left the bookstore when I did, but she didn’t share her plans with me.”

Disappointment gnawed Sophia’s gut. “Can you at least tell me if she was okay?”

“Yes.” His response was immediate and reassuring. “Don’t worry about your aunt. She was fine. A little flustered, but fine.”

He’d seen her worry and didn’t hesitate to comfort her. He must be a very good alpha.

“I’m relieved to hear it. What about that boy my aunt called you in for? Was he still in the store at that point?”

“Marlowe? The boy is my responsibility. I can assure you he will be punished and your aunt reimbursed. In fact, if you want to get repairs going, I’ll personally vouch for the funds.”

“Thank you.” All that muscle, and responsible too. Some little she-wolf was going to be very lucky someday. “But that’s not what I meant. I’d like to talk with him. Do you know where he lives?”

Something shuttered in Noah’s gaze. “The boy left before I did. He knows nothing.” The reply had “back off” stamped all over it.

As if that would stop her. She gave a mental shrug. She’d have to get the boy’s address another way. “I’d better get back to the bookstore. If you think of anything, come see me, okay? The sign will be Closed, but I’ll be there.”

“You and me. Alone.” His molten gaze ran over her, chasing a shiver from her head to her toes and back again, lingering on her lips so long she had to work not to lick them. Finally he said, “Let me get this straight. You want me, a stranger, to come to the bookstore, where we’ll be alone—after what just happened between us?”

Put like that, reinforced by his hot all-over gaze, it sounded like an invitation to ravish her. “Uh…yes?”

He shook his head, more disbelief than a no. “You’re temptation on a stick. I’m not quite that masochistic.”

“Me? Have you been chewing Viagra?” She considered herself, banker chic in navy-blue pants suit, pumps and pearls. “I’m no cover model.”

“I’ve never cared for
eau de airbrush
. Believe me, your real beauty is far more alluring.” His eyes fired white-hot on her, a beastly hunger that was pure
wolf.

That look promised instant ravaging. Hot, hard, animal sex.

She swallowed all the way to where she was wet. She wasn’t completely certain she’d stop him.