He could hope.
He’d give Magic time to see the truth of mating. That it didn’t have to be a death wish for the females. That it was possible to love a single person so much, you wanted to rewrite history. Generations of it.
“Boo!”
Eagan jerked his head around to see his spunky little mate dressed in white flowing fabric. Her entire face and her long, curly hair had been painted white except for dark black circles that ringed her eyes.
A bit out of place, was her blazing smile. He’d never get tired of seeing that.
“I’m the Woman of the Woods!” She held her hands up, fingers wiggling in a mock-eerie gesture. “A ghost,” she clarified.
Eagan grinned and pulled her close. “Oh no. I’m doomed. I’ve heard she steals souls and eats them for breakfast.”
Clara giggled, shaking her head. “No, silly cat-man. She steals hearts. Not souls. And she eats cinnamon rolls for breakfast. In bed. After mind-blowing sex.”
Her words grabbed him by the balls.
He lowered his mouth to her ear to whispered. “Mind-blowing, huh? Not functional?”
She smacked his chest. “I think we’re waaaay past functional.”
He nipped the shell of her ear. “I can’t wait to get you home tonight.”
Her aroused scent bloomed with his words and he did a quick look around to make sure no other shifters were near enough to scent it.
“Have you checked me today?” she asked, quietly.
Eagan pressed his nose to her neck and inhaled. There was no hint of a pregnancy.
“Not yet, little woman.”
She frowned.
“But don’t worry. I’ll keep you to myself for a while longer.” He grinned, reaching behind to pinch her ass.
Clara yelped and swatted his hand away.
“You aren’t worried that it didn’t happen?” she asked unsure.
Eagan shook his head. “No. I’m happy. You’re happy. I’m not worried.”
She looked unsure. “Okay.”
He forced her eyes to his. “You are happy aren’t you?”
She’d worked hard with Renner’s crew, and earned enough money to pay back everything she owed to the lodge and more than half of the items in her notebook. Just as he’d expected, with every item she replaced, her heart got a little lighter. She’d even made contact with her sister in Florida. Things seemed to be going according to plan.
“Of course I am. It’s just… are you? Do I make you happy? Even with all the problems I’ve caused?”
“Do you make me…” Eagan laughed. “Do you see this goofy-ass grin? Do you think I’d wear this if I wasn’t happy as fuck?”
Her lips creeped up in her own grin. “It does look pretty dumb. You should probably stop it.”
“Never,” he said, kissing her white painted lips.
He pulled back and she wiped the makeup from his mouth.
“Let’s go, mate. Sun will be down soon. We’re going to be late for the scare fest.”
Eagan looped his arm around her shoulders and led his female into the dimming woods.
Clara stopped suddenly, peering at a rock in the path. She bent low, squinting her eyes. Then they went wide with surprise and she made a clicking sound with her tongue. The tiny black head of a lizard poked out from under the rock.
“Hey there,” Clara cooed.
The thing scampered over to her outstretched hand and crawled up the sleeve of her gown.
“What’s that?”
“My skink.” She grinned wide.
“Your what?”
“My skink. He’s a five-lined skink.”
“Yeah. I know, but…”
She watched as the lizard settled on her shoulder. “He was my companion sometimes, in the woods. I thought he’d be hibernating by now.”
Eagan glared at the thing. Before he could stop himself, he let out a loud hiss.
Clara’s eyes went wide. “Why’d you do that?”
“He smirked at me. I was telling him you’re mine.”
She laughed, standing on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek while the skink looked on from her shoulder. “It’s true. You’ve got something the skink could never offer. It’s kind of a deal breaker.”
“Oh yeah?” He pulled her hips into his, letting her feel his hardness. A reminder of what she’d get tonight after all the spooky stuff was over.
She nodded, a playful gleam in her eye.
“The skink can’t cook.”
THE END