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“No more kissing.” She tried to be as assertive as she could be, but it was terribly difficult because shedidwant more kisses from this man.

She might not get along with him all the time, and she might find him to be the most annoying man in the entire world, but all of that melted away when they kissed.

In those tender moments, she was not a witch. She was a woman. A desirable woman who could bring a strong and stubborn man to his knees with passion. It was the most powerful Alana had ever felt.

Probably because it felt right, but she didn’t know what to do withthat. How could kissing a man who hated you, a man you were pretty sure you hated right back, bethatgood?

It was apparently one of life’s mysteries, just like why the magic was dying, and the earthquake rocked the town.

But it wasn’t even true anymore. They didn’t hate each other. Now they were on the same team, working together.

Now, Cohen trusted her. When everyone else in town looked to her for answers, Cohen rolled up his sleeves and asked her what she needed.

Alana hadn’t felt that in …years.

That was precisely why they couldn’t kiss anymore.

“No more kissing,” Cohen repeated. “Sure. We can do that. Or,” he shrugged, taking a step closer to her. “We could go in a totally different direction.”

Before Alana could even ask him what that might be, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly. She melted into the kiss, more than ready to kiss this man for the very last time.

That’s all this was.

A goodbye kiss.

It was the last kiss they would share before they started to fix this town once and for all.

Alana let herself believe that was the truth for as long as she could, but soon, it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough ofCohen. His lips moved with hers, his tongue exploring her mouth while his hands went up and down her back before settling on her hips.

Her hands traveled up his shirt, curling around his back so she could dig her nails into the taut skin. He growled in her mouth, tightening his grip on her hips. His erection pressed into her hip, and Alana sighed happily. To feel the hard length against her, to know with certainty that Cohen was just as affected by their embrace as she was.

“Alana,” he kissed down her cheeks and along the column of her neck. “I don’t want this to be the last time we kiss.”

Her breath caught, and her legs shook, but Cohen held her close. The circle of his arms kept her upright, her body leaning into his for support. She took a deep breath, inhaling Cohen’s scent. Something unfurled in the pit of her stomach, and Alana’s entire body heated over.

Cohen could so easily turn her upside down.

Maybe that’s why she hated him.

Because he dared to be the only man who ever had an effect on her, damn him.

“Alana,” he repeated her name over again. “Should we stop?”

She didn’t know what she wanted. Instead of trying to find the words, she lifted to her toes and pressed her lips to his. Her fingers made quick work of the buttons on his shirt. She pushed it over his shoulders, revealing his muscular chest. His skin was golden, with a smattering of hair that led down into the waistband of his pants.

He was all man, all power.

“Alana,” he reached out and lifted her chin with the tips of his fingers. “If you’re gonna start stripping me out of my clothes, at least tell me you want me.”

“Isn’t this enough of a sign?”

He chuckled, his mouth quirking into a grin. “No, love. It’s not enough of a sign.” He grabbed hold of her hair and gained access to her neck. He pressed kisses along the skin he had exposed. “Tell me that you want me, Alana.”

“In this moment, Cohen, I want you. But if you start being a dick, I will leave you high and dry.”

His grin returned. “High and dry, huh?” He rubbed the back of his fingers against her cheeks. “I don’t think I’m ever a dick to you.”

She snorted. “No way you believe that.”