Page 5 of All My Hexes (Pine Gulch Ever After)
Dain
One hand around Shadow’s waist, I walk her through the maze toward the exit.
She stops now and again to gush over the pumpkins and gourds, and I don’t rush her.
It’s adorable how excited she gets over their gradient colors and wide, triangular leaves.
But by the time we reach the exit, her scent has exploded with anticipation.
Her heart’s beating steadily and fast, and I think I’m obsessed with that sound.
Mine won’t beat until I claim a mate, so my chest is silent.
I’ve taken the odd lover since I moved to the Gulch, and the sound of a heartbeat is so sensual to me.
She chatters about the water works feeding the pumpkins until we pass the auction house and exit onto a residential street.
It’s quieter here other than a few random couples and groups moving up and down the sidewalk.
Most folks are drunk and stumbling. It’s that sorta party. If I’m honest, most of the Gulch’s holidays end like this. It’s one of the things I love about how wild this haven is—everything is worth celebrating and any excuse to get the townsfolk together is actioned upon.
“What are you thinking about?” Shadow slides her arm around my waist, curling her tiny fingers into my tee.
“How much I love it here.” I answer honestly. “I grew up at Hearth Headquarters and my folks expected me to go to the Protector Academy and serve, ideally with them at HQ. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the academy all that much, or monster politics.”
She curls her fingers tighter against my side. “Do you see them much?”
I shrug. “I’m a bit of a disappointment to them. I’ve got three older brothers and they’re all serving with our folks as formal protectors. It’s just not my dream.”
“I can understand that.” She smiles up at me. “My folks were thrilled for me to become a green witch, but my little sister wants to leave and go to the human world for a while. She wants to experience it all.”
“That’s hard,” I say softly. “Time passes so much faster for us in the haven system. Maybe they’re worried about not seeing her for long stretches.”
Shadow nods. “Yeah, I think that’s it. And she’s a free spirit. Tends to get into trouble easily, so of course, there’s that to worry about.” She sighs. “I thought she’d move to Rainbow when I did. It’s the big city so there’s a lot to do there. But she wants to forge a different path.”
The abandoned keeper’s mansion grabs Shadow’s attention as we walk past the crumbling home.
“She’s never let any of the new keepers in,” I say quietly, gesturing to the beautiful old home.
“She looks lonely,” Shadow murmurs. “She’s meant to be lived in, to be loved.”
“She is,” I agree. “One day the right person’ll find us and she’ll let ‘em in. That day just hasn’t come yet. I haven’t lost hope though. Her monster will come, mark my words.”
My pretty little witch is silent for another block or two. By the third block, I’m wondering what she’s thinking. Before I can ask, she halts in the street and turns to face me.
“Do you really have plants?”
I bark out a laugh. “Is that what you’ve been thinking about for the last three blocks? If I lied about my plants?”
“I mean….” she crosses her arms with a sassy look. “I’m just saying I think we both know why you invited me to your place but if there aren’t any plants I’m going to be very pisappointed. It might even ruin the mood.”
Slinging a wing around her, I pull her to me until her body hits mine. She’s warm and soft and that heartbeat is intoxicating.
I slide the tip of my tail up over her shoulder and down the front of her dress to rest over her heart. The heavy thud vibrates beneath my sensitive skin, lust pooling in my sack as I consider how very fucking pretty and sassy she is.
“I’m gonna kiss you, Shadow. And then I’ll take you home and if you wanna just enjoy my plants you’re welcome to.”
“Okay then.” She lifts her chin, her breathing the only sound in the cocoon of my wing.
Reaching down, I slide both hands to her ass and cup it. I pull her up into my arms, tucking her legs around my waist. There’s such a big height difference between us, I’d have to bend nearly in half to kiss her.
I love it.
Up close, her breath is warm—she’s going to taste delicious. I rub one thumb over her plump upper lip, admiring how very kissable it is as I keep her supported with my other hand.
She’s silent, waiting for me to take the lead. And I love that, too. Despite not wanting to become a protector, the dominant instincts of one still drive me. I like taking control in the bedroom. A pretty, submissive little human witch is exactly my style.
Bending forward, I grip her chin in my palm and lift her lips to mine. The kiss is gentle at first, the barest pressure from my lips on hers. But then she makes a soft-sounding little moan and my restraint is done. Slanting my lips more forcefully over hers, I swallow that needy sound.
Shadow slides her arms around my neck, one hand traveling up into my hair to play with the base of one of my horns.
That pulls a heavy groan from me, her kiss growing more forceful, more demanding.
She rocks her hips against my stomach as we devour one another.
With my free hand, I cup her breast, pinching the taut nipple until it peaks between my fingers.
Fuck, we’re in public, nothing but my wing between her and the rest of the world. We need a bed, stat, because I’m about to become obsessed with this little witch.