Page 15 of Bewitchingly Hers (Witches of Pleasant Grove #3)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

eryne

M y heart was beating a million miles in my chest, and for once, I didn’t want to think anymore. Didn’t want to list all of the reasons why we shouldn’t.

I just wanted to think about all of the reasons why we should. Because I was desperately attracted to this man. I felt safe with him. And maybe some part of me had let what Rina and Wendy said the other day get into my head. But I wanted to know what it would be like.

If it would be as explosive as this heat between us felt.

His kisses were soft caresses against my lips, enough to leave me wanting more. His hand slid into my hair, bringing our lips closer, and I was seconds away from straddling his lap right here in the middle of the bar, to beg him for more.

A sharp tooth dragged against my lip, and I almost moaned. We weren’t even kissing with tongue, and I was already more into it than I’d ever been with anyone else.

“Fuck,” Barrett said, resting his forehead against mine. “We should stop.” His fingers brushed against the back of my neck, his thumb brushing over the top of my spine over and over.

I blinked up at him, coming back to my senses. “Yeah,” I whispered back, looking around us, as if just remembering we were in the middle of the bar. “Probably.”

Pressing my lips against his one last time, I sat back against the barstool, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as he settled his hand back on my thigh. It was warm, and I wanted him to slide it higher.

Calm down, horny girl, I scolded myself.

Part of me still preened, thinking about his reaction when he’d first seen me walk in. Maybe some part of me had invited him here tonight hoping this would happen, because I couldn’t get him out of my head.

I’d been a mess all day at work, until my employees had finally kicked me out after I let one too many shots of espresso die. Yeah, I was not ready to look at that too deeply.

Barrett waived Iris over, handing her a card and paying for both of our drinks before I could even speak.

Then he stood up, discreetly adjusting himself—I tried not to notice the bulge in his pants, since we were clearly not talking about how affected either of us were—and then extended out a hand to me.

Wordlessly, I slipped my hand into his, interlacing our fingers together. I took that moment to admire how big his hand was.

Really, he was huge everywhere. He was over a foot taller than me—making me feel even smaller than I normally felt—and there was no mistaking how muscular he was.

He guided me out into the night, and I tried to ignore the way it felt like bats were flying around in my stomach. Each one lighting a fire burning low in my stomach. A need building in between my thighs.

I was nervous. When was the last time I’d been nervous around someone?

I didn’t know. But I also didn’t know when the last time I liked someone this much was either.

Maybe it was quick to feel like this—only a few days had passed since I’d woken up in bed with his human form wrapped around me.

And yet, I didn’t care about any of that.

Barrett’s thumb brushed over my knuckles. “Did you walk or drive?” He looked around, no doubt trying to find my car.

I tried to imagine what it was like to see this place for the first time through his eyes.

Main Street was illuminated by string lights and flickering pumpkins, because the moment September came to Pleasant Grove, Halloween was in full swing here.

We loved it. From the pumpkin festival next week to All Hallow’s Eve and even the weekly Ghoul’s Night in the bar, everything was all Halloween, all the time, until the end of October.

I’d grown up here, and yet I still loved when the decorations went up every year.

The only thing that might have had Halloween beat was when winter hit our little town. When a coating of snow settled across the rooftops and the horseless sleighs pulled by magic could be found traveling down Main Street. Christmas in Pleasant Grove was something else entirely.

“I walked,” I said, giving him a small smile. “It’s nice out tonight.”

He nodded, squeezing my hand. “Then, let’s walk back.” Perks of living in a small town—even my house, at the edge of the forest, was only a few blocks away from the town center.

“Okay.”

Barrett pulled me in close, dropping a kiss to my forehead. “Okay.”

I leaned my head against his arm as we walked, enjoying the comfortable silence. Maybe we both needed this moment to cool down.

This was one of the first nights I felt like I’d really gotten to appreciate the decorations since they’d went up.

It was already the end of September. It felt like I’d blinked, and then the month was over.

Of course, every day meant we were one closer to Halloween, so I couldn’t help but be excited.

A little shiver ran through me, and Barrett frowned at my side. “Are you cold?”

I shrugged. “A little.” It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle, however. Fiddling with my pendant around my neck, I avoided eye contact with him. There was something too real, too raw in his gaze.

Without another word, he took off his coat, draping it over my shoulders. It was warm and cozy, and I was instantly surrounded by his woodsy scent. God, he smelled delicious. I buried my nose in the neck, inhaling deeply. When I looked up, I found him smirking at me, and I knew I’d been caught.

“What?” I asked him as the corners of his mouth tilted up.

“You’re cute,” he said, lifting our adjoined hands and kissing the back of mine.

I blushed. “Barrett.” I looked around, like someone might possibly catch us.

He squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry. I’ll control myself.” I giggled as he dropped his head down, his lips brushing over my ear as he whispered, “For now.”

The sensation of his lips on my skin made me shiver in anticipation.

“That’s what I’m counting on,” I said back, batting my eyelashes at him. He let out a little growl—not one of aggression, but frustration.

I giggled as we reached my house, taking the few steps onto the porch. He stood behind me as I unlocked the door, and I could almost feel the heat from his body seeping into mine. After it clicked shut behind us, I stepped into the living room, all too aware of the man behind me.

His presence was intoxicating in ways I couldn’t explain. In ways I didn’t want to think about too deeply.

Barrett wrapped his arms around my middle and holding me tight. Shutting my eyes, I tried not to moan as he nuzzled his face into my neck.

“Fuck,” he grunted. “Eryne. You smell so good.”

I tilted my head back to look at him, sniffing at my collar. “Don’t I just smell like you?”

He let out a groan. “With my coat? Yes . But it’s not enough.” He pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin between my neck and shoulder.

“No?” I whispered.

“Uh-uh.” Barrett nibbled on my ear. “My wolf wants you to smell like me everywhere.”

This time, I did let out a moan as he sucked on my skin.

But I wanted his lips on mine. Wanted to do what we had left unfinished from the bar. I reached backwards, sliding my hand into his hair. Much like his wolf’s fur, it was soft, and I raked my fingers through it.

“Take me to bed,” I begged.

But we didn’t make it that far. He shuffled us over to the couch, sitting down before pulling me on top of him, my core pressed over his.

“Is this a good time to mention I’m not wearing any underwear?” I asked, sliding my hands up his chest.

He let out a strangled sound, his hands reaching up to cup the swells of my ass, squeezing gently.

I made a satisfied humming sound as I leaned in, pressing soft kisses to the corners of his lips, his cheeks, and his jaw.

I traced his freckles with my finger, feeling like I was creating constellations on his skin.

“Eryne,” he groaned, the word coming out almost as a pant. For the first time, I noticed he didn’t look quite right. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his skin was flushed.

I frowned, climbing off his lap and sitting down on the couch next to him.

“Barrett?” I touched his forehead. “What’s wrong with you? You’re burning up.”

He let out another pained sound at my touch. Was there an infection? Had I missed something?

“I’ll… be… fine,” he gritted out. “Don’t worry about me.”

“You’re definitely not fine. How can I help?”

Barrett shook his head. “You can’t.”

“How long have you been feeling like this?” I could tell there was something he wasn’t telling me, but I didn’t know how to convince the stubborn wolf-man that I was willing to take care of him.

Resting my hand over his heart, I leaned closer to him. He moaned, dropping his head back. “Just… since earlier.” That was odd, but maybe something he’d drank had just disagreed with him.

Except at the bar… he’d been fine. He’d seemed perfectly normal until after we’d kissed.

“Is it… me? Am I somehow the one affecting you?” I asked, my eyes dropping to the bulge in his jeans. He was hard, straining against his zipper. It looked painful, and I didn’t know how I could fix it, but I’d try.

“’S not your fault,” he said, voice strained. “I can… control myself.”

“But what if I said you didn’t have to?” Straddling him once again, I traced his freckles with my thumb, staring into his eyes that were almost black. “What if I said I wanted you?”

He shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re asking me for, Eryne.”

I ground down on his cock. “And what if I do?”

“Oh, fuck,” he said, shuddering. “I can’t decide if I should tell you to stop or do it again.”

I wrapped my fingers around the back of his neck, pressing my lips against his flushed skin. He was clearly fighting against whatever urges were driving him right now. But I didn’t want him to hold back. I wanted him—all of him.

“I want you, Barrett,” I said against his ear. “Please.”

He surged up, groaning as his lips met mine. There was no method to this kiss—it was messy, needy. I couldn’t stop rubbing against him, desperate for some friction as his tongue stroked over mine, over and over. My insides ached, and I wanted relief. Maybe as badly as he did.

“Are you in heat? Is that… what this is?”

“No— fuck .” Barrett let out a grunt as I rocked over him, moving my hips. “Not exactly.” He shook his head. “Females go into heat. Males, we…” His hands grasped my hips, nails digging into my skin. “Males go into rut when they don’t mate with their partner.”

My eyes widened. “That’s what this is? You’re going into… rut?” I didn’t fully understand, but I was trying to.

He nodded. “I won’t be able to control myself. I won’t be able to be gentle.”

“And this will help? If we…” My eyelashes fluttered shut as he ran his mouth down my neck, his mouth hovering over the spot where my neck and shoulder met.

“If we fuck?” He rasped. “ Yes. I think. I’ve never—” I reached down between us, cupping his erection and massaging it. Barrett cursed again. “This has never happened to me, baby.”

I froze. “Never?”

He shook his head. “I don’t want you to regret this.”

“How could I ever?” I whispered. Not with him. Not when I’d seen the kind of man he was. When I knew he was good. The idea of him leaving still broke me inside, but I knew I didn’t want to waste a single moment we had together.

I unzipped his pants, ready to free his cock. Needing to help give him relief. Though I didn’t fully understand, I wanted to make him feel good. Wanted to relieve the ache, to get rid of the pain.

Barrett reached out, grabbing my hand. Stilling me. “Before we go any further, there’s something you need to know.” He swallowed roughly. “Wolf shifters… Our anatomy is… different.”

I was pretty sure from what I’d already felt that he still had all the same working parts. And he was big, if what I’d squeezed was any indication. But maybe there was something I was missing. “Are you saying we wouldn’t be compatible?” I frowned.

“No.” He shook his head, his hands running up and down my sides. “No. It’s not that. But female wolves are made to take it. And I don’t want to hurt you.”

“ It ?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I pushed down his pants, letting his cock spring free.

“My knot.”

My eyes widened as I took in his length. “Your… knot?” Right there, at the base, was a swollen bulb. I ran my fingers down it, mesmerized by the differences between our bodies.

“ Fuck , Eryne.” He shuddered under my touch. “You’re going to kill me.” Barrett pressed his forehead to mine. “My knot’s primary function is to keep us connected.” A light blush dotted his freckled cheeks. “ After. To, uh, ensure successful fertilization.”

“Oh.” I blinked. And then the realization of what he was saying hit me. It would be okay though, right? I was on birth control, and my pendant was charmed to protect against pregnancy. I bit my lip, deep in thought.

“I don’t have to knot you, though.” He shook his head. “As long as I don’t, I won’t hurt you.” Barrett nuzzled into my neck.

“You won’t. I trust you.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, combing my fingers through the hair at the base of his neck.

“It might be a little crazy, because we barely know each other, but I feel like I know you.” All those hours taking care of him, looking into his eyes when he was a wolf, feeling that deep sense of connection… it all made me feel close to him.

Barrett pressed his forehead against mine, bringing us closer together. “I know exactly what you mean,” he murmured, brushing his lips over mine.

I didn’t hold myself back this time.

I didn’t want to.

I just wanted him.