Page 80 of Charmed, I'm Sure

His long dark lashes flick open as those beautiful hazel eyes stare up at me, waiting for me. He’s thrown me a rope, am I going to take it? My throat goes dry. I can feel my body tense as I consider it. Consider giving into the tormenting thoughts running through my mind, of exactly what cuddling with Miles on the couch after a long day will feel like. If his cuddles will really heal my heart like he claims.

My lips part but nothing comes out. I’ve never been at a loss for words until now. Never felt so many things at one time.

I snap the notebook open again, hoping to distract myself. But instead all I see are cuddles, healing, and kisses. My chest aches with a yearning I’ve never had before.

I shove the notebook into his lap, flip my hair over my shoulder, and try my damnedest to pretend everything is fine. “Your theory on wolf cuddles is flawed. No amount of cuddling can heal a wound, even the deep ones.”

Miles smirks, like he knows exactly what thoughts are running through my mind. Maybe he does? Who even knows how this mate bond thing works. Not me, that’s who.

“Seems we might need to run some experiments,” he purrs as he runs a finger down the back of my arm.

I jerk my arm away from him, giving him my best scowl before I storm back off to my cauldron, grimoire, and normalcy.

I’ll just bury myself in making these charms one of my customers had requested. That should keep my mind focused on anything other than the wolf with a sweet smile sitting only a few feet from me.

It works for a little bit, but every noise, every hum, and every shift of his body snaps my eyes back up to him. I’m elbow deep in scooping out the charm I’ve been working on when he stands and stretches. His shirt lifts to show a dark patch of hair disappearing beneath his belt. I can’t help but stare at it, wondering what would happen if I followed it.

Shaking my head, attempting to dislodge the trail of my thoughts, I snap my eyes back to my task at hand. No more wolves.

He walks up behind me, his hand trailing up my back, ever so lightly as he comes to a stop beside me. My entire body shivers as the tingles running down me clash against the heat of his body.

“I’m going to head out, but I’ll be back.” He smiles as he leans over and kisses my hair, which seems to be his favorite thing to do.

I just nod my head, biting my lips between my teeth. My eyes follow him as he walks through my shop with a familiarity only I have with this place. Before he closes the door, he smirks over his shoulder.

“Try not to start another generational curse while I’m gone.”

I screech and throw a turnip at him that pings off the door and not his head like I’d intended.

Damnit! With the shop clear, I’m determined to get work done. Since he’s not here, surely I can focus on the task at hand, right?

Wrong.

Every few moments my eyes drag back towards the door, wondering where in the world he went to and if he’s even going to come back. If a shadow crosses the door, I lurch in anticipation.

Grr! I’m not getting anything done! Never in my life! If this is what life is going to be like, I’ll never be able to take customers anymore! Who would want to work with someone who can’t seem to stop thinking about her mate for five minutes!

That’s it, I’m just going to go find him. Clearly, work is shot for the day…maybe my future at this rate. I slam my book shut and turn off the burner under my cauldron. I swing my way around my table, ready to stomp through town on a hunt for a wolf when the door flies open by said wolf.

His arms are full with various paper bags, two trays ofdrinks, and is that a scone in a bag gripped between his teeth? Who is this man feeding? A small army of wolves?

I’m standing there with my mouth gaped open when he blinks his eyes at me. Smiling the best he can with the bag between his teeth.

“Hey Trouble!” he mumbles around the bag.

“Miles? What is all of this?”

“Lunch!” he says excitedly as he makes his way to his chair. When did I start considering it his chair?

“Who are you feeding? Is there a group of people coming?”

“Nope! It’s all for the two of us. See Maisie said a hungry witch is scarier than a generational curse. So I’m under strict orders to feed you. But since…you’ve never told me your favorite food…I just got one of everything Hex & Harken had to offer. Figure at least one of these will be a favorite.”

I sit down in the chair next to him, not sure how to react or respond. Not that he notices as he starts taking all the items out of the bags. Popping open the styrofoam containers, displaying the food in front of me.

He wasn’t kidding when he said he got one of every menu item. But I know the second he opens mine, the smell of caramelized onions, melted cheese, and warm bread fill my nose. The Hex Melt, Hex & Harken’s take on the human patty melt. Clarissa puts garlic butter on the bread before she toasts it. So delicious.

I snatch it quickly, not giving him a chance to pick it. He laughs as he holds his hands up in surrender.