Page 29 of Enchanting the Alpha (Mystic Hollow #1)
TWENTY-NINE
T he challenge in her voice made Xabir’s wolf stir. Instead of responding immediately, he took a slow sip of wine, letting her anticipation build. “Patience. We haven’t even gotten to dessert yet.”
Her eyes narrowed playfully. “Are you always this much of a tease?”
“Only with you.” He enjoyed the way her breath caught. “I’ve never had reason to be before.”
“No?” She tilted her head, studying him. “I find that hard to believe. Surely you’ve dated...”
“Nothing serious.” He met her gaze directly. “I was waiting for my mate.”
The word hung between them, heavy with meaning. Her pulse jumped. “And now?”
“I’m through waiting.”
She bit her lip, and his eyes tracked the movement. “That’s a pretty serious declaration.”
“I’m a serious man.” He reached for her hand, running his thumb across her knuckles. “And you’re worth being serious about.”
“Xabir...” her voice softened, “what exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying that the moment you walked into town, something in me recognized you. Not just my wolf - though he definitely has opinions - but all of me. And I’m done pretending I’m not completely captivated by you.”
She squeezed his hand, her magic sparking along his skin. “Even though I’m a witch?”
“Especially because you’re a witch. Your magic calls to me, just like everything else about you does.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “I want all of you, Romi. The magic, the sass, the way you light up when you’re excited about something. I want lazy Sunday mornings and midnight coffee runs and arguments about whose turn it is to do the dishes.”
“You’re making it very hard to take things slowly,” she whispered, her scent rich with desire and something deeper.
He smiled against her palm. “Good. Because I have no intention of taking things slow anymore. I’m going to romance you properly, seduce you thoroughly, and convince you that being my mate is exactly what you want.”
“And if I’m already halfway convinced?”
His wolf surged forward, pressing against his control. “Then dessert can wait and I can take this time to make you fully convinced.”
He pulled her into his lap, swallowing her surprised laugh with a kiss that had none of the gentleness of their previous ones. She pressed against him, her fingers tangling in his hair as she kissed him back just as hungrily.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathing heavily, she rested her forehead against his. “You mentioned something about dessert?”
He chuckled, pressing soft kisses along her jaw. “Cannoli cake from Bellissimo’s.”
She jerked back, eyes wide. “You didn’t.”
“I did.”
“That’s in New York!”
“I have a jet.” He kissed her again, quick and playful. “And excellent motivation to use it.”
“You flew in my favorite cake.” She shook her head, wonder in her voice. “Just to surprise me.”
“I’d fly to Italy right now if you wanted authentic gelato instead.”
She laughed, but her eyes were soft. “You’re dangerous.”
“Only to your willpower.” He stood, keeping her in his arms. “Now, about that cake...”
Later, as they shared bites of cannoli cake and traded stories about their lives, Xabir knew with absolute certainty that he’d do anything to keep that sparkle in her eyes. His wolf had chosen well - Romi wasn’t just his mate, she was everything he never knew he needed.
He didn’t want her to leave. They’d had cake and tea and he looked for every excuse to keep her longer. When she got up to wash her hands, he decided he had to do something.
He stood when he saw her coming his way and stalked toward her. She stopped, her eyes widening.
“Stay.”
She glanced at him for a long moment before her gaze dropped to his lips. “Okay.”
He kissed her before she could say anything else. The hunger he felt for wanting her had only grown with every moment they spent together. He had to have her. He picked her up in his arms as he kissed her, loving the taste of her and the way she pressed herself to him.