Page 72 of Hungry As Her Python

And then—oh Goddess—his eyes widened.

Oh. Hell. No.

“Are you reading my mind?” I yelped.

Zap.

A mini mountain of hardtack exploded from my fingertips, raining down across the counter in a loud pitter-patter of magic-induced carbohydrate panic.

The smell of toasted flour and overbaked crackers filled the room like some kind of weird bakery crime scene.

My heart was racing so fast I thought it might just blast out of my ribcage, slap him across the face, and run off into the night without me.

I didn’t know whether I wanted to cry, kiss him, or shove him into the nearest bread oven.

Because this bond—this thing between us—it was happening without my permission.

Without me being ready.

And that felt like betrayal.

Betrayal by him for pushing too hard.

Betrayal by my own magic for answering him so easily.

Betrayal by my traitorous heart for wanting him anyway.

My emotions were all over the place, and my magic—oh, my magic—was just feeding off it, sparking along my skin, jittering like a hyper-caffeinated squirrel.

If I didn’t calm down soon, there’d be exploding pastries, and trust me, that was never as fun as it sounded.

Donny jumped.

Evie squeaked.

And I just stood there glaring at him like how dare you mind-snoop me after what we agreed on.

“Um. Ooopsss,” he whisper-hissed.

I kicked the crackers aside and turned on the man whose head had been buried between my thighs for the better part of two hours last night.

The nerve.

This was why I didn’t do relationships.

Because men couldn’t be trusted to respect boundaries.

Especially stupid sexy Snake men!

“Bella—”

“Uh-uh!” I jabbed a finger into his chest hard enough to make him sway back a step. “I told you—no mating! We are supposed to be going out. Keeping it light. That was the deal!”

“I can’t help it, Bella. You’re mine!” His voice was low, almost pleading.

“Sugar. please, try to understand. I’m trying to go slow for your sake, but I’m a Shifter. The matebond is already there. Surely you can feel it. You have to know how I feel about you.”

“Well, you already freaking announced it, but I thought that was just posturing!”