Page 15 of Spellbound & Speechless (Witches of Starbrook #2)

Aspen

“It’s sad that a customer requested this.” I frown into the cauldron and stir it clockwise as I drop two cinnamon sticks.

“Why?” Juniper asks. “I think it would be sadder if they didn’t request it.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“If the potion helps,” Rowan says, “that’s what matters. It’s all that matters.”

Potions may not be my specialty, but self-love is. When Juniper requests my help with a self-love potion, I have to answer the call. The potion is coming together—thank the goddess. Ruining a potion in front of Juniper would be mortifying.

As much as I adore helping people with their journey to confidence and acceptance, it’s always a shame that they struggle so much with it. It reminds me of my younger years, before I recognized the magic I carry.

Making this potion is bittersweet because it’s one I know well.

We sit around our kitchen late into the evening—or maybe it’s early in the morning. I never know the difference. We need the new moon’s energy for the potion, which means brewing at precisely three in the morning.

My beauty rest will have to wait, but if it means making someone else feel beautiful, it will be so worth it.

Mac ducks his head into the room. “Something smells good.”

I roll my eyes. He’s been getting on my nerves lately, especially with his… smelling thing. I’ve known enough werewolves to know that it’s one of their quirks, but his quirks are frustrating.

Somehow, he is far more frustrating than any werewolf I’ve known.

“Then it’s working.” Rowan smiles to herself. “Not every potion is supposed to smell good, but this one is.”

“What is it?” He leans in the doorway—something I would usually find attractive, but I don’t allow myself to linger on the thought.

“Self-love potion,” I mumble. “It does… whatever you think it does, I guess. It’s sort of in the name.”

“Huh.” He squints. “That’s not for you, is it?”

Rowan snorts.

I finally look at him. “Would that be a problem, Mackenzie?”

“ Mackenzie …” Rowan snickers.

Mac shifts his weight from one foot to another. “Of course not.”

“Good. Then leave us alone. I’m working.”

For once, he does as I ask, ambling into the other room.

Juniper’s sharpened gaze is on me.

“You two don’t get along?” she asks after a few moments of silence.

“Oh, we get along fine.”

“Then what was that ?” Rowan lifts a brow .

I let go of the spoon and flick a finger, making it stir itself.

“I don’t know!” I lift my hands in surrender. “Don’t ask me a single question. I have no clue what is going on with that man.”

Juniper chuckles. “All right. Simmer down. We don’t want to put that energy into the potion.”

“You’re right. You’re right.” I inhale deeply. “He just… frustrates me.”

“I get it. Some people clash.”

There’s no other way to explain it. I’ve been frustrated before, of course.

As much as my sisters may joke, I don’t get along with everyone —or even most people.

Everyone has flaws. My frustrations with Mac are different.

And, fine, I know why. It’s the sort of frustration that comes from an unreciprocated crush.

Why doesn’t he want me ? Pathetic.

“Good,” I say. “Then we can stop talking about him.”

To my great relief, we do. It doesn’t matter. There’s no avoiding Mac when he’s positioned himself as the family bodyguard. Sharing a bedroom doesn’t help, either.

“Do you want to stay in my room?” Rowan asks. “I hate the thought of you feeling trapped with him.”

“No, no… that would mean he wins—and he will not win. Not my room, and not anything else.”

Juniper chuckles under her breath. “All right. I see where this is going.”

I glare. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Juniper holds her hands up and backs out of the room. “Let me know when the potion is done. I’ll leave you with your thoughts.”

Oh, I wish she wouldn’t. My thoughts keep leading me back to that frustrating man!

It’s five in the morning when I finish the self-love potion, and we have more than enough for the client who requested it. I stored the rest away; it will be a good drink for the bar.

Working with Juniper gives me the perfect opportunity to learn more about potion making, and I think I taught her a little about self-love, too. Maybe I’m wrong. These days, Juniper knows more about love than I do—I can hardly believe it.

I amble to my bedroom, wrapped in a white towel and wearing a pink microfiber towel on my head.

That’s all I’m wearing. No, I didn’t forget about my forced roommate. He’s still awake, and it’s time for me to get my payback.

Mac’s attractiveness frustrated me from the start, but that feeling multiplied when I saw him naked. It was the briefest flash, and I didn’t mean to stare! Honest!

It’s not like I got a look at what he’s packing, but…

Gazing at the lean muscles across his back was bad enough. How am I supposed to forget about that ? He seemed all too pleased about it, too. It’s as if he knows I want him, and instead of getting me off, he gets off on teasing me.

It’s rude, but if he wants to play games, he’ll soon learn I always win. There’s a reason the Hawthornes don’t have family game night anymore—not while I’m around!

I shuffle into my bedroom and shut the door, saying nothing as I bend over and open my bottom drawer. Without turning to look at him, I know Mac is watching .

His breath hitches.

“Aspen…” His voice is a low growl.

Everything is going according to plan. I smile mischievously. “Yes?” I stand and look at him over my shoulder, holding my silk pajamas to my chest.

“Where are your clothes?” he asks through gritted teeth.

Precisely the question I asked him earlier. How cute.

I lift the pile in my hands. “Right here.”

“Why aren’t you wearing them?” His jaw ticks.

Good . I’m getting on his nerves, just like he does mine. Mac is stoic and impossible to read. For once, his feelings are written all over his face—or rather, his body. He grabs the handmade quilt on his little bed, holding it hard enough that his knuckles turn white. Adorable.

“I forgot them.” My lips part. “Why? What’s the problem? I thought wolves love walking around naked.”

“We don’t… love it…”

“You could have fooled me.”

“All right.” His glare cuts right through me, but instead of stinging, it makes my pulse pound between my legs. “You made your point.”

“What point am I making?”

“I’ll be more… mindful of my wolf form. I get it.”

That sounds an awful lot like I won, but it doesn’t quite feel like it. I should have thought about the game before playing it. Winning, in this case, means I won’t get to see him without a shirt again…

Which is for the best, considering nothing will come of the brief, beautiful glimpses of his strong back. Oh, goddess. Do I have a thing for backs ? When did that happen?

“Glad to hear it.” I beam. “Do me a favor and close your eyes. I’m getting dressed.”

He glares. For a second, I think he’ll argue with me, though I cannot imagine what he would say. Instead, he covers his eyes.

“No peeking!” I chirp.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

I hang the towel on the back of the door and slip into my pajamas. My pulse races with each move. I hadn’t considered how thrilling it would be, being naked around him, even if only for a moment and in the most innocent way possible.

He can hear my hammering heart, can’t he? That makes the game less fun. He’ll know how much I like it.

Heat rises to my cheeks. I settle into bed, buying myself a few moments before he looks at me again with a penetrating glare. Only Mac knows how to glare and eye-fuck at the same time, and in the protected peace of my mind, I can admit I yearn for each glimpse.

“Done,” I whisper.

He lowers his hands and sighs, still not looking at me. “I wasn’t thinking earlier, with the wolf thing. I’m sorry.”

I refuse to look away from him, even if it would make it easier to hide my embarrassment. “I don’t need you to apologize. That didn’t upset me.”

He turns his head, finally gracing me with his attention. “Then what was this all about?”

“Winning.”

“Winning, huh? Is that what you think happened here?”

“Oh, yes. I would say so.”

For several moments, we’re silent, and then he surprises me.

He laughs , a soft chuckle, and rubs the palms of his hands into his eyes. “Gods…”

“What?” I ask, speaking through giggles .

“Nothing. Go to sleep.” He rolls onto his side with his back to me.

A thought crosses my mind—that I may have pushed him too far. He started the game, but it’s not the first time I’ve gone a few steps further than I should have for the sake of winning. I stare at his broad shoulders.

He turns back around. “Why are you watching me? I thought you won.”

“I did.”

“Then enjoy your victory. Don’t make this about me.’

I sigh, rolling my eyes up to the ceiling. “I thought this would be sweeter, somehow.”

“Like how?”

“Like…” I hadn’t realized it would mean setting such a firm boundary—that I’ll never see him without a shirt again. That would be strange to admit aloud, wouldn’t it? “I didn’t mean that you can never use your wolf form. It took me by surprise. It was about the timing, and?—”

“Don’t tell me you’re scared of dogs. I’ve seen you with Timber.”

“Timber is different. He’s a familiar—and I’ve known him his entire life. He’s like a brother. Seeing an enormous wolf would shock anyone.” I remove my towel and run my fingers through my hair. “Your wolf is bigger than most, you know.”

“Is that right?”

“It is—at least, I think so. It’s bigger than any I’ve seen.”

He must be big enough to be a leader. Wolf leaders run in the family, but whether said leader steps up is another story. Mac seems to do the opposite of what his lineage would want. He’s a lone wolf. How strange .

Neither of us acknowledges what his size means, and I won’t be the one to bring up the topic. He knows. He must know.

“Go to sleep, Aspen,” he says. “It’s late.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Fine. Then I’m going to sleep.”

This time, he doesn’t turn away. He stays on his back, and even though he may want to hide it, the smallest smile dances on his lips.

I admire it for a few moments before turning off the lights.