Page 35 of Untraced Magic (Cutters Cove Witches #1)

Morgan

Jet-black silk slid over my hips as if night had collected its bounty. I mean, as much as I didn’t do dresses,Tyler had good taste.

The fabric shimmered as I moved, its shorter front exposing my legs strapped in gold heels. A small train fell elegantly, cutting in from the deep V that exposed what felt like my entire back.

I had to admit, I loved it. I felt… bold.

Tyler had returned with two boxes in hand, the invitation to the dance on top. He was so charming, I simply couldn’t say no.

I didn’t want to say no.

Tonight felt like an official introduction to this new life.

I didn’t want to think about Port Fallere and Sacred Souls. I couldn’t be a part of another coven. Not now. I refused to let myself think that all this could be temporary, a bittersweet bedtime story told to children on a stormy night.

A tremor tore through my hands, and I fisted them tightly, stretching my fingers wide again. I had reservations about attending the dance tonight, and my stomach had suddenly twisted into a knot, my nerves finally getting the better of me .

I tousled my hands through my hair as it fell freely down my back before stepping into the living area.

“Well, what do you think?” I asked nervously.

Tyler’s gaze lifted at the sound of my voice, his lips parting slightly. He leaned against the door frame, hands tucked inside the pockets of his suit pants, complemented by a crisp white shirt and black tie.

My mouth went dry at the sight of him. The deliciously black tux hugged his broad shoulders, and I wanted to run my hands over it. Or peel it off him altogether. My eyes dropped to his tie, my God, he looked too good to be true.

His irises darkened as they rolled over me like molten lead. I bit my lip under the intensity of his stare. He strode over to me, closing the space between us in seconds, his suit-laden arms sliding around my waist.

“Chew that bottom lip again and we won’t make it out of this house tonight.”

I melted at his words, the tone of his artful tongue a forewarning of things to come.

The intensity of his stare prickled my skin as he pulled away, raking his heady gaze over every inch of me.

“You’re dangerously beautiful. I’m not sure I want to let you out of the house looking like this.” Tyler chuckled, moving closer again.

His mouth found mine, and I sank into the kiss, savoring the taste of him on my tongue.

I pulled away to drink in the sight of him, the fabric of his tux soft under my fingertips. His broad frame filled out the suit jacket as if it were tailor made. The perfect fit .

He smelled intoxicating, brushed with notes of freshly pressed fabric and aftershave.

My insides hummed in appreciation.

I ran my finger down his tie, over the ridges carved into his chest, buried beneath the jacket. I laughed nervously. “I might have trouble fending the strays off you tonight.”

The corner of his mouth quirked. The tips of his fingers traced the length of my arms. “There will be no strays. Only you.”

I nodded, knowing he meant every word.

A knock rattled the door and Tyler straightened, smoothing the front of his suit.

“That will be our car,” he explained.

I raised my brows. “Our car?”

A swift nod, then his hand fell to the small of my back again. “Alpha Aden sends a car for everyone who attends the dance.”

“Right. I’ll just grab my bag.”

Returning to Tyler, I took his outstretched hand, goosebumps spreading over my skin at his touch.

A grin spread over his face and he smirked, like he knew of my arousal.

He couldn’t. Could he?

“Can you…?” Oh God! I couldn’t fathom the words, let alone say them.

His face gleamed with a mixture of amusement, his lips dipping to my ear as if in a room full of people and no one should hear him.

“I can,” Tyler confirmed with a mischievous grin as a sensation of what I could only describe as fiery lust circled me .

“Can I? … Is that? You ?” I sputtered, certain I could feel his own.

His mouth spread into a full grin. “Cat’s out of the bag.”

I couldn’t hide the surprise, or shock rather, that bloomed on my face. My jaw found its place neatly settled on the ground.

The tip of his finger lightly tapped the peak of my nose, then he winked. Winked !

“You mean you can feel when I’m…. I mean…oh my God, this is insane,” I whisper-yelled at him.

A low laugh rumbled from him. “Think of it as your direct dial to room service.”

I shook my head at the innuendo. “And you said I was the one with the filthy mind.” I muttered.

He laughed. “You started it with all your heat and…”

I thumped him in the arm of his expensive suit before his arms wrapped around me again.

I stared up at his wicked eyes, unable to hide my smile. “I can’t help it if you make me… excited .”

Tyler dragged his mouth over mine again, pulling away just enough to speak.

His voice turned to a low husk. “Don’t remind me. You’re very distracting.” His smile brushed my lips. “We really have to go; the car’s waiting.”

He reluctantly led me to the front door, and when he pulled it open, a sleek black car sat waiting for us outside, the shadows of the night reflecting off its polished exterior.

My brows nearly rose to my hairline. “Wowzers, these guys must be loaded. ”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Tyler murmured with a smirk.

The evening air lapped at my legs, goosebumps forming on my skin as I rushed to the car. Tyler held the door open for me.

I smiled at him. “Such a gentleman, thank you.”

His hand cupped my ass as if challenging my words.

Leaning closer, his lips grazed my ear, his hand giving my butt a subtle squeeze. “You might take that back when I get you alone in the back of this car looking the way you do.”

“You would never,” I challenged back, playfully swiping his hand away, the devilish smirk on Tyler’s face disappearing as the car door closed behind me.

I’d never stepped foot in a vehicle like this before, and as Tyler settled into the seat beside me, we sank into the black leather interior, its smell engorging us. We stared at our surroundings with a matching sense of awe.

“I think I’m in the wrong profession,” he joked, and I couldn’t help my giggle.

I lowered my voice to a whisper so the driver couldn’t hear me. “Maybe I need to upgrade my mate to an Alpha Wolf thing,” I teased.

Bad idea.

“Never,” Tyler growled, moving closer until he was hard against my side. He lowered his voice to a low rasp. “Don’t think for a second that any of those wolves could heat your skin the way I do.”

As if to prove his point, his hand slid under the front of my dress, and my thighs abandoned me, separating just enough to let him find the outside of my thong already soaked .

I squirmed under his touch, matched with the intensity of his stare that I swear could strip me bare.

“ Tyler ,” I hissed, steering my gaze to the driver and back.

The car hummed as it left the curb, the driver seemingly unaware of Tyler’s wandering hands.

I grabbed onto his forearm, as if to stop him. As much as I wanted his touch, I couldn’t do this in here…could I?

An uncomfortable warning chewed in my mind at the outrageous idea he could touch me only feet away from someone else; but my body had other ideas, a mind of its own. Raw need clawed through me as the mate bond ached for his touch, my legs falling open wider.

Tyler palmed my sex through the sheer fabric barely covering me, his breath dusting my ear, hot and taunting. “Does my mate like to play?”

A light moan slipped from my mouth, Tyler catching it with his lips, smothering it.

I’d never been into this type of thing before, but knowing the driver possibly knew what was going on behind him surprisingly turned me on.

My arousal grew to a fever pitch, my hips seeking friction. More. I needed more.

He pulled the fabric of my thong to the side, finding me soaked, sliding his fingers through my center.

“You feel like heaven,” Tyler breathed in my ear, circling my aching bundle of nerves. A low, delicious laugh came from him as he pulled his hands from me. “But not here, princess. No one gets to watch my mate get off except me. ”

He placed his hands innocently on my knee, the caress of his thumb a whole new torture.

“Damn you, mage,” I whispered, my hand still fisting his pant leg in frustration.

He cupped the side of my face with his free hand, his half smile leaving me both reeling and craving his touch again. His irises danced in the most mischievous way; two pools of lead drowned with desire.

“You can thank me later when I finish what I’ve started,” he teased, and before I could answer, his lips landed on mine as if sealing his promise.

I moaned into his mouth. “Not fair.”

He tsked me, settling his hand on my thigh. “Patience, Morgan.” He brushed his lips against my temple.

I loved how affectionate Tyler had become, his hand grazing repeatedly over my knee as I peered out the window at the thick forest surrounding us.

“Where exactly are we going? I mean… what do they actually live in?” I wondered.

His hand stilled on my knee. “Every wolf pack has its own territory and ‘pack house’, so to speak.”

“Pack house?”

Tyler nodded. “The entire pack lives in the pack house or its surroundings.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Sounds very cult like.”

“I guess it does the first time you hear of it.” He laughed lightly .

Our car slowed, turning into a tree lined drive so tall I couldn’t see their crests. We came to a halt, large iron gates prohibiting us from entering further. The driver had a quick word to one of the two guards stationed at the entrance before the gates slowly swung open, granting us access.

“What the hell is this place?” I thought aloud as the driveway gave way to an expanse of rolling gardens leading to a large stone complex.

Proving to be something between a prison and a castle, its main building looked to be accompanied by other wings off to each side, the main entrance guarded by more security.