Chapter Twenty-Two
Making magic
Gideon
Even though the pub was right next door, my wolf was already pacing under my skin like it was taking forever for us to go to my apartment. Every step Declan took beside me and every little glance up at me from behind his glasses had me wanting to forget the whole damn town and take him upstairs. But being Alpha—even if I wasn’t a real Alpha—meant I didn’t get to blow off responsibilities because I was horny.
When we stepped through the door, the warm buzz of a Saturday night hit us. Sable was behind the bar, slinging drinks and laughing at something a patron said. The tables were full. A sprite at the far end was trying to barter her tab down with seashells. Someone’s pet gnome darted between boots, chasing peanut shells. Typical night at The Den.
“Boss,” Sable called over the noise, “Alvin’s out of rosemary. Says he can’t finish the stew without it.”
I bit back a growl. I pulled out my phone and shot off a text to Elwood. A moment later, he replied.
“Tell him Alvin can grab some from Elwood’s garden out back. He says he has plenty. Just don’t wreck the place. Apparently, someone broke some of his plants this weekend. Or you could use thyme instead.” My eyes flicked to Declan, and he looked so enticing with his cheeks flushed with anticipation. But Goddess help me, I’d been gone most of the day, and I needed to make sure everything was in order in the pub.
A regular, Marcus, waved from a booth. “Gideon, the gnomes have been complaining because the Wi-Fi keeps dropping, and it ruins their gaming marathons.”
“I didn’t know the gnomes were into gaming. I’ll get Az to talk to them.” I forced a smile, even though all I wanted to do was grab Declan’s hand and drag him upstairs.
Declan shifted his weight from foot to foot, attention roving over the crowded room. He looked equal parts fascinated and overwhelmed. “It’s… a lot busier than I expected,” he murmured.
“Saturday night,” I said. “It’s always busy on Saturday, but we have a lot of extras in town for the festival, as well. Sable’s got the bar, so I just need to handle a couple things.”
“Of course.” His voice was polite, but his fingers brushed mine where they hung at my side, and the wolf in me shuddered.
I ducked into the kitchen to check on Alvin. He was stirring two pots at once, hair damp from the heat. “You good?”
“Yeah. Just short on rosemary. Sable said you said swap in thyme, so I’m gonna try it.” He shot me a knowing grin. “You’ve got company tonight?”
I grunted and turned back around before he could say more.
Back in the main room, Sable had things well in hand. “Everything’s running smoothly, boss,” she said, flashing me a quick smile. “Go do what you need to do.”
I never took Saturdays off, and especially not on a festival night. I hesitated, scanning the tables one more time to make sure everything was good. Everyone was fed, drinks were topped up, and no fights were breaking out. My wolf rumbled in approval. The pub was safe. My people were safe. Sable had everything under control.
Finally, I turned to Declan. He was perched on a barstool, watching me like he couldn’t wait for me to be finished so we could go upstairs. I got it. I felt the very same way.
“Ready?” I asked, my voice low.
“Very,” he said, and the look in his eyes made my pulse jump.
I reached for his hand. The sound of the pub faded to a hum behind us as we started up the stairs. We didn’t waste any time. The last thing I wanted was for someone to realize they actually did need something from me.
A minute later, I shut the door of my apartment behind us, sealing us in our own world. I was still able to hear the faint sound of the pub downstairs, but that was because of my advanced hearing. I didn’t think Declan could hear it. Or maybe he was ignoring it because he didn’t want to be interrupted any more than I did.
I reached for him and pulled him to me. The small taste of him I got earlier wasn’t anywhere close to enough, and I couldn’t wait to get more. I ran my nose up the side of his neck, and his spicy, sweet scent hit me like a punch to the gut. My hands found his hips, fingers digging in just shy of painful.
Mine. Even if my wolf couldn’t rise to confirm it, this man was mine.
“Gideon—” he started, but I cut him off with a kiss.Hard. Demanding.He melted into me with a gasp, hands fisting in my shirt. Urgency thrummed under my skin, and my heart was pounding out a drumbeat loud enough he could hear.
I nipped his lower lip.Bite him, something primal snarled in my chest, and Goddess knew I wanted to, but without my wolf, it wasn’t an option. Instead, all I was left with was the blunt ache of want.
I shoved the thought down as something to worry about later and focused on now. On him.
His shirt hit the floor. Mine followed. The slide of skin against skin drew a low groan from him. Magic sparked where our chests pressed together—tiny gold embers that danced along my collarbone. They were warm, and they tickled. That wasn’t me. That was him. His magic was waking up.
“Declan,” I growled against his throat, licking the frantic pulse there. He shuddered, arching into me. “You’re… glowing.”
