She grabbed it and pulled away.“Mmm.Now that’s exactly what I needed.”
He lunged for her hips, but she scooted out of reach, a devilish grin on her face.Damn, he loved her playfulness.
“I’ll give you exactly what you need.”He filled his words with promise.
She shrieked as he pulled her into his arms.Coffee sloshed on the floor, but he didn’t give a damn.This time, her body molded to his.He took the mug from her fingers and placed it on the kitchen table.Cradling her head in his hand, he touched his lips to her neck.
She moaned.He swept the top of her shirt down and pulled her nipple into his mouth.
“Ah, god, Jaxon.”
“Mmm,” he said.“Make no mistake, McKenna—I need you more than the air I breathe.And I hope to hell you feel the same.”
Her breath stilled.She ran her fingers down his bicep, and her eyes melted into a liquid blue.“I think I’ve wanted you my whole life.”
He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.Life was full of twists and turns.He didn’t care about where they’d be in a few years.All that mattered was that she was here now, and there was no way he was walking away from this kind of happiness.
EPILOGUE
“What the hellis that?”
The sound of Jaxon’s grumbling from the front door brought a smile to McKenna’s lips.
“McKenna.”Panic followed.“There’s smoke—”
He stopped dead in his tracks at the threshold of the living room.
McKenna grinned.“Hey, honey, just us.”
Josie walked around the room in a circle.A brass singing bowl sat in the palm of her hand, and she was striking it and circling the edge with a wooden mallet.Its ringing music sang off the walls.Jaxon’s eyes widened on Josie before he jerked his gaze to McKenna.
She fought back a laugh, not wanting to disturb Josie’s concentration.She signaled to Jaxon to meet her in the kitchen.The sage’s smoke was dissipating, so she set the bundle in the steel bowl to finish burning.
“Did I interrupt your gathering?”He crossed his arms over his chest and sent a wary eye toward Josie.
“No,” she said, shrugging.“Ever since what happened during the storm, the house has just felt...strange.Did you feel it?”
He scratched his head.“Uh, well.It’s been hard to shake those events.”
Her eyes widened.“Yes, exactly.We’re constantly thinking about it and circulating that energy.This will clear it,” she said, lifting the sage and then nodding at Josie.
“Well, I knew about smudging.You did it a couple days after the attack.But what’s with the bowl?”
The ringing stopped, and Josie sauntered into the room.Her light brown hair was piled high on her head in a bun.“The energy in here was oppressive.How did you live with that angry spirit lurking around?Ugh.”She shuddered.“Not to mention the pungent scent of fear.”She lifted her shoulders and winced.Josie was nothing if not candid.“Sorry, I mean, itsmellsgood.”She looked at Jaxon.“I sure didn’t mean you stunk up the place or anything, but it feels good in here now.”She waved her hand as if wafting the scent of warm apple pie to her nose.
Jaxon, bless his soul, inhaled deeply.“It smells clear.Honestly.I hadn’t noticed the energy clinging to me until now.”
Josie perked up.“Good.You’re welcome.That’ll be two seventy-five.”
“You’re shitting me.”
Josie lifted her nose.“Absolutely not.Clean energy comes at a high price.”
Jaxon sputtered.McKenna rested her hand on his chest.Josie’s dry humor was hard to read—even for her sometimes.He’d been around Josie only a handful of times in the two months since he and McKenna started dating.Watching him get to know her would be entertaining as hell.
“She’s kidding.”
Josie rolled her eyes.“He would’ve coughed up the cash.”She tucked the bowl under her arm and made a beeline for the door.“Full moon’s next weekend.Don’t forget.”
