“So you’re saying he’s single?” she asked, head cocking to the side. Everyone else looked up at me expectantly. Curious.
“Yep,” I managed to croak out, despite the tension roiling through me.
He wasn’t mine. And I loved him enough to want him to be happy.
Did I really expect he’d be alone forever? Not with his charm and confidence or his obvious good looks and powerful position. He was a catch, and I’d somehow lured him in…only to let him go.
Not mine anymore.
“Oh, that’s good to know,” she replied cheerfully. “I was thinking about trying to fix him up with Sage Harlow, but I didn’t want to overstep.”
I tried to remember who Sage was. She had been at the blackout bash, as I recalled, but lived all the way at the end of the lane closest to the main road, so I didn’t see much of her around the cul-de-sac.
“Not at all.” I shrugged, feigning nonchalance despite the envious heat spreading through my chest. “Go for it.”
“You’re sure?”
“Of course. Sage seems really nice.”
“You’re much cooler about this than I would be,” Jade whispered, giving me a once-over, like she didn’t believe me. But I wouldn’t admit she was onto something in front of the rest of the witches here.
“Excuse me,” I said, flashing an overdone smile. “I need to go inside and grab some bubbly for everyone.”
My heart raced, and I reminded myself to slow my steps as I nearly sprinted into the house. First Hazel and Aurora. Now Laurel wanted to fix up my ex with someone new. This was turning out to be a night of unexpected surprises, and I didn’t think I could handle another one. I should have been celebrating, but all I felt was dread.
“Hey there, Wicked.”
I halted in place, my heart ramping up its pace. All the anxious worries clouding my head sifted away in a puff of smoke.
“Lynx, you scared me,” I rasped, catching my breath.
He was standing in the living room, smiling at me with his usual mischievous smirk as he ran a hand through his sandy-blond waves.
Goddess, he was beautiful.
Desire slammed into my fingertips thinking of the last time I’d seen him, stroking his length, kneeling, Saros pistoning into him. My thighs clenched at the image, heart racing with Lynx’s sinful words replaying in my mind.
Ready for us, Wicked?
So fucking soaked and perfect.
I can’t wait to be inside you again.
I couldn’t wait for that either. My body heated, the space between us much too large, and I was certain the only thing that could bring me relief would be to run into his arms, pull him into my bedroom, and press my skin directly against his.
“I didn’t realize you’d be having company.” Lynx slipped his hands into his pockets, gaze darting to the window. “Happy to see me, Wicked?”
He took a step closer, as if daring to see what I’d do. And Goddess,all the thingsI wanted to do to this witch. The murmur of my gossiping guests filtered into the room, and I leaned against the counter, praying it would tether me in place. I shouldn’t go near him. There were too many people here and the way gossip spread around this town, Atlas would find out immediately, possibly shattering their newlywed-couple-moves-to-the-suburbs ruse.
“Of course I am.” I tried to keep my tone cool, casual, not wanting to draw any attention from the witches outside. “But you already know that, don’t you?”
After all, he could sense every emotion coming from me.
“Maybe I do.” His hair had gotten a bit shaggier, falling into his face as he looked at me with that panty-melting smolder that had swept me away the first time we’d met. “But you have no idea just how happy I am to see you. If only we were alone…”
He trailed off, arching a brow at me in challenge.
My Desire was ready to kick everyone out. Immediately.
