Page 52

He groans. “What was that?”

“Hey. Modern girls go for what they want, Grandpa.”

For a moment, Vincent is speechless, and that’s a feat in and of itself. But then his dark brown eyes glimmer, a hint of the old playful cat in the curve of his suddenly wicked grin as he grabs my arm and, to my delight, spins me around so my back is to his front before he releases me. A possessive hand presses down on my upper back, leading me to arch just enough that he gently swats my ass with the flat of the other.

I gasp, and he growls seductively. “I told you not to age me up, pumpkin. It makes me cranky.”

Peering at him over my shoulder, I flutter my lashes while enjoying the sensation of him now rubbing his palm over my cheek. “Can’t help it. I think I like you cranky.”

Ghostly fingers trail down my neck. They’re cool enough to elicit a shudder and a soft moan from me, especially when both of Vincent’s actual hands are very much accounted for.

“Using magic, Mr. Warlock? Is that fair? I’m just an ordinary mortal.”

He thinks about it for a moment. “I promise you, Kate... you may not be a witch like I thought, but you are no ordinary mortal. But if you don’t want me to use my magic...”

The touch on my neck dissipates.

I grab behind me, digging my nails into his jeans just enough to be noticeable. “Did I say I didn’t want that? Only pointing out that you have me at your mercy, Vincent.” I drop my voice. “And I think I like it.”

His breath catches, a soft moan escaping from him.

Interesting, I think. Very interesting. For all of his confidence, I remember something important: he’s never done this before. Even if he was fibbing when he confessed boldly that he was a virgin because he had waited for his fated mate, the way he’s acting right now… I’m pretty sure he’s as inexperienced as he claims to be, but that he’s more than happy to let me take the lead.

So that’s exactly what I do. I turn in his arms, and this time, I’m the one who takes control.

I tug his shirt up, and Vincent obligingly raises his arms so I can pull it over his head. My gaze immediately catches on the four black claw marks circling his upper arm—the tattoo he got halfway through his curse because he’d started believing he would always be a cat. I run my fingertips over them, then drop a kiss to one of the lines.

Then I circle him.

Vincent twists his head. “What are you doing?”

“Checking something.”

“What?”

I reach the back of his jeans and tug lightly at the waistband.

He barks out a laugh. “Are you looking for a tail?”

“Maybe.”

“Wrong side, pumpkin.” He catches my hand, drawing me around in front of him again. His wicked grin returns. “I’ve got something even better over here.”

I glance down, then back up again. “Well. You’re definitely still Vincent. And you showed me that you have your magic. Tell me, baby… do you still have enough power in your reserve to do a spell for me?”

“I’ll do anything for you.”

My tongue darts out. I dab at the corner of my mouth. It’s freaking watering at the thought that I’ll be the first one—the only one—to do this for him.

“Remember how you cast that spell last night and made it so that you covered up with your clothes?”

“Mm-hmm…”

“Good. Do it in reverse.” I snap my fingers. “Right now. You asked me if I wanted to see what you’ve got. Go on, Vincent. Show your mate.”

He doesn’t even make a comment that we aren’t mates quite yet; probably because it’s obvious that, if I have it my way, we’ll be getting down to that shortly. Instead, he waves his fingers and, in the blink of an eye, Vinent is as naked now as he was when I first saw him.

Absolutely, gloriously naked.