The Professor Woos The Witch

“She’s ready now, isn’t she? How’d Kaley take it?”

“Yes. She was thrilled. Getting to go to school with witches and whatever other supernaturals go there? She practically danced around the room.”

“No, I meant about what happened with Lila. You did tell her, didn’t you?”

“I did.” He moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “It was a big reality check for her. She doesn’t want to see Lila anymore.”

“She said that?” Poor kid.

He nodded. “She’s over her dream of Lila ever being a real mother.” He smiled, thinking of some of the other things Kaley had said. He took Pandora’s hand. “Kaley wants you to take her dress shopping for the winter formal.”

Pandora let out a happy sigh. “She does? That’s so cool. I would love to. I love that kid.”

“She’ll be happy to hear that. She loves you too.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I’m so glad you’re okay. If anything had happened to you today…” He closed his eyes for a moment.

“You saved my life. Thank you. I’m so glad you’re such a smart man. It’s very sexy, you know, all those brains.”

He grinned as he let her hand go to take something out of his shirt pocket. He held out a wrapped box. “I was going to give this to you at lunch.”

Smiling, she took the gift. It was too big to be a ring, not that she was expecting one at this stage in their relationship. She unwrapped the box and saw the store name on it. “You went to Illusions?”

He nodded. “I met Willa. She helped me pick this out.”

“Isn’t she great? She’s fae. Did you see her pointed ears?”

“No, I did not. But then, I wasn’t really focused on her.”

Pandora couldn’t wait to tell Willa everything that had happened. She took the lid off the box and let out a soft gasp. Inside lay a gorgeously decorated silver key. A key. How perfect. “Oh, I love it, Cole. It’s so pretty.”

“Very fitting, right? Since it’s a key and you’re a realtor and we’re working on the house together.” He gently cleared his throat. “Plus, it’s the, you know, key to my heart.”

She laughed. “Took a lot for you to get that out, didn’t it? I know sappy’s not your style. You’re practical and you like a plan.”

“What I like is you. I love you.” He stared at his hands for a moment, then lifted his head. Determination shone in his eyes. “There was something else Kaley wanted me to ask you.”

She lifted the pendant free and fastened the chain around her neck. “What’s that?”

“She wanted me to ask you to marry me.”

Pandora’s mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything. She hadn’t anticipated that.

“I told her I would.” He took Pandora’s hand again. “When the time is right.”

She still couldn’t bring herself to say a word.

“I know we have a lot of getting to know each other to do, but I thought you should know what my plan is. In case you wanted out before things got serious.” He looked at her with clear expectations of an answer.

She shook her head. “I don’t want out.” Ever. She was so in love with this man her insides felt like they were doing their own kind of magic. She needed him in a way she’d never experienced before. “Brace yourself, because here comes some sap. You make me whole. I know part of that is because you’re a familiar and I’m a broken witch, but whatever, it’s what I feel. I cannot imagine being without you.”

“I feel the same way. I never thought I’d find a woman I’d consider spending the rest of my life with after everything that happened with Lila. Now I can’t picture a future where we’re not together.”

Her heart felt about to burst. “I can already tell you what my answer will be.”

He smiled back. “When I ask, it’s not going to be in the middle of the night with you recovering from battling my ex. It’s going to be special. It’s going to be something memorable and amazing.”

She nodded. “I like the sound of that, but I have to tell you that in light of everything that happened today and the fact that I could have lost you forever, I’m done waiting. It’s time.”

“Time for what? Are you saying you want me to ask right now?”

“No.” She tugged him closer with the kind of wild urgency coursing through her. “I’m saying it’s time to see just how bonded we can get.”

“Oh.” His eyes widened. “Oh.”

“Uh huh.” She snapped her fingers, and the lights went out.

Habit woke Cole before dawn. Pandora lay beside him, fast asleep, her back to him, her hand curled in front of her mouth like she’d just heard something shocking. He leaned down and kissed the silky, freckled curve of her shoulder and inhaled her warm perfume.

She smelled of fabric softener from the sheets, her floral perfume and him. He smiled as some sort of deep-seated possessiveness overtook him. His woman. His witch.

And someday, his wife.

The thought broadened his smile. He was ridiculously in love and didn’t care who knew it. Whether or not they had bonded last night, he wasn’t sure. But they’d definitely given it the old college try. How Pandora had had the energy to bond after everything she’d been through yesterday, he had no idea.