Why did I just ask that!

I expected him to give me some snarky reply, but instead he stared down at me and hauled me closer to his side. My fingers wrapping his lovely, flexed bicep, he whispered softly, close to my ear, “Ask me another day. Not on a night like tonight.”

I smiled up at him as if he’d said a joke, because his words were so cryptic. I wanted to ask what he meant. Like, what was so particular about tonight? My curiosity told me to go ahead and ask, but the tightness of his jaw and the long stride he’d set toward the house told me I’d better do as he said and ask another day. For once, I listened to my sensible side.

Chapter 9

~MATEO~

“Just give me a minute. I’m still processing it.”

Evie bounced in her seat next to me on the couch, her legs folded underneath her, grinning like a crazy person. An adorable crazy person.

“You loved it, didn’t you? It blew your mind, right?!” She made the gesture with her hands for her brain exploding.

“Yeah. It kind of did.”

“I knew it!” She jumped up and raced into the kitchen, yelling, “We need more popcorn!” I heard the whirr of her air popper being plugged in and the kernels being poured in. She reappeared in the archway that connected the living room to the kitchen. “Although”—she looked at her watch, a small pinch in the middle of her forehead—“it’s well past our four hours, and I’m sure you have to start work early in the morning.”

“I’m not going to sleep until I find out what happens in Return of the Jedi. So you can kick me out if you want, but I’m taking your DVD home with me.”

Her face lit up like a damn Christmas tree. She clasped her hands together under her chin and did a little weird shuffle dance in place before skating away on her socks and disappearing toward the popcorn popper. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her baffling excitement over my response to Empire Strikes Back. But seriously, Vader was Luke’s father? I never saw that coming.

As if she heard my thoughts, she yelled from the kitchen, “I can’t believe you never knew Darth Vader was his father. How could you not have heard that over the years?” She returned a minute later with her Storm Trooper helmet-shaped popcorn bowl and plopped down with the bowl between us.

“Like I said, I don’t really watch TV or anything.”

“And apparently, you follow zero pop culture social media sites.”

I shrugged. “Not really.”

“It’s like you don’t even exist in the modern world.” She popped back up and walked to the DVD player to switch out the movies. “It’s kind of unreal, Mateo.”

I shivered, loving my name on her lips.

I’d like something else of mine on her lips.

Damn. He’d been quiet for a solid two hours. I’d almost forgotten about him.

No worries, brother. I’ll always be here for you.

To annoy the fuck out of me, yeah.

She dropped the disc on the floor and bent over to pick it up.

Please, no.

Mmmm. God. Damn. Her curvy ass would fit perfectly in my hands.

We’ve had this conversation. Stop talking about her like that.

Before I could suppress him, an aggressive rumble vibrated up my throat. Evie stood with the disc and snapped her head around, concern etched on her face.

“You okay?” she asked quietly.

I pressed back into the sofa, shifting my gaze away from her to take a handful of popcorn.

“Mmhmm. Fine,” I muffled around a mouthful of popcorn.

There was no way I was letting Alpha loose on a woman while under this hex. No telling what he’d push me to do when my blood was up. Especially not a woman as sweet and soft and pretty as Evie.

Sweet and soft is right. Bet she’s delicious and tight, too.

Shut up!

I closed my eyes to focus and push him back. It worked sometimes, especially when Evie was around. By the time she’d changed discs and took her seat, I felt almost normal. Even if my pants felt tighter.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“What? Oh, yeah. Fine.”

Her gaze flicked to my leg. I was tapping my foot again. Gripping my knee, I steadied myself and focused on the opening credits, pretending not to notice her staring at me with concern. We both settled in, watching together quietly.

Unfortunately, Alpha had worked on my nerves. Or Evie had. I don’t know, but my heart was pumping hard. She repositioned herself on the sofa, her legs folded underneath her, body angled toward me against the sofa back. The scent of her—feminine, powdery, floral—invaded my senses. All I could do was think about how good it would feel to have her wrapped around me, beneath me, on top of me. To touch her was like being struck by lightning—electric but shocking me stone-still at the same time. The aftershock was a racing pulse that made me fear my heart would pound right out of my chest. And at the same time, she calmed my beast. It was the craziest fucking sensation I’d ever known.

Before tonight, it had never felt quite like this…like temptation. I was fine with her in public and even at my gallery, in my workshop. But here, on her sofa, in the dim lighting with the house asleep, it gave a man ideas. Very bad ideas.

Fan-fucking-tastic ideas. Roll with it.

By the time Leia strangled Jabba the Hutt, I was curling my fists into balls and breathing through my mouth to avoid smelling her. She was driving me wild. Literally.

Suddenly, the kitchen light went on, and a pretty blonde walked into the living room, long hair grazing her waist. I jumped to my feet.

“Ack!” she squeaked.

Evie jumped to her feet, too. But probably at my sudden movement, not the young woman who was obviously her sister standing there, staring with wide blue eyes. She looked identical to the one with blue hair, Violet. Except…nicer. She didn’t wear a cynical smile or black nail polish.

“S-so sorry, Evie. I didn’t realize you had company.”

“It’s okay,” I said, tucking my hands into my pockets to avoid coming across as dangerous. “I—I should get going.”

“What do you mean?” asked Evie. “We’re not even halfway.”

“You were right. I have a lot to do in the morning. It’s getting late. I’ve imposed on you long enough.”

She snorted. “If you were imposing, I’d tell you.”

That, I believed. She might look all pretty lines and soft edges, but she wouldn’t put up with any shit. She definitely wouldn’t want a half-crazed werewolf making an aggressive pass at her on her sofa.

Shoving a hand through my hair, feeling it go in all directions, I said, “All the same. I should go.”

“You don’t have to go on my account,” said the blonde.

“This is my sister, Clara. Clara, this is Mateo.”

Clara smiled, and for a second I thought I literally saw a halo of light beam around her porcelain face. “You’re the werewolf.”

“I am. I’ll be going.”

“Are you feeling well?” she asked, stepping closer.

“I’m sorry?”

“You have a very”—she tilted her head—“erratic aura right now.”

“Erratic?” Evie propped both hands on her hips.

I let out a nervous laugh. “Makes sense. I’m feeling kind of erratic.”

“What does that mean?” Evie glanced between us.

When Clara stepped closer to me, I jerked back a full two feet. She froze and raised her hands as if warding off a wild dog. I laughed again, but it sounded more maniacal.

“Do you feel like you’re about to shift, Mateo?”

Her voice was low and soft, soothing. It made me angry. I wasn’t about to blow. Not in that way. She moved even closer, the scent of her filling my nostrils. A growl vibrated in my head, but I refused to let Alpha any voice in this room. Evie would kick me out and refuse to help me fix this fucking curse. And what a curse. I was seriously losing control.

“No,” I said as calmly and evenly as I could manage, but it came out growly all the same. “I’m not about to shift. I just need to leave.”

“Maybe I can help,” chimed in Clara, her features more elflike than her twin’s, her voice sweeter.

She looks like a fucking fairy. Minus the wings.

Without my answer, she crossed the room and grabbed both my forearms. I almost stumbled back, but she held me firm even though I was double her size and weight.

“There now.” Her voice had a chime-like quality, but I could barely hear it over the rushing sound in my ears and the overwhelming flood of complete euphoria pumping into my veins. After I don’t know how long, she released me. “Is that better?” She smiled, which turned her face angelic.

“Yeah.” My voice sounded rusty. “Much. Thank you.”

The edge of insanity had receded, replaced by blissful peace and a giddy sort of high.

“What are you?”

She smiled brighter. “I’m an Aura. Have you heard of them?”

“Yeah. You can give—” I pointed my finger between us, back and forth. “Do that. What you just did.”

She laughed. “It’ll only be temporary. From what Evie told us, you won’t be back to yourself until the hex is gone. But I hope it makes you feel better for a while.”

“Thanks.” I chanced a look at Evie who looked…pissed off.

“I’ll show you out.” Evie marched to the DVD player and ejected the disc.

I headed out of the living room and down the hallway to the front door where I opened it and waited for Evie, sucking in a lungful of air that didn’t have her intoxicating scent. She strode up a few seconds later and handed me the Return of the Jedi DVD.

“Go ahead and finish it when you have time.” She crossed her arms, her frown smoothing a little. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Concern edged away her irritation.

“Yeah. I’m good now.”

Her frown reappeared. “Do you still want to meet tomorrow?”