Moon Curse (BBW Shifter and Witch Paranormal Short) (Shifting Magick Trilogy Book 1) (2 page)

“The witch isn’t crazy.” The female moved to the sink and lowered the knife. She frowned then shook her head. “She’s old. And forgetful. And…a little nuts at times. But that doesn’t give you the right to call her crazy.”

“You know the witch?”

Her shoulders dropped and she turned to meet his stare. “She’s my grandmother.”

“Then you can fix this.”

“I’m afraid not. I don’t know what she used in the powder, or how she invoked it, let alone why she did it.” She raised the phone and studied it for several moments before she laid it and the knife on the counter.

When she moved past him, he gripped her arm. Heat swirled around his hand and traveled up his arm. “Where are you going?”

She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “To get a few of my spell books.”

With a quick jerk, she freed her arm and pushed past him toward the hallway. He fell in step behind her. “How long will it take to break this curse?”

She whirled around, coming within inches of him. “It isn’t a curse. It’s a spell. There’s a huge difference.”

A bitter laugh escaped him before he snarled. “Turning into a house cat for three fucking days is definitely a curse.”

His harsh tone didn’t faze her. She jammed her index finger into his chest. “One, don’t growl at me. Two, the more you badger me, the longer it will take to figure this out.”

When she pivoted away from him, his gaze lowered to her ass while his lips twitched. The wolf within pawed at him to move closer and bite. “What’s your name?”

She spun back around and her gaze narrowed as she studied him before answering. “Olivia.”

She turned once again and moved down the hallway. Stopping about mid-way, she muttered something too low for even his wolf hearing to pick up. A moment later, the ceiling opened and a wooden ladder formed. Without a word, she climbed the ladder and disappeared into the hole.

Not knowing what the hell the witch was doing, he followed her. He emerged inside a large attic bathed in candlelight. In the center was a large white circle. When he moved closer, he noticed it wasn’t drawn in paint but salt.

“What’s that for? Summoning demons?”

She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly as if annoyed by his question. “Don’t touch the outline.”

Glancing at her, he froze. She’d gathered her long, thick brown hair up in a messy bun and wore a pair of reading glasses. Couldn’t witches create a spell to fix vision impairments? As if sensing his internal question, she lifted her lashes over the glasses that rested on the end of her nose.

“I don’t have a vision impairment. These are spelled to help me read the Book of Shadows.” She returned her attention to the book on the podium.

Curious, he moved closer to her. Her cinnamon apple scent wrapped around him, drugging him. He leaned in and inhaled. His wolf howled in his head, and the man agreed. This female was theirs.

“Are you sniffing me?” Irritation leaked out with the words she spoke, but she didn’t look at him.

Straightening, he stepped away and scanned the room. Bookshelves lined the wall next to them and the one behind Olivia. A few feet away sat a large oak desk with opened books and papers scattered across its surface. His need for order urged him to straighten the papers. At least put then in a neat stack.

“Don’t touch my desk, wolf.”

He cut her a narrowed gaze, not surprised that she knew what he was. She was a witch, a very powerful one that could apparently read his thoughts. “It’s Sawyer. How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“I’m very good at reading body language.” Her words were soft, but the slight way her scent sharpened told him she was lying, or at least omitting something.

He let it go because it wasn’t uncommon for mates to hear each other’s thoughts. But that usually happened after they’d bonded. Was it possible for them to connect without the mating because she was a witch?

Focusing on her, he sent her a thought.
What are you looking for, my mate?

Her hands stilled on the book and she lifted her head. “I’m trying to figure out which spell my crazy grandmother placed on you.
And
, I’m not your mate.”

His lips tugged into a lazy smile. Closing the distance, he cupped her face. “If you weren’t my mate, then you wouldn’t have heard me.”

She shook her head but didn’t speak. The scent of her arousal drifted around him, drawing a growl from deep within his chest. Slipping his hand to her nape, he pressed his lips to hers. A groan escaped her and she opened for him, meeting his tongue half way. Raw sensual need rushed through his veins with each caress of her tongue against his.

Tearing his mouth from hers, he growled. “I need you…now.”

“Yes,” she said, breathlessly. Her blue eyes brightened, and tiny pricks of white light flashed across her irises.

He removed her glasses, gently laying them on the podium, and then walked her backward until her back flattened against the wall. Her curvy body fit perfectly against his. A groan left her, pleading. His dick jerked at the sound, and he captured her mouth once more, sucking on her bottom lip before dipping his tongue inside. She tasted of wine and berries.

Damn.

Fisting her nightgown, he gathered the cotton up her thighs then stepped back enough to jerk it over her head. Her large, round breasts rose and fell with each breath she took. Her rosy nipples hardened under his stare.

Raw sensual hunger raced in his veins, and he dipped his head to tease one nipple with his tongue. Olivia inhaled sharply then let out a low moan. Dizzy with the desire to possess her, he cupped her, slipping his fingers through her moist folds.

“You’re not wearing underwear,” he growled.

Her response was breathless. “I…I was in my night clothes.”

“Naughty girl,” He whispered into her ear before nipping her lobe.

A shudder went through her and she fisted his hair, pulling until their gazes met. Silver swirled inside the blue depths of her eyes. Then her skin took on a slight glow, like she was lit up from the inside. It made him wonder how powerful of a witch she was.

When he opened his mouth to speak, she tugged his head to hers and kissed him while wrapping her legs around his waist. Out of reflex, he thrust inside her and hissed through his teeth. Then froze as she inhaled sharply.
Damn it.

“You were a virgin.” He drew back to stare into her watery gaze. “I hurt you. I’m so sorry.”

When he started to pull out, she locked her legs behind him. “Don’t. Make it feel good, please.”

She ran her nails up his chest, stopping to circle one of his nipples. Tingles skittered over his skin. When she rotated her hips, he groaned then buried his nose in her neck. In smooth strokes, he moved in and out, slowly at first, then faster as the pleasure built.

Her nails scored his shoulder blades as she pressed her head to the wall, her soft moans turning to cries of pleasure. His balls tightened, but he held back, not wanting to fall over the edge without her.

“Come for me, my witch,” he whispered.

As if waiting for the command, she screamed out as her pussy squeezed around him and her body shuddered. Only then did he let go and tumble into his own release.

Panting, he stepped back, taking her with him. He wrapped his arms around her. “Sorry.”

She nipped his shoulder with her blunt teeth. “It’s my fault. Besides, that was incredible.”

He frowned. “And you are basing that on what experience?”

She pressed her hands against his chest and wiggled her way out of his grasp. Once she was on her feet, she picked up her nightgown and disappeared into the small bathroom a few feet away. Through the closed door, she said, “I wasn’t a virgin.”

Bullshit.
He yanked the door open. “I don’t believe you.”

She rolled her eyes before sliding the gown on. “It was a one-night stand in high school. My first broken heart. Happy now?”

“No.” He glared at her. “I kind of wish I was your first. You are
my
mate.”

She pushed by him. “And you are spelled to turn into a cat at the full moon.”

His lips twitched as he watched her curvy hips sway while she made her way back to the podium. She had a fire he craved in a partner and the strength his Pack needed in an Alpha’s mate.

Chapter Three

Oh, gods. What was wrong with her? She’d just had sex with a total stranger in her spell room. The fact that Sawyer was her magickal mate didn’t excuse her lack of control over her hormones. However, the impulse to do something reckless, and the desire the large and intense wolf stirred in her were too strong. Stronger than any love spell she had ever encountered.

She froze. Love spell?

Damn
.

She conjured her phone and dialed her grandmother. The older woman answered on the third ring. “Yes, dear.”

“You cursed a wolf to turn into a cat during the full moon. What spell did you use?” Olivia rushed out.

Silence filtered over the connection briefly before Grams spoke. “No, no…he wasn’t supposed to turn into a cat. The damned beast ran off before I could finish.”

Olivia took deep breaths, trying to calm her mounting anxiety. What she really wanted to do was scream, and possibly choke her grandmother.
She means well, Liv
.

In a calm, soft tone, Olivia asked, “Grams, do you remember what you used in the spell?”

“It’s his own fault. If he had only stayed to let me finish… Where is he now? Did you see him?” Grams’ voice cracked slightly as if she were confused.

Glancing over at Sawyer, Olivia frowned. The man glared at her with his arms folded. A mix of annoyance and desire swirled in his gold eyes. “Yes, he’s here.”

“Really? Well, then.” Grams paused, and the sound of paper being shuffled came over the phone. “That’s odd. I don’t remember this one.”

“One what?”

“Oh, dear.”

Olivia was a second away from marching the two blocks to her grandmother’s house and taking all of the woman’s spells away. “What. Did. You. Do?”

Sawyer closed the distance between them and let out a lower growl. Olivia pressed a hand to his chest and nearly groaned at the hot, raw power he possessed.

“Liv, hon, don’t growl at me. The spell can be broken by true love’s kiss.”

Seriously? Were they living in a fairy tale? “No, Grams, that didn’t work.”

Her grandmother laughed. “It has to. Try again.”

Then there was silence.

“Grams?” Fuck. The woman had hung up on her. What the hell did she mean true love’s kiss? Sawyer was truly Olivia’s mate, and they had done more than kiss moments ago. Her body heated at the flashes of memory.

“Call her back. Make her give you a straight answer.”

Olivia snapped her gaze to Sawyer and glared. “There is no reasoning with her. She’s old and gets confused.”

He crossed his large, muscular arms over his bare chest. Olivia groaned, recalling that Sawyer had no clothes. No wonder it was hard for her to focus. She snapped her fingers, conjuring a pair of sweatpants and threw them at him. “Put those on.”

One dark brow rose as his lips twitched. “I’m perfectly comfortable in the buff.”

“I find it hard to focus. If you want me to reverse the spell, cover yourself.”

A light chuckle escaped him, but he put on the sweats. “What did your grandmother mean by a kiss?”

“A whole lot of nothing, obviously. She’s been obsessed with fairy tales for the last year.” Olivia forced her attention back to the Book of Shadows—a book of spells, recipes, and rituals passed down through her family for over four hundred years.

“Kiss me again.”

Not looking at him, she shook her head. “We may be mates, but we aren’t in love. We just met. That has to be what went wrong.”

He stepped closer and she stilled. Heat coiled around her as she breathed in his rich earthy scent. Good gods, the wolf stirred a desire from deep inside her. She didn’t even know a need that raw existed.

He leaned into her, pressed his lips to her ear, and said, “What if I bite you and make you mine?”

Glancing at him and studying him for several long moments, she let his words sink in. That was it. True love’s kiss for a wolf is the mating bite. Could it be so simple? Not that mating a wolf was an easy task.

“I think that is exactly what Grams had in mind.”

***

Sawyer stared into Olivia’s dark blue eyes, not sure he had heard her correctly. “You agree to be my mate to break the curse?”

She held up a hand. “Not so fast, wolfman. I’m just saying the mating bite could break the spell. I know nothing about you or where you came from.”

He looped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. “There will be plenty of time to get to know each other. You are my mate, and I know you feel it, too.”

“I’m not sure what I feel. You confuse me.” She averted her gaze.

Cupping her chin, he lifted her beautiful blue eyes back to his. “Wolves mate for life. Once we find our other half, there is no other as long as she lives. I’m the Alpha of Gold Ridge.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “The Alpha?”

He gave a short nod. “I have been for the last forty years. I have one brother, who is one of my sentinels. I’ve been searching for you for so long.”

“I still know nothing about you. Does your Pack like you?”

“What kind of question is that?”

She shrugged and pushed out of his arms. “I don’t want to be stuck with an Alpha who isn’t good to his people. There are some cruel people out there, especially those in powerful positions.”

In one smooth but quick movement, he lifted her hand and pressed her palm to his chest. “Use your magic to see my soul. I know you can do it because we are mates.”

She pursed her lips but did what he asked. After closing her eyes, she relaxed her shoulders. A moment later, warmth traveled from her hand to inside him, winding around his heart before branching out to race through him. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was calming to his wolf, which in turn, calmed the man.

When she opened her eyes and removed her hand, his wolf whimpered at the loss of contact with its mate. Olivia tilted her head slightly then rose on her toes to press her lips to his. “I can’t fight fate. But what if mating doesn’t reverse the spell?”