Page 23 of Shut Up and Bite Me

I start with a question that has an obvious answer. “You know what I am, right?”

He stares at me with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “I sure hope so after last night.”

My cheeks burn as the memories of last night flash in my mind. “It’s not just vampires and humans that inhabit this world.”

His eyes practically bulge out of his head, and I swear I can see the wheels turning behind those gorgeous blue orbs. “Are you serious?”

“Very,” I murmur. “You are about to meet some. Autumn, she and her family run this shop.”

He looks around as if a witch is just going to jump out at him before leaning forward, his hand nonchalantly falling to my waist as he whispers, “What are they?”

Glancing up, I lose my train of thought for a moment because he looks so angelic in the sunlight.

The bright rays make his hair seem like it’s glowing. His features are carefully caressed by the light, highlighting the sharpness of his cheekbones and jawline yet the softness of his eyes and welcoming part of his lips.

The bell of a shop a few feet from us chimes, pulling me out of my stupor, and I clear my throat. “Ashwood Apothecary is owned by witches.”

“Like real-life ride-on-a-broom witches?” he gasps.

Rolling my eyes, I scoff. “No, they don’t ride on brooms. I mean, they used to, for sure, but that is something of the past. It was a gift that passed through different bloodlines of witches. I’m not even sure it still exists anymore.”

“Goddamn,” Greyson mumbles breathlessly.

“What?”

“You have made my life so much more interesting.” He pauses, holding my stare and looking deeply into my eyes. “What am I supposed to do after this? Pretend I don’t know that witches run this shop when I pass by? It’s going to be impossible.”

“I could always make you forget,” I smirk maliciously, tapping on the side of his head.

He squints his eyes playfully. “You wouldn’t.”

Shrugging, I hook my arm in his and lead us down the walkway toward Ashwood’s. “There could be others shopping here.”

“Witches?” he murmurs.

“Yeah. But also other vampires, and maybe even humans.”

As another question begins to roll off his tongue, I grab the door and pull it open, gesturing him inside. “I’ll tell you more later. Come on.”

“You better, or I’m cutting you off,” he whispers into my ear, and I can’t help the smile that forms on my lips.

Greyson walks past me, stepping into the apothecary, his eyes immediately scanning every inch of the main room. Crystals decorate the large table in the center of the area, from palm stones and tumbled to centerpieces and massive specimens.

But my gaze drifts to Autumn, where she stands behind the checkout counter, helping a customer who is radiating excitement.

Autumn’s parents named her perfectly, an embodiment of the magical season itself. Her hair flows down her shoulders in loose waves, the shade of a pretty orange leaf in the heart of fall.

She smiles at the customer she’s with, the freckles on her nose and her gorgeous green eyes scrunching up. I let Greyson wander while I make my way over to her.

“Have a great day, Maria!” Autumn chimes as she hands over the purchases in a recyclable bag with the apothecary’s logo stamped onto the side.

“You too,” Maria sings before spinning on her heels and striding past me with joy.

“Vivian, you look radiant as always,” Autumn compliments me as I rest my hands atop the counter.

“You are always generous with your praise. You look incredible yourself.”

“Why, thank you,” she boasts, giving me a little twirl, the skirt of her mocha-colored dress billowing out. “What are you in for today? And…” She lowers her voice. “Ishewith you?”

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