“How did you even target me? What was the stupid spell even about?”

Lucy goes very quiet, staring through the windscreen. For a few minutes, I don’t think she’s going to answer me.

“I asked for love,” she says very quietly. “I asked for a man like Rider.”

“That’s ridiculous!” I yell. “I am not my brother!”

“Got that right,” she agrees. “He’s not the nicest guy—everyone knows that. He was involved in some pretty bad business the last few years. But ever since he married Fiona and met his son, he’s made an effort to improve himself and the lives of everyone around him. When I made the spell, that’s what I was referring to.”

I scowl. “Are you saying there’s something wrong with me?” My voice is low and dangerous.

She shrugs. “There’s a lot of ways I could answer that question. The bottom line is, I don’t even know you, Peter.”

And you never will.

I leave my unspoken reply hanging in the silence, looking out the window as we drive back. The deep shadows and lack of light make the landscape look alien and unfamiliar, as if my life is descending into ever-worsening layers of hell.

When we arrive at the house, I wait impatiently for Lucy to open the door. When she stops in front of me, I stand far too close to her and get a hit of her luscious scent right in the face.

The scent is rich and deep, so fresh and sweet that my mouth waters. Along with the taste of peaches comes the feel of the soft skin, and the way the juicy flesh feels under my lips.

Fuck!

My cock is getting so hard, I can feel it pressing against the zipper of my pants. I take a step back, but it’s too late. Her scent is clinging to me, sinking into my pores and running in my blood. I can’t escape it.

“Hurry up and open the door!” I growl.

“Will you wait?” she hisses. “There. I got it. Happy now?”

I try to shove past her, but all I do is bump into her and get a new wave of her delicious, enticing scent. My wolf is awakening, taking me over, filling my mind with images of grabbing her, kissing her, shoving my hands into that warm, wet cave between her legs.

We stumble through the door, and Lucy sidesteps me to slam it shut. She flicks on a small lamp and faces me with her hands on her hips.

“What the hell is going on with you?” she asks. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re being more of a jerk than usual.”

“I’m tired,” I snap, holding myself back with every last scrap of will. “It’s been an… emotional day.”

“Fine. Whatever. Get out of my way, then. I’m going for a shower.”

I try to move, but instead of stepping away, I go towards her. My senses are completely scrambled, and the only thing that’s real to me is her scent, the feel of her lips on mine, and her skin under my hands.

So close. All I have to do is reach out. This is reality, not fantasy.

“Peter?” she asks, her voice low. She looks up at me, and I realize we are only inches apart.

“Lucy…” I whisper, rolling her name off my tongue, savoring it like sweet candy. Arousal floods through me, and my hands twitch, desperate to touch her. As if answering my own feelings, I sense a hot rush of blood flood through her. The peachy, sweet smell intensifies.

There is no thought in me, only red-hot lust and desire. I’m held, frozen in place by my own indecision.

Then, she gets up on her tiptoes and kisses me.

I grab her around the waist, yanking her against my body and reaching down to squeeze her butt as I thrust my hips against her. I feel her nails digging into my shoulders as she clings to me and rubs her body against mine.

I kiss her back, lapping at her mouth and searching for her tongue. She moans through our joined lips, a short, intense cry of pure pleasure. The sound shocks me, awakening my primal urges, and I slam her against the door to kiss her even harder.

She squirms against me, making plaintive moans as her legs wrap around me, climbing me. I hook my hands under her butt and lift her up, thrusting my hips against her.

Oh my fucking God. She’s not wearing panties.