Page 25 of Wickedly Yours

Didn’t want to think about where things were going, because I liked how he made me feel, and I wanted more of it.

“Yes,” he agreed, kissing my forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’m counting on it,” I whispered as he gave me a wink, waltzing out of my bedroom.

Selene, who must have slept on her cat tree in the living room last night instead of at my feet for once, came into my bedroom, her jingling bell alerting me to her presence.

Hopping up onto the bed, she meowed, coming over to rub her head on me and beg for my attention. I scratched her head, giving her love as she purred, and then sighed. “I should probably get up too, huh?”

After all, the bakery waited for no woman—or no witch, in this case.

The next few weeks had flown by, and now Halloween was only days away. I adjusted the apron wrapped around my waist, focusing my attention on the cookies in front of me. They were my specialty, even though by the time Halloween was over, I wouldn’t want to look at orange frosting again for another year.

My thoughts kept drifting back to Zain. Of all the nights I’d spent curled up in his arms in my sheets. It felt like it was too soon, but Ireallyliked him.

Our future felt bright. At least whatever was hidden behind that hazy warmth. And I trusted him. With my body, especially. Yet, in some ways, it felt like everything was too good to be true. And maybe it was.

He didn’t call, and he still hadn’t told me very many details about his life—where he lived when he wasn’t visiting Pleasant Grove, what business he worked in, exactly—none of it.

Part of me wondered if I needed to worry that he had another family hidden away somewhere.

The thought instantly soured my stomach. I might not have known everything about him, but Iknewhim. Knew that he wouldn’t do that to me. But it was more than that, too—the idea of him with some other woman made menauseous. What we had, what we shared, both the powerful physical attraction and our sexual chemistry…

It was easy to see how fast I could get attached to this man if I let myself. If I let him in. But could I, when I hardly knew anything about him?

Looks like someone else had a good night, I thought to myself as Willow twirled into the kitchen.

“You look smitten,” I murmured, watching my sister happily hum to herself.

She came to a stop, the dishes she’d levitated in front of her looking precariously close to falling. “What?” Her cheeks turned light pink. “N-no.”

But it was soobvioushow head over heels she was for him. And I couldn’t blame her for being happy. Not one bit.

I’d wanted it for her, wished for her happiness. Had so badly wanted to see into her future for years, just to know what would come to pass. Not that she’d let me. But I got this feeling that maybe there was more to this than she was letting on.

Either way, it was good for me because she was so caught up in her own whirlwind romance she hadn’t noticedmine. I wasn’t ready to talk about Zain yet. To share him. Right now, he was all mine. The handsome stranger I sharedmy secrets with. Who I confessed my thoughts to in the dark.

“I… I like him, okay?” Willow dropped her shoulders as if in defeat before sending the dirty pitchers and spoons into the sink. “It’s never been like this for me before.”

“And he feels the same way?” I asked.

Sure, maybe I was slightly skeptical ofDamien. I’d barely met the man, but the way he’d bolted out of the coffee shop during our first interaction… It felt like there was something he wasn’t saying. That he was keeping from my sister, too. All I could sense from him was darkness.

“I mean, I haven’t asked him for sure, but I think so.” A slight smile curled over her lips.

I couldn’t stop myself from pressing the matter. “What are you afraid of?”

My older sister sighed, a touch of worry coloring her tone. “That he’ll leave. Decide I’m not worth it and walk away.”

“Willow.” My voice was soft. Reassuring. I wanted her to realize how much she was worth it. That anyone would be crazy to not want to be with her. “You don’t even know how amazing you are, do you?”

“Youhaveto say that.” She shook her head. “You’re my little sister.”

“No.” I said it more firmly. “I mean it. You always take care of everyone but yourself. Even me. It’s time to put yourself first. Besides, if that man really leaves, he’s not who I thought he was, anyway.”

Willow murmured something under her breath. She turned away from me, facing the sink.

“What?” I asked, not catching what she’d said. Or maybe I had. And that was the problem.

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