Page 18 of Charmed and Dangerous

She eyed him doubtfully, and he didn’t know what else to say to convince her. “Do you want to see my bear?”

Her eyes lit up, and she smiled. “I would love to! Brady was adorable as a bear.”

He scowled. “I’m not adorable. I’m a grizzly.”

He got off the bed, and since he was already undressed, it was easy to shift. In moments where the man had been next to Maeve, a bear stood, huge, powerful and proud. Maeve scrambled backwards, her eyes wide and the scent of fear drifted towards him.

But then she stopped. She crept forward and reached a hand out and tentatively touched his neck, slowly stroking through his fur. He leaned into her touch and she gained confidence, using both hands and eventually hugging him. “You’re gorgeous as a bear.”

He gave a low growl. She laughed. “Okay, all scary and fierce and growly, but beautiful too.”

His bear was happy with that. He shifted back and lunged for her, pinning her on the bed. She squealed, and he cut off the sound with a kiss. “It’s been two hours since I’ve been inside of you.”

“You’re insatiable.”

Her laughter turned to moans as he slid deep and began thrusting. “Oh yes, just like that.”

Chapter

Eight

Maeve was pleasantly sore and thoroughly exhausted the next morning, but she had to work. Not that anyone would mind if she missed a day of work. She never once called out sick or missed a day and if there was ever an excuse to miss a day and stay in bed, this was it. But Saul had to open the bakery, so she had no one to stay in bed with. So why bother?

Besides, she needed to confront the Duprees about what was in that so-called love potion so she could create a more tailored antidote for it. After she got her Devil’s Thimbleberry planted and the ecosystem set up according to the instructions given to her by Cornelius Digby, she headed for the shoppe and her showdown with the Duprees. She hated confrontation, but she had to have this resolved before this mating discussion went any further between her and Saul. She had to know that it was real and not influenced by the potion.

As usual, the Duprees were pulling their disappearing act, not showing up and avoiding her. She left them a message telling them to be there with the potion or she would quit on the spot and take her potions with her. Botanica Magica might not carryher potions or hire her, but she had enough of a clientele to support her as she got her own business going.

“Maeve?” A voice spoke from the back room. “You wanted to see me?”

Well, maybe being assertive had its rewards. Maeve turned and saw Tempest Dupree, the oldest Dupree sister and the one who scared Maeve the most, standing in the doorway, a frown on her face. Though, Maeve had hoped it would be Phoebe and not Tempest to answer her. Phoebe was so much easier to deal with, being the sister she dealt with the most about the shop, her potions, and her work. Tempest oversaw the business side, and Fleur did her own thing with her scented potions and charms. The arrangement worked. But now Tempest was here and Maeve had to deal with her. But she was strong. She could handle Tempest. Right?

“Yes, I did. I wanted to talk with you about the BrewFest.”

Tempest stepped further into the shop, one perfectly shaped eyebrow arched. “Really? The mayor has asked us not to speak about the events of the contest until he has had more time to investigate the matter. So I’m sure you can understand that I have nothing more to offer at this time.”

Tempest turned as if to return to the back room and her office.

Be strong, be brave, Maeve chanted to herself. She tried to channel Saul and his encouraging words from the previous day.

She straightened, throwing her shoulders back and fixing a firm look on Tempest. “I want to ask about that love potion at the festival and the antidote.”

Tempest sighed and turned back to Maeve. She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms, and studied Maeve with an air of tolerance, as if Maeve was bothering her. Or maybe she was avoiding something. She was dressed as always impeccably in a Ghoulchi light-gray pencil skirt and jacket, and a whiteblouse, paired with black Ghoul Rossi stilettos. None of which Maeve could ever hope to afford, much less pull off without spilling something on her or breaking an ankle, or worse, in those shoes.

“I want to know what was in that love potion of yours and how it works.”

A laugh rang out from Tempest, but there was a hint of nervousness to it, as if she were hiding something. “You know a potion master never shares their secrets. Besides, it was from an old family secret and we are sworn to secrecy. We can only share it with other Duprees. And, as I mentioned previously, we’ve been asked not to speak of Saturday’s events.”

Maeve narrowed her eyes. She understood the paranoia that most potions masters had about their creations, but this had far-reaching impacts. “Tempest, your potion affected a lot of people, including me and Saul Grimsbane. As I was personally affected, I feel that you owe me at least this. You have to fix the problem that your potion caused.”

Tempest straightened, a smirk hiding the flash of trepidation in her eyes.. “Why are you so concerned? Ohh, Saul Grimsbane. That kiss was very hot, Maeve. I didn’t know you had it in you. I hear he has been following you all over town since then. Very much a shifter thing. Sounds like he’s gotten fixated on you.”

She leaned forward and laid a hand on Maeve’s arm, a look of concern on her face. “Don’t take this the wrong way, dear. We like you very much and consider you almost a part of the family. But don’t get too attached to Saul. He’s a shifter, and an alpha bear at that. He needs a strong female to lead his clan. While shifters can mate outside their species, alphas almost never do, and if they do, it’s to other shifters with the same amount of power. You need to bring something to the clan of value. Strength, power, the ability to lead the clan with your mate. Maeve, you’re just not strong enough.”

Maeve sighed, her shoulders slumping. She knew Tempest was being kind, but she was right. Maeve hated conflict, hated fighting, and preferred to stay behind the scenes as much as possible. “So you think the love potion is affecting him?”

“I think it’s affecting both of you. We tested it first with you a few days before, the day he came into the shoppe when we had tested the potion. You had a double dose of it. At the shoppe, then at the festival. Then Saul had it at the festival. I fear you never had a chance. You should give yourselves space to let the potion wear off. Then you can see how your feelings truly are.”

With a last squeeze of Maeve’s arm, Tempest left the main part of the shoppe and headed into the back office to work on invoices or whatever Tempest did, leaving Maeve to stew in her thoughts. She feared Tempest was right. She had seen alpha shifter mates. They were strong, powerful, dominant, everything she wasn’t. Her only real skill was brewing potions, in the quiet of her greenhouse and workshop, alone. Not much of a combat skill. Or an alpha skill. Maybe she truly was the mouse he always called her.

---