Page 24 of Charmed and Dangerous

Saul sat on the stool in Maeve’s greenhouse, wondering why the hell he had let her drag him out of bed so early in the morning, especially after their mating. They should still be in bed, celebrating their union. Had he not fucked her well enough? She should be too exhausted to move. Yet here she was, the tip of her tongue peeking out from the corner of her mouth, as she studied the potion that was simmering on the Bunsen burner in front of her.

A scratching at his leg made him look down. Hazel, her honey badger, was clawing at his leg with her wicked looking claws. Was she trying to kill him or just maim him?

“You’d better pick her up or she’ll claw your leg to shit as she tries to climb you,” Maeve said absently.

He sighed and picked up the honey badger, settling her in his arms. “She’d better not claw my face. I’m not entirely sure she’s forgiven me for this past week.”

“Give her some of your honey and she’ll be your best friend,” Maeve said.

He groaned. “I have to share my honey?”

Maeve grinned impishly at him. “Only if you don’t want holes in your house. And you’ll lose your honey, anyway. Make a deal with her and she’ll work with you.”

He sighed, and he handed Hazel one of his honey sticks from his pocket. She curled up in his arms, contentedly sucking the honey. “Fine. Why are we here again?”

“Phoebe Dupree finally told me the ingredients of their love potion. I want to make the antidote to ensure we’re both cured of any effects.”

He shook his head. “Maeve, I told you. I wasn’t affected by the potion. My bear can’t be affected by potions. He decided on you long before the festival.”

“Humor me. Please?”

She turned pleading blue eyes his way, and he knew he could never say no. Ursa help them if they ever had a daughter with her eyes. He was doomed. “Fine. Give me the antidote. I hope it tastes better than the potion. That was foul.”

She smiled. “Potions don’t have to taste bad. They can be flavored. A good potions master knows how to do this.”

“And my mate is the best,” he replied smugly.

He took the glass and drank it down in one swift swallow. She was right. It had a slight honey taste, African honey, if he wasn’t mistaken. His favorite. He set the glass down and eyed her expectantly. “Now what?”

“We wait.”

“How long? I really want to get my mate back home and into bed. It’s been four hours.”

She blushed a deep red and focused on the table. “I think you’ll survive.”

He tucked a curl behind her ear, brushing her mating mark, causing her to shudder. “But will you?”

She glared at him. “Fine. It should work quickly. Do you feel any differently?”

He cocked his head and frowned at her. “Who are you?”

Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. “Saul? It’s me, Maeve. Don’t you remember?”

“Where am I? What’s going on?”

She stared at him in utter horror, but he couldn’t keep it up. He burst out laughing. “I’m just kidding. I don’t feel any different except for being exceptionally horny and wondering if we locked the door to the greenhouse. I’d hate for your great aunt to walk in on us.”

Outrage flooded her face, and she threw her towel at him. “How could you, Saul? I thought I hurt you!”

Hazel lightly scored him with her claws, not enough to hurt but enough to warn him, then she jumped down and ran off. He continued to laugh, and tugged Maeve onto his lap, nuzzling her neck and licking her mating mark. “Maeve, I could never forget you. The mating bond will never allow it. You are the one for me. Always and forever. You’re my mate.”

She sighed and leaned into him. “I love you, Saul. But if you ever do anything like that again, you might have a taste of some Fyowettle in your stew.”

He shuddered. “I’ll be good. I promise. Now, can I make it up to you, mate?”

And he did. Twice.

Saul heldMaeve gently in his arms, and they swayed gently to the music. He gazed tenderly at her as the entire clan looked on. They had just completed the mating ceremony in front of the entire bear clan and some of Maeve’s friends and family, though Maeve only had eyes for her mate.

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