Page 44 of Bearly Bewitched

Without overthinking, she stretched up and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was soft, questioning, but his response was immediate and devastating. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he deepened the kiss with a hunger that matched her own. Her fingers tangled in his hair while her magic danced beneath her skin, responding to the primal energy of his bear nature.

When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers. His hands had slipped under her jacket to span her waist, thumbs tracing maddening circles against her sides. She could feel his heart racing to match her own, could sense his bearstirring just beneath the surface, protective and possessive in equal measure.

“Vail,” he breathed her name like a prayer, like something precious and rare. She silenced whatever else he might have said with another kiss, this one deeper and more demanding. His growl of approval rumbled through her where their chests pressed together, and she found herself backed against one of the porch pillars. The solid wood at her back and his warm strength at her front made her feel deliciously trapped, though she knew he’d let her go in an instant if she wanted.

But she didn’t want. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she wanted to hold on. To see where this thing between them might lead if she stopped fighting it.

A crash from inside followed by Romi’s distinctive “Oops!” startled them apart. But Kaine didn’t let her retreat completely. His arms stayed around her, holding her close as they caught their breath. “We should probably...”

“Yeah.” But she made no move to step away, instead letting her hands slide down to rest against his chest. Through his shirt, she could feel his solid strength, the steady rise and fall of his breathing. Her magic hummed contentedly as if finally acknowledging what her heart had known for weeks. “Though I’m tempted to just stay out here.”

He pressed a kiss to her temple, his bear’s protective nature evident in the gentle possessiveness of the gesture. “Together?”

The word carried so many layers of meaning—a question, a promise, a future she suddenly wanted to explore. She tilted her face up to his, letting him see the answer in her eyes. “Together.”

When they finally rejoined their friends inside, something fundamental had shifted between them—a bridge crossed, a connection deepened, a possibility embraced rather than feared.

If their hands found excuses to touch throughout the rest of the evening, if their gazes held longer than strictly necessary,if she leaned into his strength while he kept her within arm’s reach... well, who could blame them? Some bonds were worth the risk of forming, worth fighting to protect.

And as Vail watched Kaine interact with their friends, saw how naturally he fit into her world, she realized she’d already made her choice. Whatever tomorrow brought, whatever challenges the eclipse might hold, she wanted to face them with him. Not just as allies or friends, but as something more. Something deeper. Something worth taking a chance on.

They helped clean up dinner, moving around each other with natural ease. Simple domestic tasks took on new meaning with him nearby—passing dishes became opportunities for lingering touches, loading the dishwasher an excuse to brush against each other in the narrow kitchen.

“I’ll walk you home,” Kaine offered as they left Madame Zephyrine’s house. The night air carried the scent of rain-washed stone and distant magic. “Make sure you get there safely.”

“What about Daisy?” she asked.

“She’s staying the night with Aunt Romi.”

Vail smiled, letting their shoulders brush as they walked. “My cottage is barely two blocks away.”

“Humor me.” His hand found the small of her back, steadying her over a patch of broken cobblestones. The touch lingered, warming her through her jacket. “After everything that happened today...”

She understood. The need to stay close, to protect what mattered. Her own magic reached instinctively toward his solid presence.

They walked in comfortable silence through Mystic Hollow’s quiet streets. Magical lampposts cast pools of golden light that caught in Kaine’s dark hair, highlighting the strong lines of hisface. Vail found herself studying his profile, memorizing the way moonlight softened his usual intensity.

At her door, she turned to face him. “Thank you. For everything today.”

“Vail.” His voice roughened as he stepped closer, one hand coming up to cup her cheek. “You don’t have to thank me. I?—“

She rose on her toes and kissed him, cutting off whatever he’d been about to say. This kiss was different from their earlier ones—deeper, hungrier, full of everything they hadn’t put into words. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he backed her gently against her door.

FORTY-THREE

When they stepped back, she kept her fingers tangled in his shirt. “Stay,” she whispered against his lips. “Please.”

His eyes searched hers, filled with tender concern despite the desire darkening them to pure gold. “Are you sure? We don’t have to?—“

“I’m sure.” She stretched up to press soft kisses along his jaw, feeling his breath catch. “I want this. I want you.”

In answer, he captured her mouth again, kissing her with a passion that made her magic surge in response. Somehow she managed to get the door open without breaking contact. They stumbled inside, hands exploring newly exposed skin as jackets hit the floor.

“Kaine,” she sighed between kisses and stripping off their clothes.

“Tell me to stop now or I won’t be able to hold back.” He took a step away from her.

Stop? Not in this lifetime.

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