Page 233 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Kass groaned, and his fingers threaded through Bailey’s hair like he had no intention of letting go. Honestly, if Kass dragged him out the back, he wouldn’t even put up a mock protest. Tonight was as good as any to do more than think about it, and while he’d known Kass approximately half a song, he knew enough to know that he wanted this man in a way he’d never wanted anything.

His heart hammered, and he ground against Kass, hoping that beneath that sharp exterior was a dirty mind who wanted to extend their time together.

The warning at the back of his mind increased in volume.

He ignored it at nipped at Kass’s lip. Kass squeezed his ass and held him hard up against him. If they were naked…need pulsed through his blood. He should take Kass out the back and pretend that he knew what to do.

The hunger inside him ignited and in that heartbeat it wasn’t only his lust. He glimpsed himself through Kass’s eyes and felt his desire.

He jerked back, the taste of the witch still on his lips.

Fuck me.

Something was wrong. This wasn’t just a kiss. Well, it was, but there were kisses and there werekisses. He’d only ever heard about the second. The second type was pure magic and something to be avoided at all costs. Sparks tumbled through him and he wanted to believe it was lust and nothing more. But he wasn’t that stupid. He knew the stories, had listened to the warnings about witches from the first day he shifted.

And he was an idiot because all he wanted was another taste. More than just a taste, he wanted everything. His hand remained beneath Kass’s shirt and Kass stared at him like Bailey Fisher, petty thief, was the center of the universe.

Then Kass blinked as though he’d been slapped in the face, not kissed. “You’re a shifter.”

Bailey hissed; he didn’t need everyone in the damn club knowing his business, nor was he about to confess to being anything.Shit.

For how long had this witch been looking for a shifter?

His blood was as cold as his beer.

“What?” He feigned confusion. “Yeah, I’m versatile.” Or he liked the idea, he’d never actually gotten far enough to have that conversation. And there’d be no getting naked, or even semi-naked, tonight. His gut clenched; the anticipation riding high in his blood. Not even realizing Kass was a witch had dampened the hunger. What the fuck was wrong with him?

He knew…he just didn’t want to believe.

Kass frowned and nodded. “Right, yeah.”

But something had changed between them. Where there’d been only lust, now there was confusion and distrust. It had been bound to happen sooner rather than later. He shouldn’t have gotten his hopes up.

The sparks trapped in Bailey’s chest made every breath tight. He wanted to kiss Kass and find out what was in those tight jeans, but he needed to leave before anything else happened. The song was over, his time was up. He downed what was left of the beer.

“Getting rid of my bottle. Be right back.” He smiled and hoped it looked real.

He leaned in and kissed Kass on the cheek, like he meant what he’d said, then made his exit, trailing his fingers over Kass’s hip before dipping into his pocket. The wallet was in Bailey’s jeans before he reached the edge of the dance floor. He ditched the bottle on a table and headed out the door.

The air was sharp in his lungs, but he preferred winter to summer. Loved the bite of ice and the sting of sleet. He walked to the train station hugging the shadows, knowing he was all but invisible. On the platform, he slouched against a wall and waited. The urge to pull out the wallet was too strong for him to ignore. Who was the witch?

Kassidy Robinson. His driver’s license gave a military base as his address. There was an Army ID card and in his photo he seemed very proper, very serious. And still delectable.

Bailey stared up at the night sky. Of all the men he could’ve kissed, he’d found a witch. Or the witch had found him. His pulse quickened as his mind replayed the way they’d fit together. He adjusted his jeans, and it didn’t make any difference. His dick was uncomfortably hard, like it hadn’t gotten the memo that nothing was going to happen.

I am not attracted to him.

It wasn’t attraction; it was fucking binding magic. If he went home and said anything to Gran, she’d cuff his ear then send a hitman after Kass. It was a tempting idea and a quick way to be free of the bond that now connected them.

He checked the almost empty platform, but there was no sign of the witch. And no hitmen. He didn’t want to graduate from theft to more serious crimes, but that was all that waited for him once he turned eighteen. He didn’t want that. He wanted a job flipping burgers like other kids his age.

Instead, he’d be in trouble for not bringing home enough. Even if he tossed Kass’s card in, he only had five. Being short, brought trouble. And worst of all, he needed a new hunting ground. He didn’t want to go near his favorite club if Kass went there. One smile and he’d melt, he was sure of it. A rush of air heralded the train. He should toss the wallet and just keep the cash and card, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He slipped it back into his pocket.

At least he knew who the witch was. What to do with his mate was a much thornier problem.

* * *

Kass spun,but Bailey had already slipped away. He narrowed his eyes as he scanned the crowd for the bottle blond, but he was gone. Vanished into thin air. Kass wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, but his lips tingled like he’d accidentally eaten kiwi fruit. Was he allergic to shifters too?

---