Page 81 of The Witch's Shifter
His lips pull back on one side, his smile wolfish. It makes my insides wriggle in a wholly pleasing way.
“Yes,really. Just like I can smell you right after you’ve passed through a room, or when you’ve been outside and the scent of autumn clings to your hair.” Pausing, he reaches for my hair and pushes it over my shoulder, revealing the scar barely poking above the neckline of my long-sleeved dress. Stooping toward me, he presses a kiss to the pink skin, and I sigh softly at the tingling left in the wake of his lips.
Locating the mushrooms ismucheasier with Faolan’s help, though I’ll admit it takes some of the fun out of the hunt. We fill our baskets much earlier than I expected.
“Well,” I say, gazing down at the baskets overflowing with chanterelles, “I suppose we should head back.”
“Or perhaps,” Faolan says, voice low, “we could extend our break.”
Tipping my head at him, I smile. “Trying to get out of work, hmm? What do you have in mind?”
There’s that wolfish smile again, his sharp teeth poking out from beneath his lips.
“Let’s go for a run.”
That wasn’t what I expected, but the idea of clinging to his warm black fur while he gallops through the woods makes excitement curl through my veins.
“Will you have me back before supper? I’ll need time to make the soup and the bread.”
“Maybe.” He yanks his tunic off his head, revealing his toned chest and beautiful brown skin. “Or maybe I’ll run away with you, and we can start our own pack.” His trousers are the next thing to hit the ground. Now he’s standing in front of me, naked and beautiful. “Is that a chance you’re willing to take?”
From the underbrush nearby, Harrison scoffs. “Show-off.”
I glance in his direction, though I can barely see him through the bush he’s crouching in. “Do you want to come?” I offer.
His eyes flick to mine and narrow. “Are you insinuating I shouldrideupon the back of a dog? I’d rather not.”
My laughter is light and unburdened. “All right. If you’re sure.”
“Quite.”
Turning back to Faolan, I nod. “I’ll take my chances.”
He smiles.
This time when he transforms, I’m not as horrified by it as I was the first few times. Now, I see the beauty in it, the magic in his body rearranging his bones and sinew without leaving one mark behind. It’s mesmerizing.
When the transformation is complete, Faolan stands on four legs, his midnight coat sleek and stunning against the gold-green backdrop of the forest around us.
“I’ll race you back,” Harrison says suddenly.
“You want to race?” I ask, surprised he’d suggest such a thing.
“Yes.” His eyes flick to Faolan. “Unless the pup is scared.”
“What do you say, Faolan?” I ask as I walk toward him and place my hand upon his warm coat. “You want to race Harrison home?”
His response is a growl, his lips pulling back in a snarl thatalmostlooks like a smile.
Almost.
And the emotion that sings through our bond tells me he’s up for the challenge. I think he’d be up for almost any challenge.
I grab his mushroom basket and discarded clothing, then clamber onto his back, though not gracefully. My belly is getting bigger each day, making what was once simple ever more difficult.
Beneath me, Faolan is warm and strong, like a fire to ward off the cold. With the two baskets held against my chest and one hand gripping his soft black fur, I smile.
“On your mark,” I say.
