Page 30 of So I Won a Werelion

It wasn’t that I hadn’t strived for more. Everything I’d wanted had always been just out of my reach.

Whatever was in that basket would be served with a side of caution.

Gabe settled beside me and opened the basket. There were wrapped sandwiches, some salads, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a flower bouquet.

“You went to see Jenny at the mercantile.” I laughed as I placed the flowers in the middle of the blanket. “I love everything she makes.”

“When you want to impress someone, you go with the best.” His eyes twinkled in the lights. When Bibi said Bjorn was setting up lights, I expected production lights, but instead the big bear was looping string lights around tree branches. “The Werewives found out I was there, I pretty much lost control of the situation, and they packed this basket.”

He popped open the bottle of champagne, sending the cork straight up into the air.

“I’m surprised they didn’t tell you to run the other way.”

“Hey. They want the best for you. Just like I do.” He inched closer.

There was that heat again. It was making me think sinful things. Like taking off his shirt and running my hands all over those muscles.

No. He’s Gabe. You can’t do this.

“Things are gonna change when they find out I’ve got the Scepter.” I had to keep reminding him—and myself—of our mission because this close to Gabe, it was easy to forget about everything else.

“What do you think will happen?”

“I have no idea. I can feel its energy. It’s making me feel…something.”

He quirked a brow. It shouldn’t have turned me on. More. “What does it make you feel?”

What was going on? Maybe it was because Gabe had brought me back to the overlook. Maybe it was having the cameras on me. Maybe it was finally having shifters root for me to win. But sweet mother of the moon, did I ever want him. In every which way I could have him.

“I’m not as good at flirting as you are.” I swallowed hard.

“Oh, you think I’m good at flirting?” That deep chuckle made the muscles between my legs go crazy. “You’re better at it than you think.”

“Gabe.”

“Okay…is it making you feel like an animal might burst out of your skin?”

“No.” I could barely breathe.

“It’s not making you feel like you changed your mind about me, I hope?” He brushed his fingers over mine. “Because if it is, I will toss it off this overlook. It can stay hidden for eternity. We were doing just fine without it.”

“Don’t you dare.”

He grinned. “You know if you don’t tell me how it’s making you feel, Bibi will come over and ask. It’s her favorite question.”

“Truth.” I laughed, and then took a deep breath. “Fine. It’s…making me want to do outrageous things to you.”

Chapter

Eight

Gabe

“What kind of outrageous things?” Days ago Wendy had rejected my mate claim, and now she was back on the show because she was in trouble.

I hadn’t forgotten that, even when she’d wrapped her arms around me on the bike, when she blushed at my horrible attempt at flirting, or now when she was close enough to taste.

She was here because she found an artifact that she wouldn’t know existed if I hadn’t told her the legends all those years ago.

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