The Lying, the Witch, and the Werewolf (Down & Dirty Supernatural Cleaning Services Book 4) by Kate Quinn (uplifting books for women .txt) 📗

“Maybe it’s not incubus semen, maybe it’s from some other sexy type of supe.”

Nico grins at me and gives one of his knowing winks. “Like a werewolf.”

That’s the type of comment that usually has me rolling my eyes, but right now whatever was in that chocolate just makes me want to roll onto my back. “Or they adjusted the formula. This is a lab, you know.”

“It doesn’t really matter what’s in it,” Nico says. “The bigger question is why they have it hidden out here. This seems like the type of thing they’d be pretty open about sharing with all the members.”

“Oh! I know,” I say, suddenly remembering the box of candy bars. I hurry over to them, thankful it puts me at an ever greater distance from Nico. Pulling one of the bars out, I toss it to him.

“Humans First,” he says, reading the label. He frowns and then scrubs at his face. “Paige, this is ringing some sort of bell, but I can’t think.”

“I’m having the same problem,” I admit. “Maybe we should step outside. The fresh air might clear our heads.”

“No,” Nico growls the word and suddenly he’s at my side once more, both of his hands holding me tight, as if I belong to him. I really don’t appreciate being told what to do or manhandled...except right now I can’t exactly remember why. “There’s no way I’m letting you go back there drugged and get passed around by those horndogs.”

I stare at Nico and can’t help myself from smiling. “You’re jealous.”

His only response is a growl.

“Did you mess around with the girls at the swimming hole?” I ask him. Figuring if he gets to be a jealous asshole, then I can too.

“What do you think?” he asks a teasing smile on his face.

I put a hand into his thick head of hair and tug. “Tell me.”

In response his mouth covers mine. A groan full of pleasure and pent-up longing escapes me as we kiss like our lives depend on it.

“I didn’t go to the swimming hole,” Nico gasps against my mouth between kisses.

I sigh more relieved than I expected to be. “Because you want me,” I say possessively.

“Why didn’t you sleep with that satyr?” he asks in return.

“Because he has hooves,” I reply. “His goat legs freak me out.”

It’s Nico’s turn to pull a chunk of my hair. “Liar.”

“Because I want you,” I admit, unable to stop the words any more than I can stop my hands from exploring every bit of his body. “We just gotta do it, Nico. Whatever is in that chocolate, it’s making us insane and we’re not gonna be able to figure any of this out until we get this—” I slide a hand down until it’s pressed against Nico’s package. The growl he releases this time is so fierce every hair on my body stands on end. “Out of our systems.”

“Paige,” he groans my name as I explore the generous shape of him beneath his boxer briefs.

“And then,” I continue outlining my plan along with Nico’s manhood. “We’ll go on with our lives and pretend it never happened.”

Nico’s hand closes over mine. “No,” he says, all the heat in his voice frozen over. Releasing me, he pushes away and stalks to the door, throwing it open. With the moon silhouetted behind him, he looks at me. “We’re not doing this, Paige. Not this way.”

With that, Nico shifts into his wolf form and bounds out the door and away into the night.

“Fuck,” I say, unable to decide if I’m relieved or devastated.

In the distance, comes the sound of a werewolf howling.

It takes everything in me not to throw my head back and join in.

22

Following Nico’s lead, I leave the lab, locking it up tight behind me.

The night air clears my head a little and I remember everything that went down with Adorra and how I might not be welcome at the commune anymore. I go and sit under a tree, figuring if I wait a few hours until most people have retired for the night I can slip into my yurt unnoticed. In the meantime, I’ve got time to try and unravel what’s going on.

Looking up at the sky, I inhale deeply, trying to focus. Whatever new formula of incubus spunk magic they used, that stuff is potent. I didn’t have that much, did I? It started with just that one little lick...off Nico’s finger...ugh.

I shake my head, hoping for more clarity. Nico is right. I’ve experienced the incubus spunk before, and this was different. More...let’s say, specific about what my needs and wants were in the moment. It wasn’t just sex. Or sex with just anyone. I wanted Nico.

They must have found a way to literally bottle the concept of “love the one you’re with.”

After a while, I stand up and start walking back in the direction of my yurt, hoping Adorra hasn’t cleared it out, or set some sort of magical landmine in front of the door. Nico can run off his frustrations, but I’ve probably got a target on my back now. I briefly consider sprinting off after him into the night to screw him sideways underneath the stars.

I’m still punch-drunk and end up walking in circles for a while, then I just sit down and close my eyes. The night is warm and I’m too tired to worry about anything right now.

I wake with the dawn, feeling—not great exactly—but in control of all my faculties. And I’m not alone. Nico had found me and lays next to me in his wolf form, his paw touching my leg.

I’ve seen him fully shifted like this, but he’s usually puffed up like a blow fish and trying to kill someone. I take the moment to really get a good look at him. He’s absolutely gorgeous. His coat is a beautiful deep grey, except on his muzzle, which is white. I reach out and touch his pelt, his chest rising and falling under my hand. I know the