The Nightshade Guild: Mage You Look by Abigail Kade (if you liked this book TXT) 📗

Ohhh fun! He’s rolling with it!

I got even bolder and walked over to him by the sofa—the sofa that had been my bed for a week. Was it comfortable? Technically, yes, it was, but I would have rather snuggled up with a red bear of a Mage than a throw pillow on a couch.

When I got close enough to touch him, I reached out and ran a hand lightly over the soft woolen fabric of his kilt on his hip, sliding my hand down to the hem and picking it up slightly before making eye contact with him through my lashes. In my most seductive voice, I responded, “I always want the truth, Finn.” I played with the fabric between us, moving it higher and higher until it was almost to showtime. I bit my lower lip when I glanced down at his exposed thighs, then had to lick my lips to hide any drool that might have escaped. Fuck, even his thick thighs were furry with that red hair.

If his pubes are fiery red, kill me now because I made it back into heaven.

Clearing my throat, I got back to the task at hand.

“If I pick this all the way up, Finn, what will I see?”

His breathing has gotten heavier the higher I lifted the hem of the kilt. Now my other hand reached out and rested lightly on his shoulder so I could move closer; only a few inches separated us now. Finn’s eyes were dilating with desire, and when he licked his lips before answering, I had to stop myself from leaning up and tasting him. The only thing that stopped me was wanting to hear his answer.

“You won’t see anythin’ there, Henry. Because there’s nothin’ ta see but what I was born with.”

Dear gods, that was the answer I wanted. An accent, maybe Scottish, had made an appearance with his heightened emotions. Glancing down quickly to his lips, then up again, I begged for what I wanted. Now that I knew he was into me as much as I was interested in him, I had no trouble asking for it.

He leaned down like he was about to kiss me, and I was so happy he read my signal. Sliding my eyes closed and pulling him closer to me in anticipation of finally, freaking finally, feeling his soft lips against mine, I was close enough to feel how much he was interested. It poked me in my stomach, so I rubbed my belly back and forth against him to show my appreciation. His low growly moan was almost enough to make me come before we’d even kissed. It was insane the connection we were creating together.

I was no virgin by any means, so I was used to chemistry. This…whatever it was between us. This was something different. It was a little intense, but I wanted it all. I wanted his strong arms around me. I wanted to feel that soft beard in all my interesting and intimate places. I felt his breath, heavy and erratic, on my lips for a fleeting moment. He was close, and my anticipation was on the edge of insanity. The magic moment when I could at last kiss Finn was just about to happen. Then, the unmistakable sound of the baby crying upstairs hit us both like a bucket of snow.

The moment was shattered.

Finn stepped back so fast, my hands fell to my sides, and I had to regain my balance by holding the back of the sofa. Desire still flushed his face, but there was a panicked look in his eyes that did an even better job of dampening my desire than the crying baby had.

“I need to go out and check the roads. With the snow melting and the warmer weather, you should be able to make it down soon if I don’t find any washout. Can you go get Ameria? I won’t be long.”

Finn made his excuse and nearly ran out the door. Disappointment was an old friend of mine, but it was never more piercing than this moment. I had fooled myself into thinking this was just a flirtation with Finn, but I knew the truth now. I really liked him, more than friends or business. I wanted him in my life.

And he didn’t want me at all.

It looked like I’d been put in my place, back to playing manny and nothing more. I walked up the stairs, soothing my sadness by reminding myself that I’d made some progress before getting shut down. Finn was interested, but he was holding back. Could it be something to do with the Guild? Or was it the fact that he thought I was human that was holding him back? Was this even worth a fight?

I would take that thought up later. Right now, a fussy princess needed my attention. At least she couldn’t run out on me. Plus, she loved my hugs and kisses.

When I got upstairs, I found what had caused all the fuss. The stuffed puppy had gotten tangled in the baby’s blanket and she couldn’t get him out to hold. I rescued the pooch and tried to get her to settle back down, but it was no use. Nap time was over for now.

I changed her diaper and brought her downstairs to the area we’d set up for her to sit and play. Before I sat her down with her soft blocks to play, I held her tight and walked to the window. She loved looking at the snowy forest and the view out beyond to the mountains miles and miles away.

“This is a million-dollar view, you know. I can see why Finn lives here. I’d love to live in a place like this too.”

Ameria placed her hand on my cheek and showed me an image of Finn and then me. I felt