7. Chapter 7

Chapter seven

Connor

C ursing under my breath, I forcefully slam the bed and breakfast door shut, the sound reverberating through the air. Seeing my torn clothes strewn on the floor makes me grimace, realizing that there might be other tenants in the neighboring rooms. Ignoring the thought, I fixate on the sight of a half-eaten box of scones, its contents spilled and my name scrawled on the pristine white packaging.

Netti.

"Fuck." A surge of desire courses through me, my senses awakening at her memory. My dick stands at full attention, and I growl at my body's reaction. I recall how her hands tightened on my shirt as I pressed her against the bakery counter.

I need to get her out of my mind. Seeking solace, I make my way to the bathroom, forcefully yanking the shower curtain open. The hot water begins to flow, filling the compact space with swirling steam. In front of the mirror, I wipe away the condensation, revealing a smudge of pink lip gloss on the side of my neck. My blood heats, and I tear myself away from the mirror, haunted by the image of her pinned against the wall, my face buried in her fragrant, soft pink hair as I drew moans from her lips. She had responded with such intensity, as if she, too, were under some enchantment.

"No, it can't be. That witch must have done something to me. But why? What would she gain from sabotaging the deal with Summit Contracting Group?" I step into the steam-filled shower, the scalding water cascading over my body as I desperately scrub my skin, hoping to wash away the lingering memories that cling to me. But no matter how fiercely I scrub, I can't rid myself of the lingering sensation and fragrance of her presence. It's as if her essence has become intertwined with my own, haunting every breath I take and every touch I feel.

Something in my chest tugs, and in my mind, I see her. Except she's not in the bakery but in a bed piled high with pillows and a quilted down comforter. Her hair is down, cascading over the pillows she's propped up against, reading a book.

"What witchery is this?" I growl, but my vision blurs and I can hardly see the shower around me. It's as though I'm in the room with her, except I'm not.

I feel a strum of excitement and arousal but it feels feminine and sweet as frosting.

In my mind's eye, Netti sets down her book, the cover indiscernible, and looks around the room, her cheeks heating a warm pink. She's in nothing but a pink silk nightgown, clinging to her skin. Her nipples point against the thin fabric. I place one hand on the cold wall of the tile, the other reaching to grab around my thick shaft. The water continues to pelt against my skin, hot as sin. Its scorching heat envelopes my senses, yet my focus remains on Netti as she shifts in bed. Her legs part, and her hand ventures between her thighs.

"Fuck." A guttural growl escapes my lips as I tighten my grip. I don't know how it's possible, but I smell her, not just her sweet perfume, but the scent of her slick, intoxicating arousal.

With one finger gliding across her center, she uses her other hand to pinch her nipple. Her eyes close, her lips parted in a moan as her head drops back into the pillow. I mimic her movements, matching her stroke for stroke, wishing it was her delicate hands wrapped around my throbbing cock and my mouth exploring the depths between her legs. I growl again, clenching my teeth together, imagining her thighs tightening on either side of my head as I dip into her sweet tight center with one finger, then two, spreading her in preparation for my girth.

Oh, my sweet nettle, how I'd make you beg for your release.

Her hips buck up, her breathing increasing as though she heard my private thoughts. I feel the surge of her orgasm building, as though she's channeling her feelings directly into my head.

The words “Come for me” escape my lips in a barely audible guttural sound, accompanied by the rushing water from the showerhead. I concentrate on the vivid image of my head buried between her thighs, the sight of her glistening center, and the smell of her arousal filling the air. As I increase my pace, her eyes fly open, a moan escaping her lips, the sound echoing in the steam-filled bathroom. I can almost taste her pleasure as she reaches her climax, her body stilling in response. At that moment, it feels as if time stands still, and I swear I can see her silently mouthing my name, the sight of her lips forming the sound of “Connor.”

I pant heavily, my muscles tightening with anticipation as I feel my release building. Leaning forward onto the shower wall, the cool tiles pressing against my skin, I grip onto the balls of my feet for support. The sensation of the water cascading down my body merges with the image in my mind, imagining her sweet lips wrapping around the head of my cock, the sensation of her warm breath against me. The intensity of the scene is enough to send me over the edge. My release comes on hard and fast, hitting the shower floor with a splatter, the sound of it mixing with the rushing water. The hot water quickly washes away any trace of my climax, leaving only the fading image of her in my mind.

As the image dissipates, I once again feel fully present in the shower, the sound of the water hitting the tiles and my heavy panting returning to the forefront of my senses. The scent of her arousal fades, replaced by the clean, soapy smell of the shower gel. I realize I had been completely lost in the moment, deeper than I had ever thought possible.

“That wasn’t real. It’s just the lingering effect of the scones,” I say out loud, as though the proclamation would make it true. There is no way I could see into Netti’s mind or her to push thoughts of herself into mine.

Was there?

To prevent myself from doing something I'll regret, I have to get away from her before I snap and fall prey to the magic, instinct, or whatever this was. I have to get out of this town. I didn't need a relationship to complicate things. Not now when I was trying to push for the biggest growth in my company's history. Not now when, if I can fix things with Summit Contracting Group, it could mean hundreds if not thousands of people have more job and living opportunities.

"How did the meeting go?" Daisy's cheerful old voice through the car speakers is a balm to my scattered thoughts as I hit the answer button on the phone, but I can't bring myself to answer. "That bad?"

"I'm driving back to the airport," I reply gruffly, watching the pines rolling past my window. It is a two-hour drive to the closest airport. I'd called as soon as I packed up after the shower to make sure my jet was ready for take-off as soon as possible.

"So soon? I thought I told you that you needed to take a break. You're going to work yourself to death," she chides.

More like die if I can't get my hands back on that pretty witch. You should have ripped that phone out of the wall or convinced her to close early and taken her back to the B&B. Then, you wouldn't have had to finish in the shower alone.

Now is not the time and place, wolf. And where have you been for the last twenty-four hours?

But my thoughts stray to my hand wrapped around my cock as the hot water pounded against my skin, wishing it were her smooth hands--

"Connor?" Daisy's voice breaks my thoughts. I pinch the bridge of my nose with one hand as I slow the car down at the red light. I need to get a grip on myself.

"Sorry, I'm just trying to figure out how to clean up this mess." I sigh, pressing the gas pedal as the light flips green again. “Plus, I have that board meeting Monday.”

"The board meeting can wait. What happened?" she asks gently, like a mother. A sharp, icy ache settles in my chest, a silent reminder of my solitude.

It's more like what didn't happen. We didn't run through the forest, we didn't get the deal, and we didn't get the girl.

"Shut up," I growl.

"Excuse me?" Daisy says, and I can picture her peppered eyebrows shooting up into her hairline. Okay, make that two Christmas presents I’d need to order for her.

"Not you." I groan and sigh. "My wolf has been... acting strange lately. More talkative than usual."

"When was the last time you visited the pack? Or talked to your brother?"

The guilt I feel twists and churns in my stomach—a cold, heavy weight. I hadn't talked to my brother or the pack in over a decade since our last fight. Even though I constantly checked in on them, especially as I'd finished building projects or donated anonymously.

"What difference does it make?" I snap before biting my tongue.

Because wolves thrive in packs, and you are an alpha pretending to be a lone wolf.

"Connor, I know it's none of my business, but I've been around long enough to know you, and you care about the pack. Whether you will admit it or not," she says matter-of-factly. "You spend everything—your time, your money, your energy into their well-being—while your brother stands in as alpha and it's eating you. It doesn't surprise me at all that it's causing your wolf to act up."

Hey! I am not acting up...

"The pack needs it, and I help more than just my brother's pack. You know our goal at Abernathy inc. is to provide jobs and homes for all the magical and non-magical communities alike."

But at what cost to us?

"I know what you strive for, but I also see what it's doing to you. I'll see you when you get back into the office. Drive safe." The line beeps and goes dead, the car switching back to the music channel.

I sit in brooding silence as I drive down the two-lane highway, the only sound being the faint hum of the engine. Towering pine and maple trees surround me, their branches reaching out like silent sentinels. The air inside the car feels stifling, my skin prickling with the heat as I tightly grip the steering wheel, trying to focus on my thoughts. But all I can see in my mind's eye is Netti's face, her half-smile and lifted surprised gaze from the bakery as I walked through the door. I can almost taste the plumpness of her lips after our passionate encounter.

"Fuck." Frustration boils like a red-hot poker inside me. I slam my fist against the steering wheel, the sound reverberating through the stillness. Rolling down the window, I hope for a refreshing breeze, but instead, a sweet vanilla chai scent fills my nostrils, a lingering reminder of Netti.

My phone buzzes, jolting me from my thoughts, and I glance down to see my brother's caller ID flashing on the screen. Confusion and curiosity flood my mind as I answer the call.

"Hello?" I say, my voice filled with a mix of apprehension and anticipation.

"Connor," my brother's voice crackles through the car speakers, the sound blending with the soft static of the radio. "I'm so glad I caught you."

The world seems to slow as I turn a corner, my eyes widening as I spot a deer standing in the middle of the road. Panic surges through me, my heart pounding as adrenaline courses through my veins. I stomp on the brakes, the screech of tires against pavement piercing the air. The car swerves uncontrollably, the tires losing traction as I desperately try to regain control. Finally, it spins off the road, hurtling toward a massive tree trunk.

In an instant, the impact sends shockwaves through my body, the airbags exploding into action, slamming me back into my seat. The smell of burnt rubber and smoke fills my nose as the seat belt digs into my shoulder, leaving a searing sensation. My ears ring, a constant buzz drowning out all other sounds. Time seems to stand still as I sit there, dazed and disoriented. Thoughts race through my mind, regret and uncertainty clouding my vision.

Maybe I should have stayed in town, sorted things out with Netti, and rescheduled the meeting with the Summit Contracting Group. Before I can fully process these thoughts, the world fades into darkness.