Chapter Five

Bessi

I am a girl who follows the rules. Even when I knew there was magic out there, I never went looking for it. I kept my head down, did as I was told, I wouldn't disrupt anything. Now I want to make waves. I want to touch that magic that I know exists here in Moon Haven.

Filling a basket with triple chocolate cookies, I am beaming. I fuss with my hair in its messy topknot. Smoothing a hand over my tennis skirt and tank top, I consider changing. No time for that. I grab the basket and head for the back door, but I am stopped.

"Heading out with a basket full of sweets again? Who you trying to sweeten up, Bes?"

Flushing at my oldest sister, Cari, I roll my eyes. I wonder if she gave Luci the same troubles she is giving me. Luci found herself a handsome, mysterious man that neither of us had ever heard of. Last night I mentioned magic because I am certain that mystery man is magic. Not that I have room to talk—I am heading out to find my own magic man.

"His name is Edon. I met him on a walk through the woods. I just...it is nice talking with him," I offer a shrug, not speaking a single word of truth. Well, his name is Edon—but he told me to call him anything I wanted.

We did not meet on a walk, and we barely spoke last night. And yet I feel as if I connected to him on that short walk home more than I have ever connected with anyone. Even my two sisters who are my best friends in the world.

He called us mates—not that I know what he means exactly.

"Well, that is nice. Take some mace. Hell, take that whole keychain with the cute purple weapons. Be careful out there Bes."

Hugging her and thanking her for not pushing, I do grab that monstrous keychain with the eye gouging tool and the rape whistle. I won't need any of those things. Not with Edon out in the same woods I am heading for. I have never felt as safe as I do when he's near.

Outside it is a warm summer night, the skies a lovely cobalt blue. Stars twinkle here and there, but the moon hangs low and glows a shimmering golden. Seeing glowing spots lighting up the shadows as lightning bugs skitter, I smile. It is a beautiful night in Moon Haven.

Last night was just the same as the night before. I dreamt of Edon all night. It was as if he was there with me, hiding in the shadows. Not to keep me safe. To drive me wild. Whispers in the dark, teasing touches that burned my skin, he kept me up all night.

Once I closed the bakery, I rushed home to start on these cookies for him. He told me not to come back to the clearing, but I must see him. I... I think I miss him. We've only just met, yet I want to be close to him. I feel as if I need to be close to him to feel whole.

"Sunshine," that raw, wild voice of his stops me. "Just last night I told you not to bring treats again. They're just for me, aren't they?"

Turning, I see him leaning against a tree, casual as can be. Lord, he is handsome. Those cool gray eyes, that big, broad body, that crooked smile and his copper hair that falls over his forehead. He grins and winks at me and my stomach explodes with its own lighting bugs.

"Y-yes, they're for you. You liked the chocolate so much..." I trail off as he pushes off the tree, closing the distance between us in a few long strides.

"I would like anything you made with these hands," he rasps, reaching down to capture my left hand in his. He brings it up, pressing his warm mouth to the palm. I almost whimper at the teasing touch.

If he is not made of magic, he has magical powers. I am not dazed or unaware of my senses. It is just the opposite. I am tuned in to the sounds, the smells, sensations happening all around me. Edon moves close, cupping my face with his big, rough hands.

"I brought them for you," I whisper, sighing when he brushes his thumb over my mouth to hush me.

"Thank you, sweetheart. Can't say I haven't been thinking about some of your sweets since last night," he husks, tugging me closer.

Tilting my head back, I stare up at him, holding my breath. Dropping his head, he rubs his nose against mine, the way he did last night. It's so sweet, so familiar, I smile. Then he brushes his mouth over mine and his magic overwhelms me once again.

Edon strokes his tongue over my mouth until I part my lips, welcoming him inside. He groans and something inside of me sparks to life. I press close, a hand lifting to tangle in his silky hair. His thick arm goes around me tightly, hauling me closer as he kisses me deeper.

"Jesus you're even sweeter than any treat you could bake. That doesn't mean I don't want those cookies you mentioned. Let's go for a walk, sweetheart."

Nodding, I let him wrap my hand around his thick bicep, his other hand taking the basket full of cookies. As we walk, he grabs one and takes a huge bite. His little throaty moan as he savors it sends a shiver of awareness up my spine. My heartrate skitters and skips as we walk along quietly, Edon enjoying the cookies I made for him.

"Don't tell me you cook too," he teases as we sit at a bench beneath a hanging willow tree.

"Of course I do," I answer with a grin. "I love being in the kitchen. I bake for my bakery, which I hope people start loving soon. At home, I am always cooking something. My sisters don't mind trying out all the things I try to make. Pho, Caci e Pepe, Schnitzel, I love making meals from all over the world. It's the closest I will ever get to being there," I explain as I bounce my shoulder in a shrug.

"What stops you from going to these places?"

"Well," I hesitate, tilting my head as I consider my answer. Truth is, nothing is keeping me from going anywhere. Just my fear of leaving Moon Haven. Of being disappointed. "Nothing is, I suppose. I just...I love it here. I grew up here with my sisters, I never even considered going anywhere else, even if I dreamt about other places."

"We could go anywhere you want to, Sunshine," his voice rumbles the promise, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that startles me.

"Why would you want to go anywhere?"

"To see your dreams come to life," he whispers gently.

Swallowing hard, I look away from that intense look in his light gray eyes. His rough hands grasp my jaw, turning me back to him. Those eyes search mine before he smiles, setting my heart rake spiking again. I sense he doesn't smile often so I feel lucky to get one.

"There is nothing I wouldn't do for my mate. My mate will have whatever life she desires. At home cooking whatever she wants or going all over the world to taste the most decadent dishes. That would be my job as her mate. To see to it that all her desires are met. Every. Single. Desire."

My thighs rub together beneath my skirt, and I swallow again. I taste him on my lips still and decide that I want more. I am not sure about all his talk about mates, but I definitely want another kiss. I turn my head and he is there, cradling it with his big hands.

His mouth slants over mine and I sigh into his mouth. He tastes sweet like the cookies I brought. His tongue licks my lips and I moan at the salacious flick of that tongue over my own. I imagine that same tongue on my skin, on my breasts, and between my thighs.

Just as I think it, his rough hand slides beneath my skirt, pushing my thighs open. I do not fight it. I do not stop him. I want to be touched. I do not care that we're outside where anyone could find us. It just excites me more. I gasp against his mouth when his fingers tug at my panties, pushing them out of his way.

"Hell, sunshine," he pants against my mouth as he pulls back. "You need me to touch you, don't you? This little kitten is so wet."

"Yes, yes, please," I beg, letting him spread my legs.

"I will take care of my mate," he growls against my jaw, his fingers rubbing gently at my wet folds. "I will give her anything. I will give her everything. She will only need me. You won't need anything else but me, sunshine. Nothing else."

My moan as his fingers push inside of me should embarrass me. It doesn't. Clawing at his shoulders, I lift my hips, his deep groan drawing a sticky gush of need from me. He pulls his fingers out and I cry out before I watch him suck them into his mouth, another deep, raw groan vibrating from deep in his chest.

"It is the sweetest," he hums, licking his lips. "My sweet sunshine. I am addicted to how you taste with one drop of your sweet cream. Keep those pretty eyes on me while I make my mate come."

I nod, unable to tear my gaze from his as he pushes his fingers back inside of me. It stings because nothing has ever been inside me but my own fingers. They never felt this way. His fingers fill me, stretch me, pump inside of me, the rough tips finding a spot that makes hot, white heat shoot through me.

"Oh! Edon!" I shout, head falling back as I come so hard I lose sense of time, of space, of where I am or even who I am.

Edon seems to know enough for both of us. "That's it. That's my sweet, needy little mate. Let me take care of you, sweetheart."

"Yes, Edon. Yes, please," I whimper before I feel as if I am floating, the night skies sparkling bright as we move into the darkness.

If I am his mate, so be it—all I know is I am not ready to let go of him. And so, I don't.

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