“Or the worst,” I muttered, though I didn’t really mean it. He knew I loved him like this—dirty talk and all.
He kept alternating between feeding me bites and eating himself—though I’d made the bulk of the food for him, knowing how fast his metabolism worked, so after I was full, I drank my coffee as he chowed down on the remaining food.
I let my eyes drift shut, full and blissfully happy, wondering if I’d ever enjoyed a Halloween this much. I didn’t think so.
“Are you sure this doesn’t look dumb?” Barrett asked, tugging on his tunic for the dozenth time this evening. He had a quiver full of arrows strapped to his back, and he looked every bit the hunter I knew he was—even if this was completely different than his normal uniform.
“I’m sure,” I responded, swiping my red lipstick on and fidgeting with my hat in the mirror.
My outfit this year was mostly pieced together from my closet. With everything that had happened with him, the townwards, and the wraiths, I hadn’t had time to actually go shopping. Still, I loved the way I looked. The dark green corset framed my curves, and my orange plaid skirt had pockets.
He wrapped his arms around my corset, tugging me against his chest.
“Barrett,” I protested, wriggling in his grasp. “I have to finish getting ready, otherwise we’ll be late to Cait’s party.” Knowing them, they’d never let me live it down if we were.
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “I just want to take a moment to admire my mate.” His lips brushed over my ear. “You look amazing, Sugar.”
I let out a ragged breath as his beard scraped over the sensitive skin of my throat. He’d been letting it grow out, and red scruff covered his chin. I was obsessed with it, and I definitely didn’t want him to shave any time soon.
“Fuck,” he groaned, inhaling deeply. “I just can’t resist you when you smell so sweet.” He pushed my black shirt to the side, exposing my mating bite so he could run his mouth over it. Barrett was obsessed with it, and I knew he hated when it was covered. “Like sugar, baby.”
“Barrett.” His name was a whimper, barely more than a weak mewl. He knew what he did to me.
My wolf-man stood up, fixing my top and pressing a soft kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’m sorry. I’ll be good.” His amber eyes were mischievous, though.
“What do you have planned for tonight?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.
He just grinned. “Nothing. Now finish getting ready so I can get my witch to her party.”
My witch.The words still sent a tingle down my spine.Mine.I’d never expected to be able to call him mine. At the end of this, I’d thought I would have to let him go. Who would have thought the man I’d fallen in love with would end up being my mate?
It was like the universe had known I needed this gruff, rugged wolf-shifter to come and completely change everything, to show me exactly what I had been missing.Him.
“I just need to put my shoes on,” I answered, giving myself one last look-over in the mirror as I slipped my dangly pumpkin earrings in.
My black sparkly cape was attached to my shirt at the shoulders, and it brought the entire look together. I’d put black tights on before I got ready, but my heeled boots were sitting next to the bed.
He scooped me up, carrying me over to the bed and setting me gently on the edge, kneeling in front of me as he slipped my feet into each boot, one after the other. It was so tender, the way he laced up each one with such focus and precision, nothing like our usual bedtime activities. Normally, he was taking thingsoffof me, not putting them on.
“Don’t worry,” he said, voice low as he finished the last knot.I plan on stripping all of this off of you later and reminding you exactly whose you are.
Excitement—and a bit of arousal—coursed through my veins as he sent the thought directly into my mind. I hadn’t gotten used to him being able to know what was going on in my mind yet, but it had made a lot of things easier. Like anticipating each other’s needs and moods.
Maybe it was just a wolf shifter thing, the fact that it didn’t take much for him to turn me on, for my body to be ready to take him with barely a look or a suggestion. Or maybe it was just him—that handsome, sculpted jaw, his body that drove me wild, or the way he could make me weak in the knees from just a small smirk.
“Time to go?”
I pressed my thighs together, wondering how I was going to make it through the night. “Yes. Let’s go get some treats.”
Or, knowing Cait… a few tricks.
Almost everyone who lived in Pleasant Grove seemed like they were out and about, trick-or-treating and enjoying the festivities of All Hallow’s Eve. I tugged on the hem of my skirt as we walked up to Cait’s house. It was the first time I’d come to the Clarke Halloween party as a part of the coven, and it felt like I was truly a part of something bigger than myself.
Laughter and halloween music could be heard as we wandered into the house, looking at all of the decorations.
“She really outdid herself this year,” Wendy said, stepping up at my side. Barrett kissed my forehead, before heading into the kitchen to grab us both a drink.
“Wendy the good witch?” I asked her, looking at her outfit. She was dressed in a red robe, complete with a hood and holding a broom.
