Claiming His Witch by Ellis Leigh Page B

boxers. The light of the nearly full moon highlighted the dips and curves of his muscles, the shadows deepening every ridge. He looked like a living statue, some long-dead warrior brought back to life and placed on that porch just for me.
    Charlotte chuckled. “Somehow I think your question’s already been answered.” She grabbed my hand and gave me a smile. “I know how you feel, Zuri.”
    “How do I know what to do?” My question was soft, quiet, yet Pup cocked his head as if he’d heard me. And maybe he had, though I doubted he’d be the one to help me find the answer.
    Charlotte’s smile fell as the door to her cabin opened behind her, Rebel leaning his shoulder against the doorframe.  
    “I’m still trying to figure that out.” Charlotte pasted on a happy face and turned. The man in the doorway looked her over, inspecting her, before frowning and taking a step back into the darkness of the cabin. Charlotte followed him, shutting the door behind her with a quiet snick. Long after they’d disappeared, I stood, staring at Pup, frozen on the grass. He didn’t move toward me, didn’t try to tempt me or cajole me into joining him. He stood and waited, giving me the time to work through my thoughts. And when I did, when I knew that, for at least one night, he was worth the risk I was taking, I straightened my shoulders and took a single step in his direction. That one move brought a smile to his face, and my heart melted at the sight. No longer willing to wait, I rushed to him, reaching for his hand before I even made it to the steps.
    “Hi.” I smiled as he pulled me into his arms. He was so warm, so hard and yet gentle at the same time.  
    “Hi.” His voice was deep and smooth, sending shivers up my spine. “It’s late. Why don’t you come to bed?”
    I stepped back, out of his arms. The cold of the night air settled around me, making me curl in on myself as my doubts raged inside my head. “I’m not—”
    “Not that.” He smiled and tugged me closer. Never pulling or demanding, he guided me inside the warm little cabin and shut the door behind him. With his hands on my hips, he directed me to the bed in the corner. “I’ll sleep on the floor if you like, but if you’re willing to share a bed with me, I promise to be a perfect gentleman. I just want you to lay with me.”
    Perfect…he was perfect in that moment, giving me exactly what I needed and taking nothing in return. I nodded as he sat on the mattress and slid over to give me room. Craving comfort, I pulled my sweatshirt over my head, leaving me in nothing but a thin tank top. Before I could think twice, I unbuttoned my jeans and tugged them down my legs, kicking them off. Pup watched me, his eyes bright but not aggressive. He didn’t make me feel on display or uncomfortable. Instead, his watchfulness made me feel warm and safe. At home.
    I knelt on the edge of the mattress and shuffled forward before lying down beside him. The bed was small, but there was plenty of room for the two of us as we cuddled in the center.  
    Pup dragged the blanket over us, tucking it in behind my shoulders. Once covered, he pulled me tight against his chest and wrapped me in his arms. The warmth, the feeling of comfort, the contact he gave me was better than any sleeping tincture the coven could brew. My eyelids drooped as Pup sighed into my hair and held me close.
    “I’m so glad you came back.”
    “Me too.” I yawned and squirmed in his grasp. Finally, my head found the perfect niche between Pup’s bicep and his shoulder. I snuggled into his hold, breathing in his earthy scent and allowing the late hour to settle over me
    And then I surrendered to sleep.

EIGHT

Pup
    I woke with a start, clinging to the woman who’d literally fallen into my life and taken ownership of my heart. She lay sleeping in my arms, her head on my bicep. Peaceful. Unlike when she’d shown up in camp the night before. Then she’d been a mess of tangled emotions, a woman in