Page 24 of If The Shoe Fits
I close my eyes, trying to gather my scattered thoughts.
“Relax, my Dora,” he murmurs, his voice low and soothing, the deep timbre rolling through me like a spell of its own.
His hand brushes against mine where it still rests on his chest, his touch sending little sparks shooting up my arm.
“Look,” he continues, his voice softening even further, “I’m not sure what’s been going on, but I’ll get to the bottom of it, Sweet Witch. This, I promise you.”
The warmth in his tone, the absolute certainty—it’s almost enough to undo me right there.
“And after I do,” he adds, his golden eyes locking onto mine with a quiet intensity that sends shivers down my spine, “you and I are going to sit down and finish this. Because whateverthisseems like to you right now, I know you are mine.”
chapter ten
His words hang in the air.
A promise.
A challenge.
And a declaration all rolled into one.
And me? I’m just remain there, trying to remember the basics of breathing. You know, inhale, exhale, that sort of thing.
But it’s hard—really hard—when Wulfy groans, flexes his hips, and rubs his delicious hardness over the curve of my ass.
Hubba hubba.
“Okay,” I manage, my voice shaking as I fight to keep things professional despite the fact that my insides are doing the cha-cha.
“I believe that you believe what you’re saying. But just so you know, I won’t blame you when you change your mind.”
His glowing golden eyes narrow, but before he can argue, I steamroll ahead.
“Anyway, I hope it goes without saying—but just to set the record straight—I havenotpicked on your daughter. Cyndi is a…” I pause, searching for the right word, but his indulgent smile stops me short.
“She’s a handful,” he supplies, his tone softening.
And then I see it.
A flicker of something in his expression—recognition, maybe even a touch of embarrassment. His handsome face turns ruddy, and despite everything, compassion rises inside me like the tide.
“I’ve been letting her run roughshod over me since she was a toddler,” he admits, raking a hand through his thick, dark hair. “But that’s my fault. If I’ve been lax in my fatherly duties, it’s only because I’m a softy when it comes to my only child.”
Oh, great.
Just what I needed—another reason to find this man insufferably attractive.
A doting dad who knows his faults? Someone get me a fan and some ice water because I might just faint.
There go my ovaries. Lighting up like the fourth of July.
“I completely understand,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I don’t have children of my own, but I feel protective of my students, too. Cyndi is bright, and she has wonderful charisma. I just wish she’d use it to help the shyer kids. I mean, Wulfy, your daughter has leadership potential written all over her.”
His lips quirk up into a soft smile. “That she does. And I am sorry if she’s been causing trouble, and Iwillinvestigate. But Dora,” he says, his voice dropping an octave, “I won’t change my mind. Not about us.”
Before I can argue, he dips his head and presses a soft, lingering kiss to my temple.
“Wulfy,” I whimper, my resolve crumbling under the weight of his tenderness.
