Page 53 of Bad Witch

His head jerked back. “Come again?”

“I’ve been looking for someone, someone I can spend time with…casually.” He said nothing. “For sex,” I added so he wouldn’t misinterpret what I was asking for. “I think you are an excellent candidate. If you’re interested, of course. I don’t want a long-term relationship, or anything serious…just some fun.”

“Temp…” His throat worked, the Adam’s apple sliding up and down. “Babe, you’re fucking gorgeous, and any other time...”

My stomach sank. “You don’t want me either?” I said before I could stop the words from escaping. Humiliation burned my cheeks.

“I’m not saying that. I’d take you up on your offer in a heartbeat. That’s not the problem.” His gaze lifted again, going to something over my shoulder, then back down.

I crossed my arms, feeling exposed, embarrassed. “Okay?” I said, confused, hurt. “Then what is it?”

Something solid hooked around my waist, and I was tugged back. Fender. I knew his scent instantly. His warmth soaked through my clothes, and my neck tickled where his beard brushed my skin.

His lips touched my ear. “You did not just ask Roman to fuck you? I had to be hearing things, right, Tempest?” He growled, and tingles slid over my skin, lifting goose bumps. “Tell me you didn’t come here with sparkles on your cheeks and pretty, glossy lips to ask my brother to fuck you? I had to be fucking hearing things, right, female?”

My adrenaline spiked again. “You weren’t hearing things. I can do what I like. Why shouldn’t I?” My humiliation had turned to anger. It was the only way I was going to survive this again.

“Why?” he snarled against my ear.

I froze. “You’re angry.” He wasn’t going to hurt me, but he was vibrating against me, his huge body actually trembling.

“Yeah, peaches, I’m fucking angry. You just propositioned my brother when I have made it very fucking clear, more than once, that I wanted it to be me. You wanna tell me why? Why you want him and not me? Is there something about him you like more?”

There was suddenly an ache in his voice, even through the rumbling growl, I heard it. “No, I just, I didn’t think. I assumed…do you…want me?”

He growled again. “Thought I made it very fucking obvious, Tempest, but apparently not.” He drew in a steadying breath. “Yes, I want you. So badly I can’t think of anything else.”

“But Aradina, you and her, you’re⁠—”

“She and I are nothing.”

“I heard you talking.” I’d decided I didn’t mind sharing, at least, when I thought it was Roman I’d be taking as a lover. I realized, I didn’t want to share Fender.

His hold on me momentarily tightened like he was afraid I’d pull away. “We fucked a couple times months ago, end of. We never had anything special. I don’t want her. I want you.”

My heart slammed in my chest, almost violently. I wanted him as well, goddess, too much. Which was why I’d unconsciously ruled him out as an option, I realized. Roman felt safer. I didn’t crave his touch. I didn’t shiver with need whenever he looked at me. With Fender, I felt all of that and more.

I stood frozen, not sure what to do.

Fender cursed softly and turned me to face him. He stared down, eyes burnished gold. “Okay, peaches, I’m gonna ask one more time. Is there something, fucking anything, you want to ask me?”

That’s what he’d meant? Every time he’d said it, he wanted me to ask him to be my…my lover.

“Tempest,” he growled out.

I jumped. My throat was dry and my hands trembled. I was going to do it. I was going to ask him. Maybe this was a bad idea because I liked him. I really liked him, and I wanted him. I really wanted him. But now that I knew he wanted me, too, there couldn’t be anyone else. It had to be him. I swallowed thickly. “Fender?”

He cupped the side of my face, sliding his thumb over my jaw. “Yeah, baby?”

I shivered. “Will you…” I cleared my throat. “Will you have a…enter into a…be my⁠—”

“Yes,” he said, low and gritty as his fingers slid up into my hair at the base of my neck and massaged. “You wanna go to my den?”

Oh, sweet mother, was this actually happening? Did Fender, this huge, sweet, growly and somehow gentle hellhound, truly want me? I searched his face, the look in his eyes, the way his body vibrated, no, trembled against mine. He did. He wanted me, and yes, I absolutely wanted him as well.

“Yes, please,” I mouthed, because sound didn’t seem to want to come out right then.

His arm was still around me, and he half lifted me as he turned. My feet barely brushed the floor as we moved through the clubhouse, my toes only making occasional contact as we headed for the door on the other side of the room.