“Are you okay?” Grayson skied over to her.
“I’m fine.” Her cheeks burned.
How embarrassing. She was on the bunny hill, a far cry from the massive face of the mountain that Grayson probably tore up with expert finesse on a routine basis. He helped her back to her feet, and she wiped the cold snow from her face and off her goggles.
“I guess I’m even rustier than I thought.”
“It will take some time to get used to it again, but I’m sure you can do it.”
He flashed her another one of those decadent smiles that warmed her like he’d ignited an internal furnace. Forget the bunny hill, Aurora’s bigger challenge might be resisting her attraction to Grayson.
Grayson spent the next couple of hours on the mountain with Aurora, reminding her of the correct form and how to use her poles to help her plant her turns rather than let them drag like a security blanket in the snow. She slipped and fell on her butt more than once. Rather than feeling foolish, like she thought, they laughed together, even tossing a few snowballs at each other, having fun in the snow.
His expression turned forlorn. “I have to head back to the office to make some calls.”
“That’s fine. I think I’ve had enough for one day.”
“I could sign you up for private lessons tomorrow morning. Ellen is an excellent instructor.”
“Sure, that sounds great.” Besides, she wouldn’t feel so self-conscious around a stranger.
Raising his gaze to meet hers, “Would you like to go out for dinner again tonight?”
She peered at him and teased, “Are you sure that no one will be jealous of you spending another evening with me?”
He gave her a peculiar look. “Why do say that?”
“I’m just teasing, Grayson.” Or flirting was more like it. “Yes, I’d love to have dinner with you.”
That night, Grayson took her to Athena’s, a Greek restaurant. He greeted Mr. and Mrs. Pippos warmly, an older shifter couple who owned the restaurant. Grayson’s kind nature was one of the things she liked about him.
The scents of all the food surrounded them while Greek music played in the background. After they were seated, it didn’t take long for their table to be covered in plates of food, including a platter of hummus, tzatziki, and other appetizers, and another one with meats and rice.
“There’s so much great food here,” she noted after eating a delicious bite of spanakopita.
While they enjoyed their meal with glasses of chardonnay, Grayson asked her more about herself, watching her with captive attention as she revealed the details of what she thought was her boring life.
“What drew you into being a mediator?” Grayson asked.
She finished chewing and took a sip of wine. “I sort of fell into it.”
He appraised her with an amused expression. “How does that happen?”
She rubbed the stem of her wine glass. “My aunt is a key member. She took me on several assignments with her as I was a teenager. Eventually, I had enough confidence to go out on my own.” She leaned back in her armchair. “So when she asks me to help out, I naturally agree.”
“From your tone, it sounds like there’s something—strained, perhaps?”
Apparently, Aurora hadn’t kept her underlying reservations hidden. She glanced at the small candle on the table and then lifted her gaze to meet Grayson’s. “Lately, I’ve been thinking that this might not be the right path for me.”
“Mediation?”
She stared at him, questioning whether she should reveal her questioning to a client who had hired her to do a job. The way he searched her eyes encouraged her to confide in him. “The thing is, I enjoy working with people. Many patrons come into the shop seeking clarity on situations in their life. I love working with them during readings or visualizations to help them clarify what they want. But, yes, it’s the mediation role with the network. I’m not sure it’s right for me any longer.” Now that she’d revealed it, her reservations came bubbling forth. “I don’t know how people do it for decades. So much quarreling. It drains me.”
“Oh.” Grayson’s jaw twitched. “That does sound like it would take a toll.”
“Sorry.” She gave him a sheepish expression. “I know you’ve hired me, and it must undermine your confidence hearing me say this.”
He grunted. “A job I couldn’t manage myself so I had to outsource?” He arched his brows. “I think I’d be a hypocrite if I wasn’t understanding there.”
She exhaled with more ease. “I could ask my aunt to send someone up who might be more successful than I’ve been.”
“Nonsense.” He took her hand across the table and then stared down at them, as if surprised by his action. He released her hand. “Not at all. I realize who you’re dealing with and how stubborn they are. I’m grateful for the attempt to reason with them in trying to find an agreement we can all live with—without any more bloodshed.”
“Thank you, Grayson. I’ll do my best.”
After she’d revealed more about herself to him, it was difficult not to feel closer to him. It was even more of a struggle to ignore the tension that seemed to build each time they saw each other.
Snowflakes fell as they walked through the village after they left the restaurant. All the snow on the roofs and the tiny lights from the many storefronts made it look more like Christmas than February. The moon hung low and luminous amid the twinkling stars. The cool winter air brushed her cheek.
“What a beautiful night,” she remarked. “The moon looks golden.”
He glanced up at it and then at her. “Does the moon have any particular significance to you as a witch?”
She nodded. “It does indeed. Some spells work better if a witch casts it under a certain phase of the moon. When it’s waxing, like tonight, spells for growth and creation are a good fit.” She turned to him. “And for you, a shifter?”
He glanced up again. “My wolf feels the moon’s power growing and it invigorates us. Our urges grow stronger. To hunt. To fight. To—”
He left that sentence unfinished, although she was certain she could fill in the blank. As she pictured what he’d be like in bed, her cheeks warmed.
“I often run as a wolf for longer periods, enjoying the hunt,” Grayson said.
Picturing this beautiful man as a wolf fascinated her. “And when it wanes?”
He grinned. “We catch up on rest.”
They continued walking through the village. Although the restaurants and pubs were still open, many of the brick-front stores were closed for the night.
“Were you involved in getting these businesses established?” Aurora asked.
“Quite a bit.”
“How so?”
“When we purchased the business and land, it was pretty much a no-frills operation. The chair lifts were rustic, the hotel dated. We renovated it all. One thing I wanted was to encourage more small businesses to set up shop. The more we had to offer, the more likely visitors were likely to stay for longer periods. So in addition to our daily and weekend visitors, we also marketed to those looking for longer rentals or even second homes. With the mountain and lake, we have a draw for all seasons—hiking on the trails in spring, swimming on the lake in summer, going leaf peeping in the fall, and of course, skiing or snowboarding in winter. Some have even moved here as permanent residents.”
“That’s fantastic. I had no idea that the resort had that much to offer year round,” Aurora replied. “How did you convince them to start new businesses up here?”
“That’s what kept me busy for years. I put together financial incentives that helped lower the costs of starting a new business, and doing so with green energy. We respect the earth, despite what the Saccos accuse us of. I’m happy to say that it has paid off. Not only are we continuing to grow and expand, but we are also developing new housing units to keep up with the demand.”
She gazed at him, fascinated with all he had accomplished. “I’m impressed. You must be incredibly sk
illed.”
“We’re each good at something,” he responded with a modest shrug.
The fluttering snowflakes fell over them, casting more of a magical spell in the heated moment.
He stopped in front of an empty storefront with clouded windows. “You have some snowflakes on your cheek.”
He brushed them off, but left his hand on her cheek. His fingers were warm on her skin. She’d heard that wolves ran hot and now believed it. When their eyes locked, her breath caught. His eyes glowed brighter, more of a golden hue that reminded her of the moonlight in an autumn sky.
Grayson swallowed. He stepped closer to her. His mouth was only inches from hers. His gaze lowered to her lips.
Her awareness grew like a wildfire, while her heart pounded with anticipation that stole all reason.
“I want to kiss you so badly, Aurora,” he admitted in a tormented voice.
“Then why don’t you?” How a sentence formed in her scrambled brain was a mystery.
“Because—” He moved closer, so near that his warm breath fluttered over her lips. “Because I know we shouldn’t.”
His voice had darkened to a husky tone. Her heart was practically hammering through her rib cage. “You’re right. We shouldn’t.” Nevertheless, she rose on her tiptoes, angling her face up to meet his.
An agonized growl escaped him. His eyes turned near feral, sending wild heat scorching down to her core. She’d never felt such longing before with the hunger almost palpable.
In the next heartbeat, his hands were on the sides of her head and his mouth crashing down on hers.
He kissed her in a way that was purely ravenous, devouring her with a passion she’d never known. It was as if he’d wanted her for so long and finally let down the last wall of restraint, allowing all his desire to rush through.
Hungry fire ignited within, coursing throughout her with licks of flames that left every inch of skin sensitive and scorching with need.
He pressed his massive chest against her, leaving no space between her and the brick wall behind her back. Desire flooded her. They were outside in the shadows, out in public where anyone could see them, and she’d never experienced such a thrill in her life.
A woman’s gasp captured their attention, and they broke apart.
When they turned, Victoria stared at them with furious eyes.
Grayson
Damn it. Out of all the people to catch Grayson kissing Aurora, it had to be Victoria. She ran away from them.
He pulled away from Aurora with utmost reluctance. His wolf howled inside. Why would you stop?
“What’s wrong?” Aurora peered at him from questioning eyes. “Is she your girlfriend?” Her mouth tightened, expression turning wary.
“No.” He ran his hands through his hair. “She’s just my pack mate, but she’s had a thing for me since we were teens. I’ve told her that it’s not going to happen, but still. I don’t want to hurt her.”
The way Aurora eyed him with skepticism scorched his soul. Not only was he hurting her, but Victoria. What a way he was failing as beta, upsetting his pack mates, and undermining his failing plan for peace.
“I’ve sensed something between you,” Aurora replied. “Promise me you are not playing games, Grayson. Because if you’re playing us both, that’s a shitty thing to do.”
He cupped her face and caressed it. “Of course not. I would never do that. I promise.”
Aurora stared at him as if trying to assess if he was sincere.
Indecision tore at him at what to do next. Should he go after Victoria and calm her before she went blabbing to the pack about him messing around with a witch and therefore screwing up the mediation with the Sacco pack? He couldn’t disappoint his alpha or his pack. Or, should he follow his wolf’s incessant need to continue to explore this attraction to Aurora?
Why not do both? “I should go talk to her really quickly and make sure she’s okay,” Grayson said. “As beta, it’s part of my responsibility to take care of the pack, and I know I upset her.”
Don’t leave her, his wolf argued.
“Fine. I’m going back to my room,” Aurora declared and averted his eyes.
Fine. That one word that a woman uttered that meant the exact opposite—that nothing was okay.
But what could he do? The pull to her was strong.
He stroked Aurora’s cheek. “Can I meet you there?”
She turned her cheek, breaking contact with his hand. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She sighed. “I mean, you’re right. Anything between us would undermine your goal in bringing me up here, and negotiations have already been difficult. We should probably forget that kiss ever happened.”
Forget it? No way. Impossible.
Shit! Every molecule in Grayson’s body screamed at that rejection.
“Aurora…” He didn’t know what to say to convince her that it was the last thing he wanted.
“You know, maybe this is not going to work out with having me here. I should request for someone to replace me.”
Grayson’s throat tightened. His wolf moaned. “Leave?”
“Well, yes. I came up here to do a job—and kissing my client was not part of the job description.”
No, he couldn’t let her leave. And yet how could he convince her to stay?
“Aurora, are you sure that’s the best option? I need you here to help us avoid war between the packs.”
She sighed. “I don’t know what else to do. If we get someone else to take over, we avoid the repercussions that can result with what just happened between us.”
What could he do to persuade her to stay? “It was my fault. It won’t happen again.” Those words tasted like bitter acid on his tongue.
“Goodnight, Grayson.” Her mouth was tight, determined—lips that were parted for him and had tasted so sweet just a short while before. “Thanks for dinner.”
She turned and walked away from him. His wolf mourned inside, urging Grayson to make things right. How? He didn’t have a clue.
Reason returned, piercing through the cloud of desire. He glanced up at the mountain, at everything that he and his pack had built for the last decade. He couldn’t screw these negotiations up and lose this mountain, or worse, anyone in his pack.
Grayson stood there, gaping like a fool in the snow as Aurora retreated toward the hotel—a hotel he’d helped build to be the success it was today.
Then why did he feel so empty?
Grayson went to the office early the next morning, watching as the sun rose over the mountain. In the end, he’d accomplished nothing last night. Aurora had left him. Victoria had ignored him, choosing to run off in wolf form through the forests.
Since his personal relationships were turning into a mess, he could focus on work, something he was skilled at. He went over one of the parcels under consideration as an offer to the Saccos. At least, that was one way he could be useful.
Hours later, banging from Victoria’s office down the hall revealed her mood. Minutes later, she stormed into his office, her expression fierce enough to slay.
“How could you, Grayson?” she accused, eyes burning with rage.
“Victoria.” Grayson sighed and ran one hand over his jawline. “This shouldn’t come as a surprise for you. I’ve told you before that you and I will not be together.”
“But she’s—a witch,” she spat. Her eyes narrowed. “You’re choosing a witch over me? I’m pack. Family.”
He exhaled. “Nothing is going on between Aurora and me. That was just a one-time thing.”
A strangled sound escaped her. “A witch?”
“That’s not your business. Whatever you feel for me isn’t real. We’re not mates. Look deep inside and you’ll sense it.”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. I know we’re meant to be together. It’s you who needs to wake up and realize it to be true.” With that, she spun on her heels and walked out.
Grayson blinked, staring at the doorway after she left. Victoria ha
d never sounded so possessive before. What could he do to convince her to move on?
Chapter 7
Aurora
After a night of rough sleep, Aurora bit her lip and paced through her hotel room. She walked by the king-sized bed to the window and then back toward the door as the guilt wormed through her. Not only had she been ineffective at negotiations thus far, but she had made things worse by being caught kissing Grayson.
She touched her lips. No one had ever kissed her like that.
Not helping.
She pulled out her phone, plopped down on the bed, and called her aunt.
“How’s it going up there?” Aunt Colleen asked.
Aurora squirmed. “Not great.”
“Territorial wolf shifters?” Aunt Colleen snorted. “So typical of them.”
“Yes, there’s that,” Aurora agreed.
“And?” her aunt prodded. “I sense something else.”
“Yes.” Aurora sighed. “There’s something else.”
“Oh?”
“Well, more like someone else,” she admitted. “And it makes being here much more complicated.”
“Who?”
“Grayson. The beta wolf you talked to when setting up this assignment.”
“I see,” her aunt replied in a wary tone. “Is it romantic?”
“Well, um, we kissed last night,” she admitted.
Her aunt was silent for a few seconds. “That’s a conflict of interest, Aurora.”
She grabbed a pillow and propped her elbow on it. “Hence the complication I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Ah, I see. What are you thinking?”
“We should get someone to replace me.” Shame swelled within as she pictured Grayson’s eyes when he’d asked her to stay and help. “It needs to be within the next couple of days.” Before the next time she was needed to present a new proposal to the Sacco pack. She then babbled on as she explained what had happened with the packs so far while also becoming aware of her growing attraction to Grayson. “I promised I would help him, so I can’t leave until there’s someone else who can take over.”
The Wolf and His Forbidden Witch: A Howls Romance (White Mountain Shifters Book 2) Page 6