She was surprisingly strong and Liam could only marvel at that.

  Chapter 8

  When the heroine is a blushing mess

  Mickaela's POV

  Liam had taken her outburst better than Mickaela could have hoped. He thought it had been a game, that it had been fun.

  Mickaela wasn’t going to correct him, that was for sure! She hadn’t liked it, she had loved it.

  She was just not sure if it had been the same kind of game for the two of them.

  Sure, she had caught the scent of his arousal when she had brought him to the ground, but it had been so fleeting that she wasn’t sure if she had imagined it or if it had been real anymore.

  And now she was as red as a lobster and couldn’t stop blushing.

  “I didn’t hurt you at least?” She asked him, and she hated how shy she sounded.

  “Except for my ego? No,” he answered with a smile as he wiped his hands on his jeans.

  They hugged his thighs as if they had been made specifically for him. They were also now a nice mix of green and brown. Shit, she had made a mess of him.

  She looked down at herself. She was even worse than he was. Her white sneakers weren’t really white anymore. She must have hit some mud or dragged her shoes in the grass when she had tackled him to the ground, because she couldn’t see the white at the tips of her shoes anymore. But her shoes weren’t the worst of it; her lovely, flowery dress was full of scratches and it was even torn from the middle of her left thigh to the bottom of it. She definitely had forgotten what outfit she had been wearing when she had started to chase him.

  “I think that dress is ruined,” Liam told her, amusement shining in his deep brown eyes.

  “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve damaged my clothes,” she said sheepishly, “usually it only happens when I shift though.”

  A look of understanding passed in his eyes before he turned on himself and talked again.

  “Where are we? I feel like we might have wandered a bit too far.”

  Mickaela caught his hand and pulled him in the direction they had come from.

  “This way, we need to go back,” She grumbled, not really sure why her mood wasn’t bright after hunting poor Liam.

  Actually, she knew. Because of two things.

  One, she was ashamed of having hunted him down.

  Two, she was so aroused that her nipples were probably saying hello to the world, and yet she couldn’t act on it.

  Maybe running after him hadn’t been her best idea. She needed a cold shower, a freezing one.

  Mickaela walked back the way they had come from, picked up her eggs and the chocolate bunny where she dropped them before running after him and trying to gather as many as she could before going back.

  She found another egg—this one made of chocolate, not one she and Astrid had painted. The chocolate was shaped like a hen, which she promptly tucked in Liam’s arms before walking back to the garden with him.

  She hadn’t been prepared for what happened when they got back though.

  Astrid’s deep laugh rang through the garden when Mickaela arrived.

  Between fits of laughter, she finally managed to say “What happened to you?”

  Mickaela hadn’t thought about an answer and for a second she was stuck right where she was, her brain working on an answer but coming up blank.

  But then, Liam arrived too and Astrid’s laugh doubled.

  “I tried to steal Mickaela’s chocolate bunny,” Liam said with a shrug, “Didn’t know anyone could be this violent over chocolate or a bunny.”

  That seemed to make Astrid laugh even more.

  Next to her, Noa was sporting a knowing smile though.

  Mickaela was torn between being grateful that Liam had given an excuse that everyone would think hilarious instead of the truth—that she had lost control of her beast and pounced on an innocent male—and hating him for the inside joke he had just made about being violent over a bunny. An inside joke that Noa seemed to understand, or at least seemed to have a rough idea of.

  Mickaela settled for an “I hate you” that she mouthed in Liam’s direction when no one was looking at her, but it was empty of any venom.

  His only answer was to wink at her before setting his chocolate on the table and sit where Astrid told him he was supposed to.

  Chapter 9

  When the heroine lost her chance ... or not

  Mickaela's POV

  Despite the fact Mickaela hadn’t stopped blushing since she had come back from her little Easter hunt, lunch went well.

  Astrid obviously made Mickaela sit next to Liam, but none of the driving instinct from this morning in the forest crept in, and lunch was rather pleasant. Liam acted like a perfect gentleman and didn’t say a word about their little interlude again. He even gave her the chocolate he brought back. Well, she had been the one to find it while he just stared at her as she searched, but it was still nice.

  What was less nice was the reason why.

  Liam didn’t like chocolate. What kind of heathen didn’t like chocolate? This man was vexing; weird, yet utterly enticing.

  By the end of lunch, Mickaela was back to being a puddle of need and wanted only one thing—to jump the Easter bunny. Not the chocolate one, obviously. Just the oblivious bunny shifter sitting right next to her.

  And she was so ashamed of it that she avoided him altogether at the end of lunch, and disappeared before he could ask for her phone number. Not that she thought he would have asked though. But she wasn’t sure, so at least she wouldn’t have to suffer through him not asking.

  It was dumb, she knew, but if she wasn’t there she wouldn’t have to wait and be disappointed.

  She didn’t know how she had ended up thinking like this, but she was now highly conscious of her own mistake.

  Easter had been five days ago, and she still hadn’t stopped thinking about Liam. He was starring in all of her dreams, some at night and even some when she was awake.

  She should have waited or even asked for his number instead. She wouldn’t be so torn now if she had.

  Would it be alright to ask her sister to get his number for her? It wouldn’t be too hard for her to get it from Noa for sure, but it meant she would have to explain the tiny, tiny crush she had on Liam. Worse, Astrid could discover the wild impulses she had last Monday at the Easter party.

  Nope, she wasn’t ready to explain this to anyone, even less to her little sister.

  And yet she was sitting on her couch with a pint of chocolate ice cream that she had covered in chocolate sauce and chocolate chips—who said there could ever be too much chocolate?—wondering if she should find the courage to ask her sister when her phone pinged.

  Unknown: Probably shouldn’t ask since I ended up grazing grass like a cow last time, but do you want to run sometime?

  Mickaela looked at her phone in amazement. It felt as if she had summoned Liam just by thinking about him. Well, not really because if it was the case he had taken his sweet time to answer the summon. She had literally been thinking about him all week long. So much so that some of the kids at school had started to notice, and had taken advantage of the situation.

  One of them had even drawn on the walls with a sharpie while she was daydreaming. It hadn’t looked good when she had to explain it to the dean. But, hey, it was okay. No one was hurt and it was nothing that a bit of paint couldn’t cover.

  She grabbed her phone and started typing. Then deleted. And typed again. Deleted again.

  What could she truly answer that wouldn’t make her look like she had been waiting for him all week long?

  She ate her ice cream thoughtfully, cross-legged on the couch. She had the pint of ice cream between her legs, her phone in her right hand and eating the ice cream with the spoon in her left.

  She wasn’t paying much attention to what she was doing until a big glob of chocolate sauce fell onto her thigh, gliding across her skin.

  Shit.

  Mickaela dropped her phone on her knee and scooped up the chocolate with her fingers before licking it off. She plunged her spoon into the pint of ice cream and grabbed her phone with two hands.

  She needed to avoid becoming even more of a mess.

  She didn’t really know how to make it light and not sound too eager, so she decided to go for humor.

  Mickaela: But what a handsome cow you were! 😝

  She changed his name on her phone and in the next second he answered.

  Chocolate bunny: Is that a yes?

  Mickaela: I don’t know… I really liked you on the ground 😂

  She hit “send” before she realized what she had just done. There was no one to see her, but there was no doubt that she had turned lobster-red. Oh. My. God.

  It was too late now.

  Could she go hide in Alaska? Or maybe on the North pole? In a cave or something? Was there a way to disappear in a few seconds?

  Maybe she should pay a visit to Marie-Ariel. The witch probably had a solution or a potion for anything.

  Mickaela looked at the time. 9:13 pm. Tough luck. There was no way her flower shop would be open at this time of the night.

  The only thing left to do was wait and hope that Liam thought she had tried to be funny again and not that she had actually liked seeing him pinned on the ground under her.

  So she waited.

  Three dots appeared and then disappeared. They appeared again and Mickaela wondered if Liam had trouble finding his words too or if he was just trying to find a way to let her down softly.

  No, she needed to stop thinking as if it was all lost because of what she had said. He had been the one to message her. He had found a way to get her phone number despite the fact she had disappeared like a ghost on the day they met.

  And the dots were still on her screen. Strangely, when they finally stopped, the message was very short.

  Chocolate bunny: Not gonna complain. The view was quite nice

  Oh shit. Was he flirting? Oh yeah he was, right?

  Was it hot in here? Oh god, it was … She needed more ice cream or she wouldn’t survive those messages.

  What was she going to answer to that though?

  Mickaela: I didn’t bruise your ego when you fell? 🤔

  Chocolate bunny: It’s screaming in pain but you can kiss it better if you want

  It was cute, and maybe a tiny bit cocky, but Mickaela couldn’t stop smiling. It was refreshing to meet someone who wasn’t appalled at the fact she had tackled him and pinned him to the ground.

  Mickaela: Are we still talking about your ego?

  Chocolate bunny: You can call it whatever you want 😉

  No! He didn’t dare! But … did she really mind? Before she could wonder too much he sent another message though.

  Chocolate bunny: Would it be cheesy to say that I don’t care if I end up splattered on the ground if it means I get to see your smile again?

  Mickaela: Without a doubt! But don’t stop on my account, cheesy goes perfectly with chocolate ice cream!

  Chocolate bunny: Why am I not even surprised it’s chocolate?

  Mickaela: Because chocolate is life?

  Chocolate bunny: It sounds like it’s your whole life indeed 😂

  Mickaela: Right. I forgot that mister bunny doesn’t like chocolate.

  Chocolate bunny: You say that like it’s a sin.

  Mickaela: Don’t roll your eyes at me! (I KNOW you did!) and yes, hating chocolate is a sin! You’ll burn in Hell for this.

  Chocolate bunny: I never said I HATED chocolate, it’s just not my cup of tea. And leave Hell alone, at the speed we go, it’s going to end up on Earth.

  Mickaela: ???

  Chocolate bunny: If Hollowtown is any indication of the magic brewing on Earth, is it a stretch to think we might get more of Hell here? Athanaël is here after all …

  Mickaela: You’ve got a point.

  Chocolate bunny: Does it get me brownie points and a chance to go out (or run out) with you?

  Mickaela: Maybe…

  Chocolate bunny: Tomorrow? at 10 am, your place?

  Mickaela: You don’t even know where I live!

  Chocolate bunny: I’ll find out! I found your phone number, right or wrong?

  Mickaela: Goodnight Liam.

  Chocolate bunny: Goodnight Skadi, see you tomorrow.

  Chapter 10

  When the heroine is tempted … again

  Mickaela's POV

  Mickaela had gone to bed early but hadn’t been able to sleep right away. She felt like a teenager about to have her first date, which was ridiculous.

  She was far from being a teenager, she was thirty-one for fuck’s sake. She also couldn’t be further from her first date; it felt as if that had been ages ago.

  She thought about the fact that her kids at school would probably ask her if it was at the same time there were dinosaurs!

  She hadn’t really said yes to Liam, and yet she knew he was going to come and knock on her door.

  She was prepared this time though. No lovely dress that would get torn up, and white sneakers that wouldn’t survive untainted. Nope, she was in her running gear, sneakers, leggings, and long sleeved shirt that hugged her body and left little to the imagination.

  Her date being an outing in the form of running wouldn’t prevent her from using all the charms she could. If she was tortured by his scent—by all of him, really—why wouldn’t she torture him a bit in that dark grey leggings that made her legs look longer and accentuated the shape of her butt?

  It was probably petty, but she needed to balance the scales.

  Or maybe it was just petty. Who cared?

  In any case, it was all worth it when she opened her door and Liam was there, in shorts and just a shirt. the sleeves had been torn from it and the holes for the arms had been made bigger, which made Mickaela see almost all of Liam’s torso from the side.

  And damn, it would be a shame to miss that.

  He looked ripped and she was pretty sure there wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body.

  She wanted to lick his pecks, his abs…

  Stop.

  She couldn’t want that. They were about to go in the forest to run. Not to rut like animals.

  Or maybe …?

  No maybe.

  Running. Nothing else.

  Get a grip Mickaela!

  It was easier said than done, but luckily for her, Liam hadn’t noticed where her thoughts had gone, or if he had he wasn’t complaining, he was too busy letting his eyes travel the length of her.

  And from the look on his face, he liked what he saw.

  He really liked what he saw.

  And if he really wanted to call it his ego, there was no doubt it wasn’t bruised at all …

  It was very well, standing at attention, and if the way Liam was moving to make it less obvious—and obviously failing—was any indication, it was going to hurt to run with that thing so hard.

  Maybe she should just relieve him? It would be so much easier to run without his hard cock bothering him. Could she tie him to her bed and make him come until he screamed her name before going on their run?

  Don’t think about it Mickaela!

  “Ready?” Liam asked in a deep voice that betrayed how affected he was by the sight of her.

  Ugh, right—no sucking on any part of that gorgeous man. Yet.

  “Let’s go. What did you have in mind?” Liam paused before adding, “What distance and where to?”

  Right, he hadn’t asked what she was thinking and why she had looked so hungry, because, from the light in his eyes, he had noticed for sure.

  Get your head out of the gutter, Mickaela!

  “Four, maybe five miles?” She asked in a tiny voice.

  She needed a long run if she was to forget what was swirling in her mind. Maybe five miles wasn’t even enough.

  “Okay for five, so now, where to?” Liam answered her with another question.

  So, she wasn’t the only one thinking they needed a long run.

  “Come inside, we’ll leave through the back,” she said as she opened the door wide and invited him in.

  Just like her siblings, the garden at the back of her property opened up directly to the forest. In Astrid’s case it was more out of habit than functionality, and a practicality for Sebastian. Sneaking out without being seen was much easier with the forest so close. But for Mickaela, it was a life or death decision. She couldn’t imagine her life without being able to go running—either in human form or puma—on a whim. She was grateful to live almost in the wild and would never trade this lifestyle for city life.

  Not that anyone had asked so far. One of her stupid exes had hinted at that. Saying here and there that it would be so much easier if she came to live with him in the city, but she had played dumb and had never so much as given him a hint that she was interested. In the end, Mickaela couldn’t remember the reason for their break up, but it hadn’t been this.

  “Do you have a trail you’re used to running on? Or are we just going to run with no real aim? Not that I mind, I just want to know what to expect …” like he had just said, he didn’t seem to mind, at all.

  “Follow me?” She asked. It was a way for her to test him a bit. Would he want to take the lead or would he let her be in charge? It wasn’t much, just a bit of running, and yet she held her breath as she waited for his answer.

  “After you,” Liam said with a smile. And the fact that his smile seemed genuine sent Mickaela’s hormones into overdrive.

  She gestured for him to go out, locked both doors—front and back—and joined him in her garden.

  He was waiting for her quietly and hadn’t started to run in place like most impatient people would do. He was doing just that, waiting.

  She passed him and started to run. Slowly at first and when she realized he had no trouble following, she accelerated a bit.

  He followed without any protest and she kept accelerating to the point she knew she couldn’t speak at the same time they ran. She wasn’t sure what his goal was with this kind of date but it actually felt good. It was easy and he wasn’t pushing her for anything. It felt more than good, it felt great!

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7