Chapter 4
Peach
After a long day at the bakery, I’ve never been happier to be home. I’ve just taken a long bath and dressed in my robe when I step into my kitchen.
And scream.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask him, sliding my damp hair off my face. “How did you even get through my wards?”
Salem is leaning against my kitchen counter, absently opening and closing a knife in his hands. He’s wearing all black this time, and I take a moment to admire him. He’s built like a warrior, and all I see when I look at him is strength. “I wanted to see you.”
“You’ve already seen me today,” I point out, my gaze dropping to the ring on my finger.
He follows my line of sight, and his eyes flicker with happiness before he masks it. “You’re wearing it. It was my grandmother’s.”
Softening, I take a deep breath and approach him. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Salem. But you can’t just show up here and break into my house. We need to have some boundaries. Not to mention my brother is here a lot, and well, he hates you.”
Salem puts the knife down on the counter and sighs. “It was just a little torture. He needs to get over it.”
I don’t know what to say to that. I know I should be scared, and when I first found out he was my mate, I was. But when I’m around him, I don’t feel unsafe at all. I have a connection to him that I’m never going to find anywhere else, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of bad things.
“Come on, let’s sit down. I brought back some leftover desserts if you’d like some?” I offer, my manners kicking in.
“I’d fucking love some.”
Smiling, I grab the box I left on the table and take it with me to the couch.
Salem waits until I sit, and then sits so close next to me that we’re touching.
Ignoring the feel of his warm skin through his clothing, I open the box and hand it to him.
“Those two are chocolate chip cupcakes, that one is a strawberry cheesecake, and the other two are cinnamon scrolls.”
He grabs the strawberry cheesecake quickly and takes a bite.
His eyes close, and he makes a deep growling sound so sensual that I squeeze my thighs together.
I hear him mutter, “This is why we’re mates,” before he takes another bite.
“Don’t tell my sister, but this is the best cheesecake I’ve ever had.
” He opens his eyes and looks at me. “The best thing that’s been in my mouth.
” His tongue peeks out to lick his lips, and his eyes heat. “For now.”
Oh boy.
“Salem—”
“Peach, I bet you’re as juicy as one,” he rasps, finishing the cheesecake and then picking up one of the cupcakes. “Tell me something about you.”
“What do you want to know?” I ask, watching as he seductively eats. Staying away from him is going to be hard. I’m going to need to move.
“Anything. Do you have any males sniffing around that I need to eliminate?” he asks casually.
My eyebrows rise. “No. Salem, there will be no elimination of any kind. Do you hear me? I’m single. I don’t have any males in my life in a romantic way.”
Yes, I get asked out at work, but I’ve never taken any of them up on their offer. I don’t have the time for dating. I have a business to run, and to be honest, I’ve been waiting for my mate. What’s the point in getting feelings for someone else only to drop them when my mate shows up?
Maybe I’m a romantic at heart or a fool. I don’t know. Maybe my parents scarred me with their toxic relationship before they both passed away. Or more likely than all of that, I didn’t want to open up and let anyone in. I don’t want anyone to learn about my magic. I can’t let that get around.
Ever.
I would lose my business. I would lose everything. Whatever the reason, I haven’t dated.
At all.
I’m a five-foot-four virgin.
And Salem?
He must be about six feet seven and looking at me like he wants to swallow me whole. How is that going to fit? Never mind. I’m not even going to go there.
“Good,” he growls, reaching over and taking my small hand in his large one. He stares at our joined hands, an odd expression on his face. Surprise maybe?
I said I wasn’t going to do this with him, except he’s here in my house, holding my hand. Willpower was never my strong suit, and I know I’m only asking for trouble by entertaining this. Tell that to my heart, though.
“Your skin is soft,” he comments, lifting our hands as if testing the weight and feel of them. “I like it. And you have strong magic. I feel it, even though you’ve buried it deep. We’re a perfect match for each other.”
I stiffen, waiting for him to ask what my magic is, but he doesn’t. Instead, he brings my hand to his mouth and licks the back of it, making a deep growling sound. “Can’t wait to taste that sweet pussy. I’m going to have you screaming my name all night long, little one.”
My eyes widen, and I can feel my cheeks heat. “Ahh, Salem. You can’t just say whatever is going on in your head. Sometimes it’s okay to think it. Inside thoughts.”
He buries his face in my neck and breathes in my scent. “Where would the fun be in that? I want to know every little thing you’re thinking, and I’m going to give you the same honesty in return.”
My throat works as I swallow hard. “Salem?”
“Yeah,” he rasps, now kissing up my neck. He’s suddenly up to my jawline, and I still haven’t said anything or told him to stop. I’m lost in the sensation of his soft lips against my skin and his tongue tasting me. Magic sizzles around us, a reminder of what we are to each other.
When he reaches my lips to kiss me, I melt into it.
He makes a deep rumbling sound in his chest, and before I know it, he’s lifted me onto his lap so I’m straddling him.
Salem deepens the kiss, sweeping his tongue into my mouth.
I’m so turned on, and I know he is, too, his hard cock straining against me.
He’s huge, like the rest of him. I wonder what his knot will feel like. I’ve heard stories, and it’s meant to make sex feel even better.
He ends the kiss and looks me in the eyes, searching for something. “Come home with me.”
“Salem, no,” I manage to say. “This is all happening too fast.”
“I’ve waited my whole life for you, Peach. It’s not fast enough.”