Chapter 6 Youth These Days
Caspian
A soft groan drifted from Juniper’s bedroom, and my cock grew impossibly harder.
Fuck, I want her.
Sure, I was playing at being human, but my animalistic side urged me to claim my mate. My tongue ran over my canines.
If our shared dream proved anything, it was that she wanted me too. All I had to do was stay the course, win her over, and I could have her.
She was already mine, she just didn’t know it yet.
I needed a cold shower. Rolling off the couch, I gathered up a change of clothes and slipped into the hall bathroom, cranking the shower on and brushing my teeth. I wanted to make my little witch breakfast, so I had to be quick.
Memories of our dream played in my mind as I scrubbed myself down. Her touch on my face. The feel of her body against mine. Her smile.
I was so lost to her, but I didn’t care.
Toweling off, I glanced at myself in the mirror. I’d never gone so long in human form before. I’d accumulated more freckles walking in the sun with Juniper, along with a bit of a tan on my pale skin. But moreover, I looked happy.
I couldn’t help my stupid grin as I yanked on clothes and headed into the kitchen to make her breakfast. I needed to pick up some groceries if I was going to keep cooking for her, which I had every intention of doing.
Ten minutes later, huckleberry muffins from a dry mix rose in the oven.
The sweet scent of browning sugar and flour filled the air.
Juniper’s eyebrows shot up when she stepped into the room and took a breath.
“Good morning, beautiful,” I purred, unable to help my smug grin.
“Caspian,” she said tentatively, tilting her head. “Did you bake something?”
Cautiously, she walked to the oven and peered in. “Muffins?”
“Yeah, but I’ll need to get groceries today. I’m running out of things I can make with what’s in the pantry,” I said, gripping the edge of the counter to keep myself from reaching for her.
It would feel so natural to gather her up in my arms and give her a good morning kiss. I could lift her up, wrap her legs around my waist, carry her back to the bedroom and—
Poseidon’s tits, I’m getting hard in the middle of the kitchen.
Casually, I wandered to the nearest barstool and perched on the seat, doing my best to hide my condition.
“They look great. Thanks for doing that,” Juniper said, straightening and looking around the kitchen, as if she was searching for whatever other mayhem I’d caused. The dishes were already washed, and the space was spotlessly clean.
She exhaled audibly and leaned against the counter. Her scoop-neck t-shirt dipped low enough that I had a perfect view of her gorgeous tits.
“Caspian?”
I blinked. She’d definitely been speaking, and I was so distracted by her cleavage, I’d missed it. “Yeah?”
Juniper cleared her throat. “I’ve got a really long to-do list today, so I think it’s best if you entertain yourself. You can stay here, I guess.”
“What? Why?” I asked, frowning.
Her weary sigh cut into me. I needed to support her, not aggravate her.
“I don’t really have time to babysit you today.”
The heat already building in me from her proximity flared hot with indignation. Fluidly, I slid from my seat and stepped around the counter. She took a step back, swallowing nervously as her gaze flickered over me.
Slowly, I advanced until her back hit the kitchen counter. Her gaze was wide with a mix of alarm and heat—her lips slightly parted, pupils widening, breathing shallow.
I leaned forward, placing my hands on the counter at either side of her waist so our faces were level. Her bergamot scent sweetened as I drew closer.
“Do I look like I need babysitting?”
“Oh, um, that’s not—” Her cheeks flushed beautifully.
“I’ll make sure you’re so grateful you brought me along with you today, you’ll be thanking me tonight.”
Her breath hitched, and my smug smile returned.
Pushing off the counter, I straightened and walked away. “I’m ready to go whenever, but the muffins probably have about five minutes left before they’re done baking.”
“Okay,” she said, breathless.
I could feel her gaze on my back, and a vain satisfaction filled my blood as I raked my fingers through my hair, pushing the tousled waves off my forehead.
Clearly, she felt the same pull toward me that I felt toward her, and she couldn’t hide it anymore.
Today, I’ll tease her, play with her, and drive her crazy until she can’t help herself.
We wrapped muffins in paper towels and took them to go. Juniper was quiet, but her cheeks still flushed when she glanced at me. Yet again, she’d draped my coat over her arm. I wondered where she would try to lose it that day. It was becoming a wonderful game between us.
Our first stop was a t-shirt shop that did screen printing in the back. It was a tourist trap, and racks of garments printed with Crescent Cove lined every wall, hemming us in as we squeezed through the door.
“Welcome,” the teenager behind the counter drawled, not looking up from his phone.
Juniper marched up to the counter, and I took a moment to admire the way her hips swayed when she was determined.
“Hi. I’m Juniper Beck, and my aunt placed an order for custom-printed tote bags. There should be forty-five of them.”
“I don’t know about any bags, ma’am.” He still didn’t look up.
My hand clenched into a fist, holding back the urge to rip the phone from his hand and break it.
Normally, I wasn’t prone to violence, but he was being rude to my mate, and red tinged the edges of my vision. Slowly, I drew in a breath and held it for a moment before exhaling even slower. It wouldn’t impress Juniper if I went all caveman on the idiot kid.
“Well, today is the pickup day, so they should be ready to go in the back. I’ve got the email confirming they were already paid for.” Juniper was so patient, so kind-hearted, so perfect.
The teen let out a scoff and pushed off the counter, tucking his phone into his back pocket. With an eye roll, he strode into the back.
My jaw clenched so hard my molars ached as I sidled up to the stand beside Juniper, resting my hand on the small of her back.
She didn’t flinch away. My heart sang.
“Youth these days,” I huffed.
Juniper twisted, arching one elegant eyebrow. “You are youth,” she said. The cutest smirk crossed her face.
My hand slid around to grab her waist and squeezed. She let out an adorable squeak. Before I could come up with a flirty response, the teen returned, balancing two oversized boxes against his chest.
Juniper rushed to grab one and passed it to me. It took me a moment to shift it in my arms to find a comfortable hold.
“Here, give me the second one too,” I said.
Juniper’s mouth pinched, and I knew she wanted to fight me on it, but she gave in and set the box on top of the first one. It rose to almost my chin. I tightened my grip and turned toward the door awkwardly.
It’s going to suck carrying these all the way back to the rental condo.
As if she heard my thoughts, Juniper grimaced. “I’ll order a rideshare.”
“Thanks,” I said.
She swiped the app on her phone and headed to the door while typing in our location. “It’ll just be a minute. You good?” she asked over her shoulder .
My gaze narrowed. Her arms were empty. The little witch had somehow lost my coat in the last two minutes. She was a tricky one, and it only made me more obsessed with her.
With a grunt, I turned back around and slid the boxes onto the counter.
The teen cashier spluttered, but I ignored him.
It only took a second to tune into my coat, and I found it tucked on a shelf behind a row of crescent moon-printed tank tops.
Grinning, I slung it over my shoulder and then picked up the boxes again.
When I emerged from the shop, Juniper’s mouth thinned in annoyance as her gaze snagged on my coat.
“You’ll have to do better than that, little witch,” I said softly.
“It’s almost like you don’t want me to lose your coat and set you free,” she grumbled as the rideshare pulled up.
The driver opened the trunk, and I stashed the boxes before climbing into the seat beside Juniper. “I thought I was clear about that,” I said wryly.
Eyes the color of ocean depths narrowed at me.
“Maybe I like this arrangement,” I said.
“Why? Do you have anywhere else to go?” she whispered.
Does she think I’m homeless and just looking for somewhere to crash?
I scowled. “I have a home nearby with my brothers. But of course I’d rather live with you. You’re my wife . ”
“Caspian,” she groaned, leaning her head back against the headrest. My breathing stuttered as she exposed her throat to me. I had to shift in my seat as my jeans grew uncomfortable.
I wasn’t a wolf shifter or a vampire, but I was still a predator at my core. Selkies might hunt fish, but the instincts were the same, whispering in the back of my head. I wanted to bury my nose against her neck and taste that ocean water scent.
“Juniper,” I purred.
She turned her head and fixed me with a gaze so full of longing, my heart leapt in my chest, affection and desire filling every corner of my body. She was so close to giving in to our fated mate bond, whether she knew it or not. I could feel it.
The ride share took us to the print shop around the corner. “I’ll be just a minute,” Juniper said to the driver.
He started to argue, but I pulled a fifty-dollar bill out of my wallet and passed it to the man. His mouth snapped shut.
Juniper glared at me, but I gave her an innocent smile. Scoffing, she strode into the print shop. Like her loyal puppy, I followed.
She rattled the order number off her email receipt, and the shop clerk’s eyes widened.
“Ms. Beck, I apologize. We usually just make flyers for real estate agents and stuff like that. We didn’t realize our folding machine was down, so they aren’t creased. At least we were able to staple them.”
He handed over a thick stack of very flat booklets.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Juniper muttered.
“It’s fine,” I said smoothly. “We can handle folding some booklets.”
The employee grimaced. “You’ll want something like a bone folder to get the creases tight.”
Smiling, I took the stack from Juniper. “I’m sure we will manage. Thank you.”
Beside me, my little witch relaxed. Her shoulders lowered, and her mouth softened.
She likes when I take control and fix things for her. Noted.
“We’d better get home and get started on these,” I said. “Is there anything else we need to pick up?”
“I’ve already got the luggage tags. But we need to add names to them,” she said apologetically.
“Sounds like a fun date night.”
Juniper’s eyes widened a fraction before they narrowed. “It’s not—”
“Come on, love,” I said, interrupting her.
“If I may say,”—the print shop employee added—“you two make an adorable couple.”
“Thank you,” I said quickly, before Juniper could contradict them.
Pivoting, I caught Juniper’s hand and guided her from the shop and back to the waiting rideshare. Magic sparked between our palms, and she squeezed my hand.
“What is this?” she whispered.
Turning, I leaned in, looking down at her. She craned her head back to stare into my eyes.
“Magic,” I said simply.
On the drive home, she rubbed her hands together, like she was remembering the buzz of magic between our fingers.
I can’t wait to feel it again.