Page 12

He watched her closely as she bit down. He’d worked on this recipe for weeks, carefully tweaking and adjusting every element and balancing the flavours and magic within his ingredients until he was happy that it was perfect: sweet and creamy, rich and decadent, but still light and delicate – and highly effective. He knew the flavour profile as intimately as he did her expression, and knew when each layer of spice and magic hit.

‘Oh wow,’ she breathed, tasting the deep, dark chocolate enriched with glossy, heavy butter and the sweetness of vanilla and honey. The ginger and cinnamon hit next, flushing her cheeks as his magic started to shimmer over her skin. His gift would never work on someone who didn’t want to feel this way, and Mia was resonant to him so the effects were far stronger as she relaxed into the sensations and magic, trusting and savouring them.

When his Hot Winter Nights blend hit, she couldn’t help the slight whimper that escaped her lips as her eyes drifted shut, and he stopped trying to resist the urge to touch her. He ran his fingers lightly over her cheek, then lips, encouraging her to take another bite. She moaned as the flavours hit again and again, intensifying the sensations that were starting to reverberate through him and double back to her.

‘Aiden…’ She gasped his name and he covered her lips with his, loving the way she melted in his arms as he tasted her – and how she made his bakes even more delicious. If ever he worked out how to replicate that flavour, he’d be a millionaire in no time.

He pulled back to grab another chocolate bite – while he still had some ability to think – and traced it across her lips, teasing. She moaned when her lips closed over the decadent mouthful and twined her arm around his neck, locking him against her. Her breath came fast, then caught, as he made quick work of baring her skin and working his lips down her neck and chest, leaving trails of magic and sensation he could feel in himself.

‘Remember to keep breathing, Princess. I’ve got you… just remember to breathe.’

Her body heated under his touch – welcoming and reflecting sensation back to him as magic sparked from his fingers to flash over her, lighting her up and leaving a trail of shared sensation so exquisite he had to bite back a whimper.

‘Don’t.’ Her fingers tangled in his shirt, tugging and shoving it out of her way so she could touch him too, adding even more sensation. ‘Don’t hold back. Let me have it all.’

She twisted her fingers through his hair, tugging him against her so she could kiss him again, parting her lips to invite him in – driving him crazy with the taste, heat and feel of her as his magic flared so brightly that it was almost scorching, in the best possible way.

He nearly lost his mind as her fingers dragged down his chest to wrestle with his belt, her lips still not leaving his. She froze for a second, shivering, then her fingers wrapped around him, sending another shard of sensation reverberating through them both. But he hadn’t been lazy: while she’d been reaching for him, his hands had been tracing over her legs and up her thighs. When he reached where she was already hot, needy and wet he groaned aloud – still shocked by the intensity of her feelings.

She didn’t give him a chance to get used to it – shifting position until they were perfectly aligned. And who was he to argue with his future wife? He half-chuckled at the thought before the surge of pleasure wiped every thought but her from his mind.

* * *

Two mornings later Aiden hesitated at the door to Glimmers and Sparkles.

‘What’s wrong?’ Mia looked up at him.

‘Nothing.’ He slid his arms around her waist. ‘But do we have to tell them?’

‘Probably. Because I refuse to take this off.’ She grinned as her new ring flashed in the sunlight. ‘Don’t you want to?’

‘Of course I do.’ He nuzzled her neck, sending the usual rush of heat and magic through her. ‘But I’ve enjoyed the last couple of days of only us knowing.’

‘Going to be pretty hard to plan a wedding without telling anyone.’ She giggled. ‘And it’s been over a week since you said yes. To be honest, I’m surprised Mist or the birds haven’t outed our secret yet.’

‘I’ve been bribing the birds for months.’ Aiden grinned. ‘Cost me a small fortune in treats, but nowhere near what buying Mist’s silence does.’

‘I thought cats were known for being secretive?’

‘Not sure that applies to talking cats. Especially ones with a taste for salmon.’ He chuckled, not really minding the small blackmail. It was part of the fun. ‘It’s just tempting to see how long we can keep it just between us.’

‘Are you saying you want to keep me your little secret?’

‘There’s no way I can answer that without getting into trouble, is there?’ He stepped closer, crowding her between him and the shop door in the way she loved so much. ‘Because I have to admit the idea of not having to share you – of keeping you all to myself – is almost as tempting as you are.’ He cupped her cheek with his right hand, fingers warm against her cold skin, making her shiver as he traced the edge of her lips with his thumb. ‘And calling you my little secret…’

‘…sounds very naughty.’ She laughed.

‘It does. Deliciously so.’ He sent another wave of sensation and magic through her as his fingers stroked along the line of her chin. He leaned down to kiss her, his lips warm and sweet as they brushed over hers, urging her to behave in a way that was definitely inappropriate for the middle of Hudsbury – especially at eight in the morning.

‘We wouldn’t get away with it.’ Mia smiled. ‘We’d be caught out in no time. If the animals don’t tell on us, the magic probably will. You know what this place is like.’

‘I do.’ The words, and their promise, sent a shiver down his spine. ‘But I enjoyed us having a bit more… privacy around our relationship.’

‘You mean like when we were sneaking around, trying to keep our friends from finding out we were together for months?’

‘I know… I’m terrible.’

‘Dreadful.’ She laughed. ‘But if Katie finds out from someone other than us, the fallout will be terrible.’