Watt and Bothered

Monster Between the Sheets

Fiona Davenport

Copyright © 2022 by Fiona Davenport

Cover designed by Elle Christensen

Edited by Jenny Sims (Editing4Indies)

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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Contents

Watt and Bothered

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Epilogue

Epilogue

Monster Between the Sheets

About the Author

Watt and Bothered

Monster Between the Sheets

Having his beloved home town turn monstrous overnight was rough for Silas Adler. Even more difficult was finding out that he suddenly had the power to channel electricity...at the expense of being able to touch anyone.

Two decades later, he was stunned when Juniper Finch stumbled into his arms without being hurt. It was a lucky thing since Silas knew at first glance that Juniper was meant to be his.

1

Silas

I pulled off my leather gloves and flicked my fingers over the logs in my fireplace. The sparks that fell ignited the kindling, and the fire was soon roaring. It wasn’t cold outside, but there was a fall nip in the air, and one of my favorite things to do was open the windows and light a fire. Plus, any humidity helped to reduce static electricity. Everything in my home was grounded to the max, but even touching the metal coin in my pocket didn’t always quell the shock when my skin transferred electron charges to whatever I touched. Being able to manipulate electricity could be a handy tool, but if I wasn’t paying attention…well, I’d fried enough kitchen appliances to keep the local furniture store in business.

Satisfied with the flames, I tossed my gloves onto the coffee table and opened the windows on both sides of the fireplace, as well as the sliding glass door that went out onto a big deck that faced the thick woods behind the house.

I ran a hand through my shaggy white hair as I jogged up the beautifully carved, wooden staircase in my log cabin to the primary bedroom. The second floor consisted of a large suite that faced the back of the house, and across the hall were two smaller rooms that were connected by a Jack and Jill bathroom.

As I entered my room, I was already pulling my shirt over my head to drop it into the hamper. Sometimes, taking off my long-sleeved shirts felt like removing a binding from my lung, allowing me to breathe deeply. Even after twenty years, it wasn’t much easier to deal with the constant reminder of what I’d become by wearing the necessary clothes to protect anyone who came too close. Skin-to-skin contact was the only time I had no control over the voltage I was charged with. It was unpredictable, and I learned the hard way that I needed to wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and gloves whenever I was around other people.

I discarded my thick work pants, and after a quick shower, I pulled on a worn pair of jeans that were light and comfortable. I zipped them but didn’t bother with the button as I wandered back downstairs to the kitchen. There was cold beer in the fridge, so I grabbed a bottle and made a sandwich, then took everything back out to the couch. With a sigh, I plopped down and finally relaxed.

It had been a long-ass day at work, and I was fucking exhausted. I had accidentally fried a cherry picker when I wasn’t paying attention to my natural output. There were power outages because people overloaded sockets and did all manner of stupid shit that involved electricity. And I had to deal with downed power lines because some pimply little teenager wanted to impress a girl and plowed into one of the poles when he lost control of his car. Without the cherry picker, I had to climb the handholds up to the bucket at the top of the pole.

The areas around the small town where I lived—formerly known as Stream in the Woods—had been slowly gentrifying over the past few years, bringing more residents and businesses. While the growth might have been seen as favorable to most, it was a downright pain in the ass to those of us who lived in the place that had been dubbed “Screaming Woods” twenty years ago.

Perhaps that wasn’t true of everyone who still resided here, but the majority of the inhabitants wanted to be away from prying eyes. And from the inevitable screams that erupted whenever they were spotted. Here, monsters were welcome and safe, albeit lonely.

It wasn’t always like this. Stream in the Woods had once been a joyous town. Most of us who grew up here had never intended to leave, but we didn’t anticipate being forced to stay because there was nowhere else for us to find peace and acceptance.

I’d been among those who had planned to spend my life here—to marry, raise a family, grow old, and watch over my grandchildren. My whole family had lived here once. But since that fateful Halloween, only my little sister, Maggie, and I remained. A few of our cousins had been affected but had chosen to brave the wide world—where they discovered that monsters had no place in it.

I drained the bottle of its contents and finished off my sandwich, then stretched out on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. I didn’t make a habit of dwelling on the events of the past. It wasn’t like it would do any good. But for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about the life I’d been building before it happened. Inevitably, my memories turned to the night that forever changed us. Literally.

Maggie and I had shown up early for the party on that Halloween night. Like all celebrations in this town, the event was sure to be full of fun and joy. We were like one big family and never missed an opportunity to reconnect with each other amidst wonderful food, music, drinks, and any other merriment we could come up with.

But that year, Maggie was hosting an activity for the kids in her store, Something Special. She’d changed it to Something Wicked shortly after everything happened.

We’d greeted everyone as they arrived, and the festivities had kicked off with a bang. One of our locals, Dr. Boris Karloff—whom Maggie and I had nicknamed “the mad scientist”—was known for the unusual and highly anticipated concoctions he brought to parties.

He’d promised the beverage—which he’d called Frankenpunch—would add a little sparkle to our already merry event. The homemade brew tasted awesome. Like orange sherbet and whipped cream, my favorite dessert. Although Maggie swore hers had tasted like chocolate-covered cherries, which happened to be her favorite treat.

Then the town bell tower had tolled midnight, and our world shattered into something frightening. Monsters emerged. Friends I’d grown up with suddenly screamed in pain as their bodies shifted into grotesque shapes, some with tusks, wings, scales…all manner of creatures.

My sister had fallen into my arms weeping as her sweet, round face became longer, the angles sharpening, especially a noticeably pointed chin. Her beautiful auburn hair turned black, her skin bubbled as it turned bright green, her nails lengthened and turned sharp—almost like talons—and her body vibrated with dark magic.

I’d looked at the chaos and then down at myself, wondering why I had remained the same. Why had I been spared this monstrous fate?

Maggie’s blue eyes were full of anguish when her transformation was complete. I placed a palm on her cheek to reassure her that things would be all right but snatched it back when a shock zapped between us. We assumed it was the magic filling her and avoided touching again.

Pandemonium had broken out. People were scared, hysterical, and crazed. Unused to their new features, people stumbled, flew, slithered, and crawled in every direction. When a pair of stone wings snagged on a power line, it brought the pole crashing to the ground. I knew that the exposed conductor would easily start a fire if I didn’t get it under control.

I looked around for something to cover my hands so I could safely touch the wire, but I couldn’t find anything. So I’d yanked off my shirt, ripped it in two, and wrapped the halves around my hands. The thin material wouldn’t protect me completely, but I had hoped it would at least keep me from being electrocuted.

Running over to the spot with the most damage, I bent over to examine it. Suddenly, electricity zapped between me and the power line in a visible arc—like lightning. However, instead of going into cardiac arrest, my body seemed to absorb the current. I pulsed with the heavy voltage, and the power line went dead.

It didn’t take long to realize that I was now a walking, talking battery. Maggie had followed me and witnessed the change. Then she reached for my hand, which was still covered by my shirt. When she touched me, her body was hit with so much energy that she flew backward and hit the ground.

The voltage should have killed her. I supposed if there was one silver lining, it was that the dark magic inside her had kept her alive.

That was the last time we touched with anything less than thick leather gloves between us.

A few days later, I was working to help clean up the carnage in town when I overheard a scream. I was installing a new outside light beside the front door of my sister’s shop, and I peeked around the corner of the building to check out what was causing the ruckus.

My sister was plastered against the wall with tears overflowing from her eyes while Miss Gulch ran toward me. The crotchety spinster always looked like she’d been sucking lemons, but as she neared me, I was taken aback by the malice in her expression.

“She’s a monster!” Miss Gulch screeched, pointing at my sister. “A witch!”

Rage exploded inside me, and I grabbed her wrist to stop her from going around me. I intended to give her a piece of my mind, but instead, I was forced to release her when she shuddered violently and fell into a heap at my feet.

“Oh shit!” Maggie yelled as she dashed over to the woman and checked for a pulse. “Shit, shit, shit.” She laid Miss Gulch flat on her back, then Maggie closed her eyes and put her hands on the spinster’s chest. Green and black mist rose from the ground and swirled in the air. Miss Gulch suddenly jackknifed up into a sitting position and screamed at the top of her lungs.

Her wild eyes took in her surroundings, then she jumped to her feet and screeched, “They’re all MONSTERS!” as she sprinted away.

“I should have left her dead,” Maggie muttered as she climbed to her feet. On instinct, I held out my hand to help her, then quickly pulled my arm back in case she accidentally slid her palm against mine, and the next lifeless body at my feet was hers.

“I’m sorry,” I rasped, feeling completely helpless and dejected.

“Me too. But at least I was able to save her. Although, I won’t waste my magic on her a second time.”

I forced an amused smile, but Mags saw right through me. “It’s okay. At least I make myself laugh.”

That brought out a genuine chuckle, brightening her disposition. “I should probably grab some gloves,” I sighed, and she nodded, her expression sympathetic.

That was the last time I touched anyone, with or without gloves.

2

Juniper

I’d only been on this trip with my parents for a day, and I was already bored out of my gourd. My dad disappeared first thing this morning, so I’d been stuck hanging out with my mom, which wasn’t my favorite thing to do. She and I didn’t have much in common, and I would’ve been much happier going camping than wandering the streets of some random town while she shopped to her heart’s delight.

She’d spent a ridiculous amount of money, but she was still cranky when we returned to the rental house a few hours ago. Ordering dinner in from a Spanish tapas restaurant and polishing off an entire bottle of wine hadn’t helped, either. She still had a squinty look on her beautiful face as she leaned back in her chair across the table from me.

“Remember that darling hair salon we saw in town today?” My mom’s nose wrinkled as she looked at my lavender-tinted blond locks. “I could call to see if they have any openings for tomorrow.”

If the offer had been made out of kindness, I might have taken her up on it. But she had been quite vocal about how much she disapproved of my new hair color, so I knew she only mentioned it because she was hoping I’d dye it something more normal. “I don't think that's a good idea. I wouldn’t want to hurt my hair stylist’s feelings by cheating on her.”

My mom’s lips pressed into a firm line. I knew she was holding back an angry reply, but it wasn’t as though she could say much when she kept quiet every time my dad cheated on her. She only stayed with him because her priorities were messed up, which was why I refused to let her disappointment get to me.

Finally, she let out a little huff. “Fine, I suppose I’ll eventually get used to this new look.”

“I don’t know…I was thinking about changing it up again when we get home.” I wagged my brows. “Maybe I’ll go with a rainbow look this time.”

“Rainbow?” she echoed with a shriek, her eyes going wide. “How will you ever find a husband if you insist upon walking around looking like a freak?”

“I don’t need a husband, Mom. I haven’t even finished college yet.” Not that I cared much about getting my degree, which was why I hadn’t bothered to apply to a four-year degree program yet. I was just taking classes online through a local college because it kept my dad off my back. He controlled the purse strings, and I couldn’t afford to make him too mad until after I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. “You know how important getting an education is to Dad.”

My father was the perfect shield against my mom, so I wasn’t surprised when she backed down. Only about my hair, though. Since her identity was completely wrapped up in her husband’s, she couldn’t understand why I wasn’t focused on going to a prestigious school and getting my MRS degree like she’d been when she met my dad in college. “That doesn’t mean you can’t look your best in case you meet someone appropriate. Or even just so you don’t embarrass your dad in front of his business associates.”

“How would I get the chance to embarrass Dad?” My brows drew together as I rolled my eyes. “We’re on vacation.”

Crossing her thin arms over her chest, she arched a brow. “Who do you think he’s golfing with today?”

“No clue.” I assumed his tee time was an excuse to get some alone time, especially since it was well past dark and he hadn’t returned to our vacation rental house yet.

“One of his biggest clients has a second home here, so your father thought our little trip was the perfect opportunity to socialize with him in a more relaxed setting.”

I finally understood why they’d wanted to spend our vacation in a town I’d never heard of before. This trip wasn’t really a family vacation. It was an excuse for my dad to schmooze some rich guy he wanted to impress. Same old story, just in a different town. “I see.”

As though he had an internal radar that let him know we were talking about him, my dad finally came walking through the front door. My mom called, “We’re in the dining room, darling.”

A few minutes later, he strode toward us with a smile on his face that made me wonder if he’d found someone to keep him entertained after his golf outing and that was why he was just now getting back. Pressing a fist against my mouth, I puffed out my cheeks at the bitter tang in my mouth.

“How was your shopping expedition?” he asked, bending down to brush a kiss against her cheek.

“It was good.” Her lips curved into a satisfied smile. “I was surprised there were actually some decent stores.”

“I never doubted for a second that you’d be able to find the best spots for shopping.” He rounded the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. “Did you clear them all out?”

My mom shrugged. “I bought a few things.”

A few things? I barely held back my snort. We’d been so loaded down with bags that my arms still hurt from carrying most of them.

“I’m glad you managed to keep busy. Sorry I was later than I expected.”

“Have you eaten dinner?” My mom gestured toward the containers where we’d packed up the leftovers. “I could make you a plate since I over-ordered as usual.”

I heaved a deep sigh over how they both pretended they were a normal couple who actually cared about each other. Unfortunately, that drew my dad’s attention to me. “Did you enjoy shopping with your mother?”

When he asked questions like that, I couldn’t help but wonder if he ever really saw me. “I found a pie iron that I can’t wait to try out the next time I go camping.”

“Your daughter insisted upon dragging me into this horrible little trading post store.” My mom gave an exaggerated shudder. “They actually carried live bait, can you believe it? You could purchase worms, insects, and tiny fish right there to take home with you.”

I smiled at the memory of how she’d shrieked when the customer in front of us bought some crickets. “How else did you think people got their bait when they wanted to go fishing?”

She pursed her lips. “I don’t know, dear. I’ve never given much thought to anything having to do with fishing.”

“Maybe James will be interested in fishing.”

My mom’s attention shifted to my dad as she asked the question I was thinking. “Who’s James?”

“John Winston, the client I golfed with today, brought his son as a part of our foursome. James was quite impressive. He even came close to a hole in one.” He chuckled softly. “Now that he’s gotten his MBA, John is training him to take over the business someday.”

Knots were forming in my stomach. “Why would it matter if his son is interested in fishing?”

“The boy will be the head of a company that accounts for more than a million dollars in revenue annually for my business.” He speared me with a look. “He’s offered to show you around town, which is an opportunity we cannot afford to pass up.”

“Oh.” Going against what my dad wanted was a lot harder than resisting what my mom wanted.

“Please try to be more articulate when you meet with him.” He wagged his finger. “The sooner, the better. We’re only in town for so long.”

“Yes, sir.” I pushed away from the table and stood. “I think I’m going to take a walk to work off some of the calories from dinner.”

The excuse was an easy one since my mom was always worried about weight—hers and mine. The low murmur of their conversation drifted toward me as I slipped my feet into a pair of hiking boots, grabbed a coat, and searched for a flashlight in the drawer in the table next to the front door.

Although I was certain my parents assumed that I was going to stick to the sidewalks lining the neighborhood where we were staying, the lure of nature was impossible to resist. Darting across the street, I crossed through the park toward the tree line on the opposite side. Stomping into the woods in a town where I wasn’t familiar with anything probably wasn’t my best idea, but I had always taken comfort in nature—much to my parents’ dismay. I assumed that I would be safe enough…until I wandered just deep enough into the forest that I couldn’t easily find my way back out again, and my flashlight died.

3

Silas

I finally shook off my thoughts of the past and got up to take my dishes into the kitchen. My phone buzzed in my pocket as I dropped my bottle in the recycle bin. Before answering, I put my plate in the dishwasher and touched the coin in my opposite pocket. Then I withdrew my cell and grinned at the sight of my sister’s smiling, green face.

“Hey, Mags,” I greeted. “How was the muggle date?”

She sighed. “That joke is so old it crawled into a coffin and died.”

I laughed and leaned my hip against the counter, crossing one leg over the other. “Only because you have no sense of humor,” I teased. In reality, I was making light of the situation in case the night had gone badly. Like all the other times she had tried dating. “So?”

Maggie was quiet for a moment, and her sadness bled through the phone, forming a lump in my stomach. “He stayed through dinner,” she answered softly. “I thought I might actually make it to dessert for once. I tried to fool myself into believing he was just engrossed in his meal and not trying to avoid looking at me. But I should have known better.”

I wanted to kill the asshole. One handshake was all it would take…but me going to jail wouldn’t do anyone any good.

“He didn’t deserve you,” I declared. It was true, but I knew it wouldn’t do much to heal my sister’s bruised heart. “He obviously couldn’t see the good thing right in front of him.”

“And how would he have seen something good?” she scoffed. “The only thing sitting in front of him was a green witch who everyone blamed for all the havoc that Lindsay caused until the house dropped on her—also blamed on me. He tried to do it when I wasn’t looking, but I saw him checking out my shoes. The Wicked Witch of the West.”

I didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t wrong, and my only advice was for her to stop letting the matchmaking company set her up on dates. To stop trying to find love. But I was afraid it would leach out the rest of her goodness and leave nothing but a cold space for the dark magic to fill.

“I hope you whacked him with your broom.”

Maggie was silent for a moment, then I heard a little giggle. “No, but I offered him a ride home on it. Then I spilled water on myself just to see him squirm when he thought I was about to melt.”

Laughter rumbled in my chest, and I smiled. “Did you make a little steam?”

“Yup.” The P popped, and she chuckled. “You should have seen him. His skin turned almost as green as mine.”

“Maybe next time I should come along,” I suggested in a cheeky tone. “Give the next guy another shock.”

Maggie snickered. “Seriously, bro, you need to find some new material.”

“Hey, I’m fucking hilarious.”

“I’m glad you think so. Since no one else does.”

I gasped dramatically and pushed away from the counter to wander into the front room. “I’m hurt, Margaret Hamilton Adler. Hurt, I tell you.”

“You’ll get over it. Well, I’m going to revel in the disaster that is my love life while I finish inventory at the shop. Love you, Silas.”

“Love you, too, Mags,” I replied as I stretched out on the couch.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Do you remember Phineas Crane?”

“My best friend’s dad?” Growing up, Eli Crane and I had been inseparable until they moved to Sleepy Hollow. We’d kept in touch for a while, but I’d shut myself off from most everyone except my sister after the incident in town.

“Yeah. It was the weirdest thing. He came into Something Wicked earlier today.” Maggie’s shop was an eclectic mix of books, antiques, and occult items.

“Was he still a jackass?” Phineas had been a lousy husband and an even worse father.

“Considering how he looked at me when I asked about Eli, I’m going to say yes. And he refused to talk about his son. It was really strange. He seemed almost…scared. Before he left, though, he told me I should forget about Eli unless I wanted to lose my head.”

“What?”

“Weird, right?”

We speculated on what he could have possibly meant for a few minutes more, then she sighed and mumbled something about inventory again, so we said goodbye and hung up.

It was still relatively early, but fall had swooped in fast, so the sun was nearly below the horizon. I sat out on my deck for a spell and watched it sink until the moonless night was pitch black.

When I wandered back inside, I shut off the lights in the house before grabbing my laptop from my office. Then I settled on the couch to do some work and watch a football game.

My motion detection alarm pinged, and I muted the television before picking up my phone to check the cameras. I lived deep in the woods, so I was sure it was an animal wandering onto my property. Probably a bear. It had to be something big since the sensor didn’t pick up small movements. If it did, the damn thing would never stop pinging with all the birds, squirrels, and other woodland creatures roaming about, not to mention the swaying of trees.

I shut off the alert and listened carefully, studying the small screen, looking for hints of a visitor. The only light was coming from my television and fireplace, and it barely leaked out onto the deck, so it was hard to see anything out back, even with the night vision on the cameras. When I didn’t hear or see anything after a minute, I figured the animal had wandered off into the forest again.

Setting my cell down, I turned the television back on with my other hand, then returned my attention to the game and my work. Still…a gut feeling nagged at me. Something felt off, but I didn’t have a clue what it was, so I ignored my sense of foreboding.

A few minutes later, the alarm sounded again. Sighing, I checked the cameras on my phone as I set my computer aside. There wasn’t much wind, so it had to be an animal triggering the system. There was also the possibility that Jace—one of my childhood friends, who was now as much a wolf as he was a man—was roaming the woods. Though he generally steered clear of my sensors.

I was about to dismiss it once again when I spotted a small figure coming out of the thicket and moving cautiously across the yard.

My temper flared, and I muttered a curse as I started for the back door. People around here knew better than to break my solitude. I tried not to wallow in my misfortune, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t a grouchy son of a bitch when someone invaded my safe space.

I flipped a light on in the kitchen before stomping outside just as the figure reached the deck. I prepared to rip the intruder a new asshole but shut my mouth when the light coming through the glass doors illuminated the stranger—a woman. She froze, staring up at me with big green eyes, and I found myself momentarily stunned.

For the first time in over twenty years, my body sprang to life.

What the fuck?

Desire slammed into me, nearly knocking me off balance, but I managed to remain steady on my feet. I hadn’t experienced attraction like that in…I honestly couldn’t remember ever feeling so drawn to a woman.

She was petite but had a mouthwatering hourglass figure with full tits, a small waist, and curvy hips. Her long, wavy hair was obviously blond, but it was tinted with a pretty shade of lavender. I couldn’t tell for sure, but her eyes looked like a rich shade of whiskey-brown, rimmed with thick lashes. Her lips were rose-colored, puffy, and round—perfect for kissing or wrapping around my cock.

I’d never seen such perfection.

My hands literally crackled with electricity as the desire to feel her skin against mine consumed me. Reels of our naked bodies dripping with sweat as we writhed in passion played like a movie in my mind.

I curled my fingers into tight fists, hoping the sting from my nails digging into my flesh would bring me back to reality. Anguish and rage burned in my gut as I forced myself to face the truth. I would never be able to touch her silky skin. Never feel the soft glide of her fingers over my body.

Random images bombarded me, and I blinked a few times to clear them away. But I still caught glimpses—this gorgeous girl dressed in white, spread out on my bed in nothing at all, walking around with a swollen belly and a toddler at her side. Every thought was followed by even more frustration until I mentally screamed at myself to stop. Picturing things that didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of coming to fruition was nothing but torture.

As the spell wore off, I noticed that she looked terrified, and I immediately wiped my expression. I didn’t want this beautiful creature to ever be afraid of me.

Slowly, I took a deep breath and calmed my racing heart. As my adrenaline receded, so did the electric current traveling over my skin.

“Come here,” I growled in a harsher tone than I’d intended. She was too far away, and I wanted to be able to see her better.

“Um…” She glanced around nervously, then pushed her shoulders back and ascended the five steps to stand on the wood planks of my deck.

I almost smiled at her adorable show of bravado, but when she bit her lip, it sent a shot of desire straight to my aching cock. Fuck. Obviously, I was a glutton for punishment because, instead of telling her to leave, I had asked her to come closer. Why? Because I wanted to see her better. To memorize her features and delicious curves before I sent her back to wherever she’d come from.

Reaching out to my left, I found the switch for the porch lights and flipped it up. The flood of brightness blinded me for a second. When my vision cleared, I spotted the girl shading her eyes as she took a step back. But she’d been standing at the edge of the stairs, so she immediately lost her balance and began to tip backward.

I hurried across the deck, wondering how the fuck I was going to help her. But she swung her arms forward and threw her weight in the same direction. One second, she was about to tumble down the steps, and the next, she was flying straight at me.

“Oomph.” We both grunted at the impact of her body slamming into mine, and my arms immediately closed around her.

All of my nerve endings buzzed with electricity, and my cock was about to bust through my zipper. I probably should have buttoned my pants, but how the hell was I supposed to know that the most beautiful woman in the world would wander into my domain? My heart squeezed, and I prepared for her body to convulse before it went limp and lifeless in my arms. Except this time, Mags wasn’t here to fix my fuckup.

But nothing happened.

“I’m so sorry,” she mumbled, trying to take a step away.

My mouth had gone dry, making it difficult to speak, but I wasn’t about to let her go, so I tightened my embrace.

“Are you okay?” I croaked.

“Yes, um. Are you? I’m sorry I just ran into you. I—”

She’s alive. How the fuck is this possible? I kept her pressed against me but reared my head back to look down at her carefully. She wasn’t even shaking from the slightest reaction to my voltage. “I’m fine. Are you sure you’re okay? I didn’t zap you?”

“Zap me?” she asked, sounding bewildered as she focused those gorgeous green gems on my face.

“You don’t feel any tingling anywhere?” I queried insistently.

Her beautiful face went from a soft peach color to the bright shade of a ripe tomato. “Um…” She squirmed a little and looked everywhere but at me.

The movement brushed the points of her hard nipples over my chest, and she sucked in a fast breath.

It suddenly hit me…what she thought I’d meant by my question. And what her reaction said about her answer.

Son of a bitch.

Electric currents raced over my skin, and she shivered, but from the flush of her skin, I was positive—no pun intended—that the cause was from the desire that crackled between us.

Was it really possible? Was she immune to my deadly power? Could we…?

All the images I’d been suppressing came flooding back, and it took every bit of my energy not to toss her over my shoulder and take her to bed. Yet.

4

Juniper

I was very confused. And not just because I was lost in the woods.

I didn’t think the man I’d basically thrown myself at was asking me about my strange reaction to him. He couldn’t possibly know that he was the first guy to kickstart my dormant libido…right?

Yet he was asking me if I’d felt zapped by him and if I was tingling anywhere. I couldn’t possibly tell him that I was sensitive to the brush of my pebbled nipples against my bra. Or how my core clenched from the way his hands pressed against my back. And I definitely wasn’t going to let him know that my panties were drenched.

Not that it was easy for me to say anything now that I’d gotten a good look at the gorgeous man who held me in his arms. With his chiseled jawline, sharp cheekbones, and aquiline nose, he was the height of masculinity. Add in his thick, white hair, bright blue eyes, and tall, muscular body, and he probably had to deal with women gawking at him all the time.

Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I croaked, “I don’t understand what you mean.”

He scanned the woods surrounding us before glancing over his shoulder toward the house. “Come inside where it’s warm and you can get comfortable, then I’ll explain.”

Following a strange man into his home in the middle of the wilderness was probably an even worse decision than wandering off in the first place, but I found myself feeling oddly safe with him.

I didn’t argue as he gently wrapped his fingers around my wrist and tugged me across the deck, but I did ask, “What’s your name?”

He smiled at me over his shoulder. “Silas Adler, and you?”

“Juniper Finch.”

“That’s a beautiful name.”

Warmth spread through me at his compliment. I’d never hated my name, but it certainly hadn’t been the subject of flattery.

Without letting go of my arm, Silas led me inside the cabin. It was on the smaller side from what I could see as we walked through the kitchen into the living room, but I loved the cozy, masculine vibe. When we neared the couch, he paused to help me out of my coat before getting me settled on the cushions. Then he dropped to his knees in front of me, and I gasped. “What are you doing?”

His bright blue eyes crackled with intensity as his gaze met mine. “Helping you get your boots off.”

Silas acted as though it was the most natural thing in the world for a man to cater to a woman's needs, but I’d grown up with the opposite. I couldn’t imagine my dad ever kneeling for my mom, let alone to do something she could easily accomplish on her own. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

The grin he beamed at me was so darn sexy. Goose bumps broke out along my skin as he tugged my boots from my feet and set them on the floor next to the couch. When he was done and sat down next to me, my heart raced so much that I was surprised it didn’t leap out of my chest.

Shifting so he was facing me with his knee pressed against the side of my thigh, he twined our fingers together, staring down at our hands with a look of awe on his handsome face. Wondering if it was because he felt the chemistry between us as much as I did, I was stunned when he murmured, “I haven’t touched anyone in twenty years.”

Since I had only been alive for that long, I couldn’t wrap my head around his confession. “How is that possible? Do you never leave the wilderness?”

His ears turned red as he ducked his head, a lock of white hair falling onto his forehead. “I spend most of my free time at my cabin, but my sister has a shop in town, and my job takes me all over the county.”

“Then I’m even more confused than I already was.” My brows drew together as I drew my knees up to cuddle into his couch.

“You’re cold.” Twisting around, he grabbed a dark-blue throw blanket from the chair and placed it over me. “I know it’s late, but would you like some coffee to help warm up?”

I shook my head, my nose wrinkling. “No, thank you. I’ve never been able to stand the taste of coffee. I’m more of a hot chocolate or tea kind of girl.”

His shoulders slumped as he reached for my hand again. “Damn, sorry. I don’t have either of those.”

“That’s okay,” I reassured him, jerking my chin toward the roaring fire. “I’m sure I’ll be warm soon enough with that going.”

“Good point.”

“I wouldn’t turn down some water, though.” His gaze locked on my mouth as I licked my lips. “I wasn’t planning on going for an actual hike when I left the house, and I’m not sure how far I walked.”

“Shit, yes. I should have thought of that since my home is well off the beaten path.” Silas jumped to his feet and stalked into the kitchen to get me a glass of water, watching until I drank it all. “Do you need some more?”

I shook my head. “No, thanks. I think I’m good now.”

“How did you wind up here?”

Handing him the empty glass, I slumped against the cushions. “By being too irritated with my parents to pay close enough attention to where I was going.”

“You could’ve been hurt.”

His hand was clenching the glass so hard, I was worried it might shatter. So I reached out to take it back from him and set it on the small table next to the couch. Then I turned back to him and flashed a sheepish smile.

“I know. It was silly of me not to bring a backup flashlight since I should’ve expected the one I was using wouldn’t last that long.” His brows drew together, and I realized he had no idea what I was talking about. Taking the flashlight out of my pocket, I wiggled it in the air. “I’ve always had a bit of a problem with technology, especially stuff that uses batteries. My mom likes to say that I suck the energy right out of them. Watches, cell phones, you name it. If they’re going to glitch, they do it when I’m around.”

“That could explain a lot.” A muscle jumped in his jaw as he heaved a deep sigh. “And brings us back to our original conversation about what I meant when I asked you about the zapping and tingling.”

“I felt the zing, but I figured it was…um…just…how I was reacting to you.”

The tension seemed to seep from his body at my soft confession. “I hope like fuck that’s all it was because I couldn’t bear the thought of ever hurting you.”

“I’m very glad to hear that because I hate the idea of hurting you, too.” I tilted my head to the side. “But why do you think that you would?”

“Because I’m a monster,” he grunted.

I stroked my palm against the side of his face. The bristles of his short beard scraped against my skin. “You don’t look very monstrous to me.”

His spine straightened, as though he was steeling himself for something, and then he straightened his arm and pointed a finger toward the fire. “Only a monster could do something like this.”

My jaw dropped when a bolt of energy darted from his fingertips toward the fireplace, making the logs jump and pop as the fire blazed higher. Stunned by this turn of events, I pinched the inside of my elbow and let out a little yelp. His nostrils flared, and a hint of red hit his cheeks. “Why did you hurt yourself?”

“I needed to make sure I hadn’t fallen and hit my head while wandering around, lost in the woods.” I bit my bottom lip. “It’s hard to believe you were really able to do that.”

“Tell me about it.” He let out a deep bark of laughter that held no humor. “I’m the one who’s a walking, talking electrical outlet, and it still took me almost killing someone to get how real my affliction is.”

Although Silas was big and rough around the edges, I couldn’t picture him hurting anyone, let alone killing someone. “There has to be more to the story.”

“There is,” he confirmed with an abrupt nod before telling me what transpired on Halloween two decades prior.

By the time he was done, I was leaning against his side, trying to comfort him after hearing the horror in his voice and seeing the guilt in his eyes. I pressed my hand against his bare chest, right over his heart, as I stared into his eyes. “You had no way of knowing you could hurt someone by touching them back then, and you’ve kept to yourself for twenty years so you wouldn’t hurt anyone else. You’re the furthest thing from a monster.”

He pulled me closer. “I’m glad you don’t see me as one. I couldn’t handle seeing fear in your pretty brown eyes when you look at me.”

My heart melted, and I gathered my courage to ask the question that had been bouncing around my brain during his explanation. “So you really haven’t touched a woman in twenty years?”

5

Silas

I couldn’t stop touching her, but I satisfied myself with a stroke of my finger over her soft skin here and there. It made me hard as fuck when she shivered in response, or there was a trail of goose bumps in my wake.

But when she asked how long it had been since I touched a woman, I paused and stared into her eyes as I shook my head. “No one.”

“Soo…” Her expression was uncertain and pink stained her cheeks. “You’re just touching me because I’m the first person who hasn’t been affected by your power?”

I was shocked by her question, even though I completely understood why she had made the assumption.

Cupping her hips, I raised her and set her on my lap, straddling my legs. Then I placed my palms on her cheeks and brought her face close to mine. “I haven’t touched a woman with anything other than familial affection since long before that night. I never wanted to.”

Closing the distance, I rubbed our noses together and smiled at the pink stain on her cheeks and the sweet upcurve of her lips. “When I saw you, I thought that fate had played the cruelest of tricks on me. The one woman who made me come alive for the first time in more than twenty fucking years was so close yet out of my reach.” I locked our eyes together, holding nothing back because I wasn’t going to waste time playing games. “I’m not sure I’ve ever responded to a woman like this, baby. And…I’m dying to kiss you.”

Juniper’s eyes sparked with desire, but she smiled shyly. “I don’t know if I’ll be any good at it,” she admitted softly. “I’ve never really been kissed before.”

My eyebrows lifted as I gaped at her in disbelief. Juniper was fucking gorgeous. It was hard to imagine that she didn’t have men falling all over themselves to get a taste of her. From spending what little time we’d had together, I had begun to suspect that she was innocent. But I’d been afraid that was just wishful thinking. “You’ve never been kissed?”

Pink bloomed on the apples of her cheeks, and she shook her head as she looked down at her lap. “Only a brief peck, and I don’t think that counts.” Her nose scrunched before she added, “Although, it’s the only type of kiss I’ve ever seen between my parents, so maybe it does.”

Jealousy and anger warred inside me. I wanted to hunt the jackass down and beat the shit out of him for getting even the smallest taste of her.

“Does that…um…change your mind?”

My eyes narrowed and with a single finger under her chin, I raised her head so I could fully see her beautiful face. “Does it feel like I’ve changed my mind?” With my free hand, I captured hers and pressed it onto the prominent bulge in my jeans. I was so fucking hard that my cock was about ready to burst through the zipper. Without the button done up, she’d soon be getting a clear eyeful of my big, long dick. I didn’t want to overwhelm her, though, so I released her hand.

She lingered for a few seconds, but when she felt my cock twitch from her attention, she snatched her palm back while her face flushed bright red. It was adorable, and I couldn’t help smiling.

When she spotted the upcurve of my lips, hers mimicked the expression. Unable to wait a moment longer, I cupped her face once again and brought her forward as my head descended. I went slow, giving her plenty of time to resist or tell me to stop, but she leaned in as if we were being drawn together by a magnet. “Let me show you what a real kiss is,” I murmured a second before my mouth covered hers.

Honeysuckle. She tasted as delicious as she smelled. I was instantly addicted to her sweetness, and I instinctively angled her head so I could deepen the kiss. “Open,” I grunted. She didn’t hesitate, and as soon as her lips parted, my tongue swept inside. I groaned as her flavor filled my senses inside and out.

A small whimper escaped her mouth, and she practically melted into me. Her breasts pillowed against my chest, and I felt the sharp points of her nipples. My mouth watered with the need to taste them, too.

I devoured her for an indeterminable amount of time, refusing to end the kiss until I was hanging onto my control by the thinnest of threads. If I didn’t stop right then, I’d wind up tossing her over my shoulder and taking her to my room to ravish her. Considering we’d known each other for less than an hour, I figured that would scare the fuck out of Juniper and send her running. I had to tread carefully because I’d already decided to keep her. Now, I just had to convince her to agree.

Tearing my mouth from hers, I muttered an expletive and buried my face in the crook of her neck. Her pulse was racing and her chest heaved from her labored breathing, much like my own.

“I think I need to take you home,” I muttered, the words leaving a bad taste in my mouth and an ache in my heart.

Juniper didn’t say anything, so I leaned back to see her face. She was trying to hide it, but I saw the hurt in her whiskey-brown eyes.

“I want nothing more than to spend the night kissing you, my beauty. But there is no fucking way that I would be able to stop at just kissing. And you aren’t ready for more. I need to see you tomorrow, though.”

Her expression softened, although she looked like she might argue with me for a minute. Then her plump lips curved up into a shy smile, and she nodded. “Okay. How about lunch?”

My first instinct was to tell her to be ready at the ass-crack of dawn since I knew I was in for a sleepless night. However, that would’ve made me a total bastard, especially since it was almost midnight already. So instead, I said, “At eleven? I don’t think I can wait any longer than that.”

Juniper’s cheeks blossomed, and her whole face brightened. “Eleven,” she confirmed. Her answer was so swift that I gave her a quick, hard kiss to let her know how pleased I was.

“I’ll pick you up—”

“Um, I’ll just meet you there,” Juniper interrupted with a nervous smile.

My eyes narrowed. “Why can’t I come get you?” My pulse sped up a little, worried that her answer would involve the fact that I was a fucking monster. Or that she had a boyfriend. Then I mentally shrugged. The boyfriend would just have to go. Love and war and all that shit.

“It’s not a big deal, really. My parents can be, um, difficult. They like to try to run my life and approve of every decision I make. And I want to have a little more time with you that doesn’t involve their meddling. To enjoy this thing between us and explore it some more.”

I was stunned…she was so fucking perfect. “Okay,” I agreed with a nod. “But I won’t stay a secret for long, Juniper. I don’t care what people think of me as long as you're mine. Is that clear?”

She looked so damn beautiful as she beamed at me. “I promise.”

Satisfied, I gave her one more kiss before setting her on the couch next to me. “I’ll grab a shirt, and we’ll go.”

After donning a sweater and buttoning my jeans, I pulled on socks and boots. Then I went to the dresser where I had a basket of gloves. I reached for a pair, then hesitated. I didn’t have to wear them with Juniper. The weight of my circumstances lifted a bit, and I grabbed my keys instead of the hand coverings.

When I returned to the living room, Juniper was standing by the fireplace, staring at a picture of Maggie and me. “That’s my sister,” I told her as I meandered over to stand at her back.

“She’s green?”

I wrapped my arms around her middle, and when I nodded, my chin bumped her head, prompting me to place a little kiss there. “Yeah…she’s also a witch.”

“Cool,” Juniper breathed.

I could tell she was being genuine, and it made me laugh because I knew Maggie would love her. “You’ll meet her soon.” I kissed the side of her neck and groaned in frustration when she shivered. “Let’s go, baby.”

I led her out to my Jeep and helped her in, then pulled the seat belt across her body. When my arm brushed over her hard, little nipples, she sucked in a fast breath, and I batted away the need to put my mouth on her perfect tits.

After slamming the door shut, I jogged around and got into the driver’s seat. I kept the keys with me when I drove, but I didn’t really need them. I sent a spark through the keyhole, and the engine roared to life.

“I’m kind of jealous,” she said softly as I backed out of my garage. “It would be nice if I could make things work instead of killing them.”

My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and she gasped. “I didn’t mean…I’m so sorry, Silas. I just meant…I’m such an idiot.”

Placing my palm over her hands, which were clasped in her lap, I glanced at her reassuringly. “I know what you meant, my beauty. And I get it. But the grass is always greener, and I kind of like that we balance each other out.”

“Me, too.”

“Where to?”

Apparently, she was staying at a ritzy resort with villas available to rent that had popped up in the next town over. I headed that way, and the ride was mostly silent. But it was easy and comfortable with no need for words because just being near each other was enough.

The drive was over much too soon, and I reluctantly stopped in front of the large entrance. I hopped out and waved off the valet as I made my way to the other side and opened my girl’s door. She grasped my outstretched hand, and I pulled her up and into my arms. I tenderly kissed her, then ordered, “Text me when you get inside. And before you go to bed.”

Juniper’s face fell, and she whispered, “I don’t have a phone. I can’t keep them charged.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot.” I understood why she didn’t have one, but not being able to get ahold of her was unacceptable. I’d spend every minute we were apart worrying. Especially since I lived in a town populated by monsters—not that they were all bad people…but still. “I’ll have to come up with a solution for that,” I told her. “For now, I’ll see you tomorrow. Where would you like to go?”

“Can we go to Lady M? I’ve heard their cake is amazing.”

I held back a wince because fancy restaurants didn’t usually appreciate catering to monsters. But she looked so excited, and I would do anything to make her smile. “Sure.” I forced a smile and brushed my lips over her cheek. “See you there at eleven.” Then I turned her around and softly patted her ass to get her going.

It was a long drive back home, and when I entered the cabin, I immediately felt an emptiness I’d never noticed. I hadn’t realized I was only half of myself until I met Juniper. And now that I’d found her, I wasn’t going to let anything stand in the way of keeping her.

6

Juniper

Although I’d told my mom just yesterday that I wasn’t interested in finding a guy, I couldn’t stop thinking about Silas after he dropped me off at our vacation rental. My parents had barely noticed I was gone and had no idea I’d come back so late. When I discovered that they’d gone to bed without worrying about me making it home okay, I had wanted to kick my own butt for letting Silas bring me back.

I’d wanted to spend more time with him last night, but at least I was going to see him again soon. For once in my life, I was grateful that my mom was a shopaholic. She had packed several extra outfits for me, and I tried each of them on before finally choosing what to wear on my lunch date.

When I finished getting ready and walked downstairs, my parents were in the living room. My dad was in a chair, tapping away at the screen of his phone while my mom scrolled through social media on the couch. She looked up, her brows arching as she noticed what I was wearing. “I’m so happy I brought those dresses. You look lovely. Don’t you think so, dear?”

My dad’s attention shifted from his cell to me, and he nodded. “Indeed.”

“I can’t recall when I last saw you dressed up like this. Where are you off to today?” my mom asked, getting up to cross the room and fiddle with my hair.

I couldn’t tell them about Silas without running the risk of being barred from leaving my house. There was zero chance my parents would approve of a man who lived in the middle of the woods so he could avoid other people because he was worried about accidentally killing someone with his touch. Not that they’d actually believe it was possible, even if they saw him conduct electricity with their own eyes like I had. My parents had a lot of practice ignoring reality when it didn’t fit their expectations.

Instead of opening that can of worms, I held still while she smoothed down a small bump near the barrette I’d used to pull my lavender-tinted locks away from my face. Once she decided it looked better and stepped back, I murmured, “I’m just headed into town. I’ll probably pop into the store where I found my pie iron to do some more browsing since we didn’t spend a lot of time there yesterday.”

“Don’t linger too long.” My mom’s nose wrinkled. “I wouldn't want the stench to cling to your clothes and hair.”

I hadn’t smelled anything, so I had assumed she’d used that as an excuse to hurry me out of the store. “If I notice even a hint of eau de fish bait when I’m done shopping, I’ll pop into that candle store you loved. Wandering around there for ten minutes is sure to have me smelling good again.”

“Ooh.” She clapped her hands together. “I lit the tuberose candle last night, and the scent was divine. If they have another in stock, please get it for me.”

“Will do.”

My dad got up and pulled out his wallet as he walked toward us. “If you’re picking things up for your mother, I’m sure you can use this.”

I accepted the cash he handed me with a smile. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Will you be joining us at the country club for lunch?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Sorry, no. I’m planning to stop in Lady M before I go shopping. I heard they have amazing cake, so I didn’t want to miss out on the chance to try it.”

My dad nodded. “Ah, makes sense.”

My mom’s lips pressed together as her gaze drifted to my stomach. I knew she was gearing up to say something about watching my portions, and I didn’t want her negativity in my head when I met Silas for lunch. So I flung my arms around her for a quick hug and brushed a kiss against her cheek. “See you later.”

I darted toward the door before she could reply, yanking my jacket off the hook on the wall as I headed outside. Dragging the crisp fall air into my lungs, my lips stretched into a wide smile as I trotted down the steps. I had plenty to be happy about since it was a gorgeous day, and my parents hadn’t second-guessed my excuse for leaving. Not to mention the sexy beast who was going to meet me at the restaurant in thirty minutes—more than enough time for me to enjoy my walk to the town center without needing to rush. I’d still be there at least ten minutes early.

Unfortunately, my good mood didn’t last for long.

After walking into the restaurant, I beamed a smile at the hostess. “Hello.”

“Good afternoon. You’re meeting someone for lunch, right?”

My grin widened as I nodded. “Yes, I’m here for a date.”

“He beat you here.” She leaned close and whispered, “And you’re a very lucky girl to have caught his attention.”

My eyes narrowed as she turned around to lead me toward a table in the back of the restaurant. Although I was happy that Silas was looking forward to our lunch so much that he arrived earlier than me, I didn’t like the idea that she’d been drooling over him until I got here. Being jealous over a woman he couldn’t even touch was silly, but after how he kissed me last night, I already felt territorial over him.

Except my irritation ended up being pointless since the man waiting for me wasn’t Silas. When the guy stood with a smile, I stopped and tapped the hostess on the shoulder. “Um, I think you have the wrong girl. That’s not who I’m here to meet.”

Her brows drew together as her gaze dropped to my dress. “But he described you perfectly when he arrived, right down to what you’re wearing.”

“He did?” My head reared back, my eyes widening as my gaze darted toward the stranger who had apparently been waiting for me.

“Sorry about the confusion, but I really am here for Juniper.” He waved her away with a smile that made her giggle as he rounded the table.

I took a step back and asked, “How do you know my name?”

“Your dad told me when we golfed yesterday.” He stretched his palm out toward me. “I’m James Winston.”

I quickly shook his hand before dropping my arm to my side. “And you’re here because…why exactly?”

“Your dad called to see if I had any plans today.” He gestured toward the table. “Since I was in town and had some free time, he suggested that I meet you for lunch.”

“Oh.” Of course, he did. I should have known that my parents would find a way to ruin my date with Silas without even knowing about it.

“Yeah, our parents pushing us together is kind of awkward.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “But there are much worse things I could be doing with my time than sharing a meal with a beautiful woman.”

“What the fuck did you just say?” a familiar deep voice growled from behind me.

Whirling around, I found my date glaring at James. “Silas.”

His focus shifted to me, and the fury in his bright blue orbs was replaced by masculine appreciation. “Sorry I’m late.”

“You’re not.” My cheeks heated as I admitted, “I was just early.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw as he quirked a brow. “Early enough to replace me with another guy?”

“Never,” I whispered, shaking my head.

“Good.” He moved to my side and slid his arm around my back, shifting his attention back to James. “You should get lost so I can enjoy my lunch with Juniper.”

“Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to horn in on your date. No harm, no foul?” James held his hand out to Silas.

Instead of doing what I expected—avoiding touching the guy my dad wanted me to impress—Silas slid his palm against James’s. Seeing the thick leather gloves he was wearing, I assumed the risk of him giving James a shock was low…but I was wrong.

It felt as though time slowed down as energy arched from Silas’s hand and into James’s body. James shuddered, the color draining from his face. Stunned by what was happening, it took me a moment to react. Pressing against Silas’s side, I wrapped my fingers around his wrist and tugged his hand away from James.

Silas turned to me as the poor chump my dad tried to fix me up with slumped into a nearby seat. His blue eyes were filled with fear, and the tension in his large frame was palpable. I realized he was as surprised by what he’d just done as I was…and worried about how I would react.

7

Silas

What the fuck just happened?

I stared at Juniper, terrified that she was about to scream and take off running. Instead, she quickly kissed my cheek and whispered, “Are you okay?”

I didn’t have any words yet, so I just nodded.

“What’s going on here?” The snotty little hostess who’d tried to keep me from my girl—attempting to convince me that Juniper was on a date with someone else—rushed up to us.

“He passed out,” I gritted out, finally speaking. “I’m sure he’ll be fine, but I need to get my girl checked out.” Then without another word, I scooped Juniper into my arms and stalked to the entrance and out into the sunshine.

She was quiet and still until we were a few blocks down the road, then she patted my chest. “Stop for a second, Silas,” she encouraged, pointing toward the mouth of an alley. “Let’s talk.”

She didn’t sound angry, her tone was actually quite soothing, so I did as she asked. After I turned the corner, I set her on her feet but kept my arms locked around her. “I didn’t mean for that to happen,” I grunted. One second, I thought that perhaps giving him a little shock wouldn’t be so bad, and the next, I was electrocuting the punk. I felt bad, but I couldn’t bring myself to completely regret it.

“Does that happen often?”

Shaking my head, I mumbled, “It’s never happened before.” A theory was beginning to take shape, though.

“Do you think your power is getting stronger?” She looked worried, but from the gentle way she was watching me and the soft rubbing of her hand on my bicep, I knew her concern was more for me than anyone I might have shocked. And that sent warmth flooding through my chest as my heart swelled.

“I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” I answered thoughtfully. “But I think it has more to do with you.”

“Me?” she squeaked in surprise.

My hands at her lower back clutched the fabric, and I pressed her body flush against mine. I stared right into her beautiful brown eyes as I admitted, “I haven’t felt much in the last twenty years. And I’ve never experienced the kind of deep emotions that you inspire. Maybe my power was heightened by the adrenaline coursing through me. I was…” I looked away for a second, horrified that my cheeks were heating. After a second, I sucked it up and returned my gaze to her face. “I was pretty fucking jealous.”

Juniper tried to hold back her smile, but I would see how much my confession pleased her. And it made me want to pick her up and run back to my house. If she was this beautiful when she was happy, I had no doubt she would look like a fucking goddess when she climaxed.

“Let’s eat,” I growled as I dropped my arms from around her, then took her hand in mine. I laced our fingers together and led her back onto the main drag, then out to the parking lot where my Jeep was parked.

I got her settled in the car, then got in and started the engine. Rather than going somewhere nearby, I decided to take her to the little town where I grew up—the only place where I blended in amongst the other dwellers.

Juniper watched with curiosity as I turned on Main Street, passing through the town square. It was a place that many of us avoided as much as possible due to the memories of that Halloween.

I shook off those thoughts and pulled into the parking lot in front of Something Wicked. There was a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant next door called Monster Mac. Maggie’s best friend, Ella, had opened it right after the incident. She’d been a chef at a four-star restaurant in Chicago and had come home for a visit at Halloween. When she sprouted wings, pointed ears, and a tale, she resigned herself to staying in Screaming Woods.

Her restaurant was all about comfort food, and it had the best mac and cheese I’d ever tasted.

“I hope you don’t mind something a little less fancy,” I said with a grin. Juniper smiled brightly and shook her head.

“Lady M isn’t really my speed. I just wanted to try their crepe cake.”

I laughed as I removed my gloves and threw them on the dashboard before exiting the car. I had a feeling Juniper would appreciate the relaxed atmosphere, and everyone in town knew to avoid touching me without a barrier.

I opened her door and helped her alight, then held her at arm’s reach while my eyes traveled over her body. Her dress clung to her figure in all the right places, and I couldn’t wait to pop open every one of the buttons that lined the front. Her legs looked a mile long and ended in pretty flats that matched her purple dress.

After a thorough inspection, I pulled her in close and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. When we parted, I murmured, “You look gorgeous. I should have told you earlier.”

Juniper blushed prettily, making me smile. “Thank you. I don’t normally care for the clothes my mother picks out, but I actually really liked this dress.”

“Me, too,” I replied with a wink as I released her and took hold of her hand. I shut the door and guided her over to the door of Monster Mac.

Ella was standing behind the hostess stand when we walked in, and she looked up at the ring of the bell. “Hey, Silas,” she greeted me with a welcoming smile. Then her eyes shifted to Juniper, and her brows went up. When she spied our linked hands, her jaw literally dropped. But she recovered quickly and pasted a smile on her face. “Well, hello there.” She stuck her hand out toward Juniper, who hesitantly shook it. “I’m Ella. Maggie’s best friend.”

I rolled my eyes and tugged Juniper’s hand back, tucking it into mine. “How about you get us some food before you run over to gossip with my sister?”

Ella made a comically disappointed face and sighed. “Take a seat wherever. I’ll have Dennis out with bread shortly.”

She grinned and disappeared through a door marked “Staff Only” as I took Juniper to a booth in the back where it was quiet and a little secluded.

Dennis soon brought the promised bread and took our orders. When we were alone again, I cradled Juniper’s hand in one of mine and played with her fingers. “Tell me more about you,” I requested with an encouraging smile.

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

Juniper giggled. “I’m not very interesting.”

“I don’t believe that for a second.” As far as I was concerned, she was the most fascinating person in the world. “How about your favorite—”

“No freaking way!”

I sighed at the sound of my sister’s flabbergasted voice. “That took even less time than I expected.” Juniper looked confused, so I muttered, “Ella tattled to Maggie.”

“I should have heard it from you, big brother,” Maggie sniffed as she slid into the booth next to me—making me wish I’d sat on the same side as my girl. “You can really touch her?”

Ignoring her question, I introduced the girls. “Juniper, this is my nosy—but pretty awesome when she isn’t a pain in the ass—sister. Mags, this is my girl, Juniper.”

Juniper’s eyes lit up when I called her my girl, and it made me want to skip dinner and take her straight to bed. I reminded myself that I needed to be patient.

Juniper and Maggie chatted for a minute, and I was pleased to see them clicking. They talked as if they were already old friends.

Eventually, Mags turned to me with an impatient expression. “So? How come you can touch her? And just so you know, I want to keep her.”

I laughed. “Me, too.”

I explained my theory as to why, leaving out the part where I was sure it had at least a little to do with the fact that Juniper was made for me. She was so fucking perfect, and I had fallen hard for her.

“That’s seriously amazing,” Maggie responded, giving me a side hug. “I’m so happy for you, Silas. For you both.”

Our food was delivered, and Maggie reluctantly said goodbye, letting Juniper and me dine alone. Well, relatively speaking since I saw both Ella and Maggie peeking at us from time to time.

The conversation between Juniper and I flowed easily, and we spent the next hour learning more about each other. She mentioned that her college classes were all online. Which would make it easy for her to move here immediately.

She fell in love with the mac and cheese, so I asked Ella to make us another plate to go. I intended to keep Juniper locked in my cabin for at least the next few days, so it would be good to have food on hand anyway.

Finally, we cleaned our plates, and I reached for Juniper’s hand. “How about we get out of here? I’m pretty sure I have the stuff to make s’mores at my place.”

“Yes!” Her response was immediate, and she bounced a little in her seat. I would have thought her excitement was all about dessert if I hadn’t seen the simmering desire in her whiskey-colored orbs.

I stood and helped her onto her feet, then we made our way back to the car. When we were both settled in our seats, I turned to face her. “Are you ready for this, my beauty? Because if you come home with me right now, there will be no turning back. I’m going to make you mine.”

“More than ready,” she breathed as she leaned in closer. I took her mouth in a long thorough kiss, drawing away only when I was inches from losing control.

Wordlessly, I started the car and headed to my cabin—our cabin. Our future.

8

Juniper

Going back to a guy’s place after the first date wasn’t something I ever thought I would do, but that was before I met Silas. It wasn’t just that I had already become addicted to his kisses. I wanted more time with him, however it came. And having him all to myself at his cabin was the best. Especially when there was a bed involved.

He didn’t waste any time when we arrived at the cabin. As soon as he’d rounded his Jeep and opened the passenger door, he scooped me into his arms and marched inside, kicking the door shut behind us. Then he headed straight for the bedroom and tossed me onto his bed, careful to make sure I landed in the center so I didn’t bounce off. Prowling toward me, he whipped his (insert kind of shirt) over his head and dropped it on the floor. My fingers itched to explore his broad chest, but when he kneeled on the mattress next to me and I reached for him, he wrapped his fingers around my wrists and lifted my arms above my head.

I pouted. “No fair. I want to touch you, too.”

“I promise you’ll get the chance later.” His palms glided down my arms, sending goose bumps in the wake of his touch. “But my control is already hanging by a thread, and feeling your hands on me will snap the last tethers too soon.”

My heart rate picked up at the stark need in his tone. I could barely believe that this amazing man wanted me so much. Fisting the pillow beneath my head, I murmured, “Then take what you need.”

“I’m not gonna be taking, my beauty.” His fingers went to work on the buttons lining the front of my dress as he pressed his lips behind my ear. “Not until after I’ve done a whole lot of giving.”

With his lips caressing each inch of my skin bared as he worked the dress off my body, I didn’t have time to feel self-conscious about being spread out half naked on Silas’s bed. But even if I had been, I wouldn’t have worried for long because he wasn’t hiding how much he liked what he was seeing.

“So fucking perfect.” Kneeling between my legs, he cupped my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my pebbled nipples through my lacy white bra. “Did you pick this out for me? Because you were hoping we’d end up right here, and I’d see it?”

“Uh-huh,” I breathed with a nod as I arched my back off the mattress to press deeper into his touch.

“Good answer.” Bending low, he traced his tongue over the swell of my breast above the cup of the bra. “I guess I won’t rip it off then.”

I’d picked one of the nicer ones my mom had bought for me, but I was still a little disappointed when he unclasped the back and slid the straps down my shoulders. Having him rip it from my body sounded hot. It was probably for the best, though, since going home without a bra would be awkward.

My thoughts about my bra fled when he wrapped his lips around my nipple without the lacy barrier. I felt each tug of his mouth deep in my womb, and I tightened my hold on the pillow to stop myself from digging my fingers into his thick hair. I writhed beneath him until his hand slid down to my hip, holding me in place while he used his lips, tongue, and teeth to play with my tits.

I whimpered in need when he stopped, and his bright-blue eyes burned with passion as he locked gazes with me. “Don’t worry, my beauty. I’m nowhere near done.”

After kissing his way down my belly, he hooked his fingers in the sides of my panties to tug them down my legs. A deep growl rumbled up his chest when my pussy was bared to him. “Can’t fucking wait to taste you.”

My pussy spasmed at the hungry look in his gaze, and I instinctively widened my legs to give him better access when he wedged his broad shoulders between my thighs. His hand moved down my belly to cup my core, and I squirmed. “Is this pretty pussy all mine, Juniper? Am I the first man to get a taste of your sweetness?”

“Yes,” I gasped as he dipped a finger into my wetness.

He spread my lower lips with his thumbs, his breath hot against my center as he murmured, “That’s my good girl. You deserve a reward for keeping that cherry safe for me.”

He didn’t leave me wondering what my prize was as his tongue headed straight for my clit. All it took was a few hot, wet swipes around my sensitive bundle of nerves before mind-blowing pleasure crashed over my body. “Silas! Oh my gosh! I’m coming!”

“That’s it, my beauty. Come for me.” He ate me through my orgasm and quickly brought me to the edge again. Then he circled my entrance with a finger before going up on the other elbow to stare down at me. Electricity crackled at his fingertips, arching toward my clit. The spark set all of my nerves on fire, echoes pulsing through my core as I panted, “Whoa.”

“I finally found a reason to be thankful for the damn current that runs through my veins.” He sent another little shock to my clit, and my inner walls spasmed. “Because I can use it to give you more pleasure.”

Writhing beneath him, I clutched his shoulders. “I’m not sure I can handle much more. I’m already so close.”

“Then come for me again, my beauty. It’ll help you get ready to take my cock.” He worked a finger into my tight heat, twisting his wrist to stroke a spot that made me see stars. My release exploded when he bent his head to suck my clit into his mouth.

“Silas!” I screamed, convulsing around his finger as he continued to thrust it in and out of me.

“I fucking love to hear you cry my name when you fly apart,” he growled against my skin, licking his way back up my body. “But I’m going to enjoy the feel of your sweet pussy wrapped around my cock even more.”

He claimed my mouth in a deep kiss before getting to his knees. I stared as he undid the snap on his jeans and lowered the zipper, licking my lips when his dick popped out of the opening. But then he shoved his pants down his legs, and my eyes widened at how big he was. Seeing my concern, Silas stroked his hard length and murmured, “Don’t worry, my beauty. You were made to take me.”

If he’d been any other man, I would have assumed that was just a line. But since I was the only person who could handle his touch, we both knew it was true. The tension drained from my body, and I nodded. “I know I was.”

My soft admission broke what was left of his control. His heavy body pinned me to the bed, and I felt the tip of his cock nudge my opening. He dropped his forehead against mine and rocked back and forth a few times. “Need you so damn much.”

“I’m right here, Silas.”

He reached up to tug one of my hands free from the pillow and pressed my palm against his chest. “Hold on tight, my beauty.”

I twined my arms around his neck and lifted my knees to grip his hips with my legs. It was a good thing I was wrapped around him because he filled my pussy with one powerful thrust, tearing through the proof of my innocence before I had the chance to tense up in anticipation. I didn’t feel the pain at first, just a sense of being full as his balls slapped against my butt. The sting had just started to register in my brain when he reached between us and sent another zap to my clit. I was stunned as a wave of intense pleasure swept through my body, and my inner walls spasmed around his hard length. “Oh, oh! Yes, Silas! Yes!”

“Yes! Come on my cock, my beauty. You feel so fucking good.” His shallow thrusts lengthened my release while my cries echoed off the walls of his cabin. As I came down from my third orgasm, he started to move, slowly at first, testing what I could handle. He sped up little by little until he drove into me with abandon, pounding me into the mattress as the pleasure built even higher.

Clutching his shoulders, I whined, “I can’t.”

“You will,” he grunted. “Give me one more. Come with me this time.”

I couldn’t do anything but give him what he demanded. What I wanted just as much—to push him over the edge with me this time. “Yes, please, Silas.”

“That’s my beauty.” He nipped at my earlobe. “Can’t hold on much longer. Need to feel your pussy milk my cock. Now.”

My release crashed over me with so much force I couldn’t see straight, clinging to him as I shuddered. My nails dug into his shoulders when his arms tightened around me as he pumped into my channel one last time. I felt him pulsing inside me, his groans of satisfaction ringing in my ears.

After three mind-blowing orgasms, I’d lost the ability to do anything but melt into the mattress with a satisfied sigh.

9

Silas

Juniper’s sweet, contented sigh put a giant smile on my face. I loved knowing I’d satisfied my woman. As I lowered my body over hers, our combined essence made her channel slick, and my cock slipped out.

Fuck. I’d taken Juniper bare. Despite her being a virgin, I had no way of knowing if she was on birth control. Truthfully…I hoped not.

We’d have to talk about it sooner rather than later, but she’d fallen asleep beneath me, and I wanted her to rest. She was too much of a temptation for me, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from fucking her again when I probably should be letting her pussy heal.

I rolled to my back and snuggled Juniper into my side. It was still hard to believe that I’d not only found the love of my life but that she was also the one person I could touch without fear of electrocuting her. She was perfect for me in every way.

A couple of hours later, Juniper stirred in my arms, waking me up from our nap.

“What is it, baby? Are you feeling okay?”

She stretched like a cat, and it turned my dick to stone. “I’m amazing,” she whispered. Then her shoulders slumped, and I propped up onto my elbow to look down at her. “I should go home, though. My parents are probably wondering where I am.” She didn’t sound very certain of that, which made my heart crack.

“Don’t go,” I urged as I eased her onto her back and shifted my position until I was hovering over her. “Stay with me, my beauty.”

She looked uncertain, so I dipped my head and captured her lips for a deep, soul-stealing kiss. I lowered my body so that we were plastered together and rocked my hips into her center, earning a delicious moan from her.

“Stay,” I murmured against her mouth.

Her arms went around my neck, and she whimpered, arching her back to rub her nipples against my chest and locking her ankles just below my ass. “Okay,” she gasped when I bent down and sucked one of the hard peaks into my mouth.

“Okay, you’ll stay?” I clarified after I released the bud with a little pop.

“Yes, I’ll stay,” she moaned as I sucked on her opposite nipple to show her how much I liked her answer.

“I fucking love how you taste,” I groaned. Without a doubt, honeysuckle had become my favorite flavor since I met my girl. After lavishing her breasts with my attention for a while, I pulled away from her and sat back on my heels. “Let’s go, my beauty,” I said, holding out my hand.

Her brow furrowed as the fog of lust began to dissipate, but she took my offering of help and sat up. “Go? But…”

Chuckling, I kissed her swiftly, then climbed off the bed and scooped her into my arms. “We’ll finish what I started, I promise. But first, you’re going to call your parents. Then I’m going to draw you a hot bath. I have plans for your hot little pussy, so I need her to recover quickly.”

Juniper giggled and wrapped herself around me. I grabbed my cell from the dresser and padded into the bathroom. Once she was sitting on the counter, I asked for the number and dialed it before putting the phone on speaker and setting it next to her. This way, she wouldn’t have to touch the device and risk it dying before she finished her call…and I could listen to the conversation.

“Hello? Who is this?” An irritated voice picked up.

“It’s me, Mom,” Juniper said lightly as she brought her legs up and sat crisscrossed.

“Juniper? What’s going on? Why are you calling me from a strange number?” Her mother paused, then gasped. “Are you calling from James’s cell? You’re still with him?”

I glared at the phone, irritated by the idea of Juniper being with another man, and that her mom seemed to be so excited about it.

“Um…” Juniper glanced at me, seeming unsure, and I nodded encouragingly. “I just wanted to let you know I won’t be home tonight.”

I raised an eyebrow, silently asking her why she wasn’t correcting her mother’s assumption. Juniper winced, and her expression turned pleading. I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest as I leaned my hip against the counter, but I stayed silent.

“You’re spending the night with him?” her mother practically screeched.

Except…she didn’t sound worried that her daughter was spending the night with a stranger. She sounded…elated. What the fuck?

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Juniper said over her mother’s happy chattering.

I shook my head vehemently, and Juniper hesitated, then added, “Or maybe the day after.” I nodded, and she hung up.

“Want to tell me why you’re letting your mom think you’re with that punk from the restaurant?”

Juniper smiled weakly and put her hand on my arm, her eyes begging for understanding. “I just want a bit of peace, time with you that isn’t stressful from worrying about what my parents think. If it gives me uninterrupted time with you, then I don’t give a flying fig who they think I’m with.”

I moved to stand in front of her and unfolded her legs before standing between them. “I suppose there is logic in there,” I admitted. “Though I don’t like anyone thinking you’re with another man.”

“I know. But it doesn’t matter what other people think. What matters is that we’re really here, now, together.”

“Damn straight,” I grunted. I cupped her cheek with one hand and dove the other into her hair, fisting it so I could tug her head back. Then I crushed my mouth over hers, tangling our tongues, tasting, biting, teasing. Eventually, I glided my hand down from her face to cup one large, round breast. It spilled out of my hand, and the rigid tip scraped over my palm.

I did the same with the opposite hand, and when I gave her tits a gentle squeeze, she moaned into my mouth and arched her back. She was so fucking responsive that it made it impossible to resist her. Not that I tried too hard. Or at all.

My lips glided down from hers, kissing and licking until I reached a sensitive spot where I sucked hard, knowing I would leave a mark. And that turned me the fuck on. My cock was leaking like a sieve, and I was on the verge of losing it. “Put your legs around me,” I growled into her neck.

She did as she was told, and I released her tits to grab her ass and glide her forward. When the crown of my cock was at her entrance, I paused and observed her face as I asked, “Are you sore?”

Juniper dropped her head back against the mirror and tightened her legs around me, pushing the tip inside her just a little. “No,” she denied with a quick shake of her head. “I need you inside me.” She opened her eyes, and the sight of her brown eyes practically glowing with desire was more than I could take.

“Fuck,” I grunted. Sweat dripped from my temples, and my eyes closed as I held on to my control with all of my strength and slowly pushed inside her tight channel. Juniper gasped, and my gaze flew to her face, checking for signs that I was causing her pain. “Are you okay?”

“Yesss,” she hissed, sounding half desperate and half annoyed. “Stop talking and make me come.”

I grinned. “Yes, ma’am.” My hips retreated an inch or so, then I slammed home, bottoming out in one thrust. “Fuck! Juniper!” I bellowed. Her pussy was clenching me so tight it almost hurt.

“Oh, yes, Silas! Yes!”

I gripped her ass so hard that I knew there would be marks the next day, but I couldn’t stop myself. I yanked her toward me with every drive of my hips forward, causing our bodies to slap together, the erotic sound mixing with our grunts and groans of pleasure.

“Lean back,” I ordered. Juniper fell back onto her elbows, her head hanging behind her. She was breathing rapidly, and it was causing her tits to bounce enticingly. I wrapped my lips around one nipple and bit just as my cock rammed into her womb so deep the tip hit her cervix.

“Silas! Oh, yes! Yes!”

I switched to the other side and did the same thing, driving her a little wilder each time. Her inner walls clenched and rippled as her orgasm approached. I didn’t wait to push her right over the edge, and her screams of bliss sent streaks of ecstasy straight to my cock. It took all my energy to keep from following her, but I wasn’t ready.

My hips pumped shallowly to work her through her climax, then just as she began to descend, I pulled out and dropped to my knees. I brought her to the very edge of the counter and pushed her legs as wide as they could comfortably go. Then I used my thumbs to hold open her pussy lips as I dragged my tongue up her center.

Juniper shivered, and a whimper fell from her lips. “Delicious,” I grunted right before I dove in and ate her to another peak. She hadn’t even begun to fall from it before I surged to my feet and filled her with one hard buck of my hips.

“Juniper! Fuck! Oh, yeah, my beauty. Fuck, yes!” The feeling of her pussy coming around my cock milked my climax from me. I buried myself as deep as I could before I splintered apart and come exploded from my dick, stuffing her so full it oozed out between us.

When the shivers subsided and our racing hearts began to calm, I lifted her, staying inside her and urging her to wrap herself around me.

Then I stepped into the shower, careful to stay out of the spray while the water heated. When the temperature was just right, I reluctantly set her on her feet. I quickly cleaned myself then I tenderly washed her, kissing every scrubbed inch along the way. “You are so fucking beautiful,” I mumbled when I finished. Standing in front of her, I drank in the sight of her pink, soaking wet body.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Then she smiled cheekily. “You’re pretty hot too, in case you were fishing for a compliment.”

I threw back my head and laughed, the sound ringing off the tiled walls. When my mirth ebbed away, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her, slow and easy, savoring because there was no need to rush.

The pressure in my balls was rapidly growing, which was a little shocking considering how hard I’d just come. But my dick had only slightly softened, so it wasn’t long before I was long, hard, and thick, pulsing with need again.

Reaching blindly behind me, I waved my hand around until I found the handle and shut off the water, then I picked up my woman and marched out to the bed, where I fell onto my back, with my feet still firmly planted on the floor.

Juniper was lying on me, so I tore my mouth away and gave her a gentle push on her shoulders to guide her up to straddle me. Without warning, I grasped her hips, raised her higher, and slammed her down, impaling her on my dick. “Shit! Oh fuck!” I rasped as black spots danced in front of my eyes.

“Silas,” Juniper moaned as she rotated her hips experimentally. “Ooooh.”

I palmed her tits, toying with her nipples until she was writhing above me. Then I took hold of her curvy hips. “Ride me, my beauty,” I ordered. Slowly at first, I showed her how to work herself up and down on my shaft. Then as she got the hang of it, I sped up my thrusts until I was pounding up inside her at a frantic pace and using my grasp on her hips to slam her down just as I pushed up.

“Fuck! Oh yeah, Juniper. Fuck, baby, that’s it. You’re so fucking gorgeous riding my cock. Fuck! Fuck!”

It didn’t take long before we were both tossed into an abyss that consisted of nothing but pleasure. Juniper screamed my name just as I bellowed out hers. I came harder than ever before, and it drained us both so that when we finally floated back down to reality, we were so fucking exhausted we couldn’t do anything but fall asleep wrapped up in each other’s arms.

10

Although I didn’t feel great about deceiving my parents last night, I didn’t regret letting them assume I was with James when it gave me this uninterrupted time with Silas. Waking up with his hot body—literally and figuratively since he’d generated more heat than an electric blanket while we slept—wrapped around mine was an incredible way to start the day. And it got even better when Silas gripped my hips to pull my back flush against his chest and nuzzled his face in my neck.

“Morning, my beauty,” he rumbled. “Did you sleep well?”

I turned in his embrace to grin up at him. “Except for the couple of times you woke me up to give me more orgasms, I slept like a rock because you wore me out.”

“Damn straight, I did.”

He pressed a kiss over the pulse point on my neck, making me shudder. I narrowed my eyes at his knowing chuckle but then whimpered in protest when he pulled away to crawl off the bed. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to make breakfast.” He tugged on a pair of sleep pants before patting his six-pack abs. “I figure if I’m starved, you have to at least be hungry.”

As though it understood that he was talking about food, my stomach rumbled. I giggled with a sigh. “Sounds like I am.”

“Then I guess I’d better feed you.”

He had kissed every inch of my body last night, but I waited until he padded out of the bedroom before I slid out from beneath the sheet and crawled off the mattress. The dress I wore to our lunch date was a crumpled mess on the floor, so I borrowed Silas’s shirt. As I rolled up the sleeves after doing up a few of the buttons on the front, I tilted my head to the side to inhale his masculine scent.

Wearing his shirt felt as though I still had him wrapped around me. While I used the bathroom and freshened up, I wondered what the chances were that he wouldn’t notice if I tied it around my waist when he took me back to town. Not that I was in any rush to see my parents after what they’d pulled, having that James guy show up at the restaurant like that.

I was used to them thinking they had more of a say than I did in my life decisions, but surprising me with a blind date without any warning was bad, even for them. My dad probably hadn’t even stopped to consider that I’d be freaked out to find some stranger lying in wait for me at the restaurant. It just drove home how little my feelings mattered to them. And made me more determined to break free. Sooner rather than later.

Mulling over the odds of finding a job nearby that didn’t require a college degree, I headed out to where Silas was cooking. When he glanced up with a smile, I almost word vomited everything I was thinking, but I bit my thoughts back at the last second. Although I was apparently the kind of girl who immediately wanted to change her whole life for the guy who took her virginity, I didn’t want to scare Silas off by telling him I was ready to move into his cabin after one night together.

Instead, I pasted a smile on my face and asked, “What are you making?”

“Since you missed out on the cake at Lady M, I thought we’d have crepes.” He expertly flipped over the thin pancake and jerked his chin toward a couple of lemons on the counter. “I don’t have any cream to fill them with, but I can do them the traditional way with freshly squeezed lemon and sugar.”

“Wow,” I breathed. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any better, you go and do something so thoughtful.”

He removed the crepe and plopped it onto the stack already on a plate. “There were only so many things I could make with what I have on hand, and I didn’t want to serve you cereal and milk our first morning together.”

Warmth spread through my chest over how he was downplaying his gesture. Since he tended to keep to himself with the exception of his sister, he probably wasn’t used to compliments. Even if we only ended up having until the end of my trip together, I vowed to thank him whenever he did something that deserved to be acknowledged. Based on our short time together, I would probably be giving him a heck of a lot of praise because he was the most considerate person I’d ever met.

“Crepes sound wonderful, but I also would’ve been good with cereal, as long as it’s something sugary. None of that wheat bran stuff for me.” I gave an exaggerated shudder. “That’s all my mom ever buys, and I avoid it like the plague now.”

“We’re a perfect match when it comes to that, too.” He reached up to open the cabinet to his left, where several boxes of my favorite cereals were stored.

“Nice.” I moved closer to peer at the plate of crepes. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yup.” He set down the spatula and turned to me with a nod.

“With what?”

He fisted the hair at the back of my neck to tilt my head back. “Give me something that I’m hungry for more than breakfast. A kiss.”

He crashed his mouth against mine, his tongue demanding entrance. I gripped his biceps as I lost myself in his kiss, my breath coming out in pants when he finally lifted his head. I was giving serious thought to suggesting we forget about those delicious-smelling crepes when he nudged me toward the small table and rumbled, “Sit down, my beauty. I already have everything ready, including a hot chocolate for you.”

My eyes widened when I spotted the steaming mug in front of one of the two chairs. “I thought you said you didn’t have the stuff to make it?”

“That was last night.” He finished squeezing lemon and sprinkling sugar onto the crepes and brought our plates over. “I ran out to the store this morning and got some.”

“Thank you.” Before sitting, I brushed my lips against his jaw, enjoying the bristly feel of his short beard. “You better be careful, though, or you’re going to spoil me.”

“Good.” He winked at me as he got settled in the chair across from me, stretching his legs out so they bracketed mine. “That’s what I’m aiming for.”

After we devoured breakfast—he’d been right about us working up an appetite—we cleaned the dishes together. It felt so meaningful to be standing at the sink side by side doing such a mundane task. When we were done, I rubbed my hands up and down my arms with a little shiver.

“Are you cold?” His gaze darted toward the fireplace with a grimace. “I should have chopped more wood before I went to the store this morning. Although I enjoy a good fire, I don’t need it for warmth as much since I run so hot with all the electricity coursing through my veins.”

“I can just steal a pair of your socks or something.” I wiggled my bare toes. “As long as my feet are warm, the rest of me will be too.”

“I’ll grab you a pair, but I can do a fuck of a lot better than that,” he growled.

He brought me a pair of sweatpants along with the socks. While I tugged them on and rolled down the waist so they fit a little better, he shoved his feet into a pair of boots and strode outside. The flats I’d worn with my dress weren’t great for stomping around in the wilderness—or wearing with his thick socks—but they were all that I had, and I didn’t want to miss the chance to watch him work up a sweat while wielding an axe.

Seeing the muscles in his back and biceps bunching as he swung the tool up before slicing it through a log was more than worth looking ridiculous as I joined him outside. Covering his broad chest would be a shame when I enjoyed the view so much, but I had to ask, “Is it safe to chop wood without a shirt?”

“I’ve done it plenty of times without getting hurt.” He flashed me a sheepish grin. “I tend to wear as little clothing as possible when I’m home since I have to cover as much of my skin as possible when I’m around people.”

I couldn’t imagine what the past two decades had been like for him, but I was so grateful that he didn’t have to worry about being careful around me. “I’m definitely not going to complain when I’m the one who benefits from you walking around like that.”

His bright blue eyes burned with desire as he flashed me a smirk. Then he chopped a couple more logs and stacked the wood in his arms to carry it inside. I held the door open for him and followed him into the cabin, getting comfy on the couch while he tossed a few logs into the fireplace. When he cast me a worried look after using a spark of electricity to start a fire, I beamed a reassuring smile his way and patted the cushion next to me. “Don’t worry. I’m impressed, not scared.”

“You getting lost in the woods and stumbling upon my cabin is the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me.” He flung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

11

Silas

“I don’t like this,” I growled as I parked my Jeep in a spot in front of the resort entrance. I hated that we were here rather than staying in our little bubble at the cabin.

Juniper sighed and patted the hand I was resting on her thigh. “I’ll have to deal with this sooner or later, so I might as well get it over with now.”

I knew she was right. It had been two days since I brought Juniper home. The chances of her parents still believing their assumption that she was with that little shit, James, was steadily dropping.

But the time we’d spent together had been like something in a dream. In my wildest fantasies, I couldn’t have thought up anyone more perfect for me than my beauty. Not only was she amazing in bed but she was also funny, smart as a whip, and had a big heart.

Juniper had cemented her place in my life even more when my sister dropped by. As much as I’d hated the interruption, it had been worth it to see Juniper’s delight. And it was the first time I’d seen Maggie relax around anyone but me in two decades. She’d been taken aback when Juniper outright asked about her skin and magic in a way that showed my girl was truly interested as a friend trying to get to know another and not as someone trying to pry into the life and mind of a freak.

When Juniper asked Maggie to show her a few spells, I finally called a halt to their shenanigans. I wanted to be alone with my girl.

Juniper complained for about five seconds until she saw the hungry, desperate look in my eyes. Then she turned an adorable shade of crimson and escorted my sister to the door. Juniper gave her a jaunty wave right before she slammed it shut and climbed me like a tree.

“I won’t be long,” Juniper piped up, pulling me from my daydreams about her sexy body and all the things I’d done—and still wanted to do—to her.

“I’m coming with you,” I told Juniper firmly. I didn’t know her parents and therefore had no clue how they would react to this situation. From the things she had said, they were extremely controlling—as evidenced by the stunt they pulled with that asshole. She hadn’t indicated that they would hurt her, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

Juniper looked as though she might argue but obviously realized from my expression that I wasn’t going to budge. “Okay. Just promise to let me handle it.”

I snorted and grabbed her hand to place a kiss on the back. “I will promise you no such thing. I will always protect you, no matter what.”

Juniper’s face turned soft, and she leaned across the car to brush a soft kiss over my lips. “Let’s go.”

Our main purpose in returning was to get some of her things because she would spend the rest of the trip at the cabin. But we also needed to convince her parents to let her go. She was too old for them to tell her what to do, but I wouldn't put it past them to do something outrageous in order to keep their control over her. Like calling the police and telling them I’d kidnapped Juniper. Not that it would do them much good. The cops in these towns were pussies and too afraid to venture into Screaming Woods. But it would be annoying as fuck to deal with it when I left my little town.

I grabbed my gloves from the dash and pulled them on, then got out of the car and went around to open Juniper’s door. Usually, I would lace our fingers together, but with the gloves on, it wasn’t possible. Instead, I slipped my arm around her waist and cursed the layers of fabric between us. I couldn’t wait to get back home and hold my girl with our naked skin pressed together.

Juniper led the way to one of the villas just beyond the pool, with the expansive golf course behind it. She swiped her key card, and the click of the lock disengaging sounded ominous in my ears. Like a warning shit was about to go down.

The moment we stepped inside, a woman screeched so loud it hurt my ears.

“Juniper! Where have you been?” the woman I assumed was her mother demanded while pacing in the open living space. An older, portly man stood off to the left, glaring at my girl in a way that had me on edge.

Well, at least they cared enough to—

“You disappeared and ruined things with James!”

Scratch that.

“And you lied to us about spending the night with him.” Her mother suddenly noticed me hovering behind her daughter. “Is this who you were with?” She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “Please tell me you didn’t throw away your chance at a relationship with James and put your father’s deal in jeopardy so you could have a fling with…with…”

She opened her eyes and looked at me with disgust, then threw out her hand in my direction as she finished. “With this lumberjack?”

I muffled a snort of laughter. She said that like it was an insult, but the last time Juniper had watched me chop wood, she’d called me a sexy lumberjack right before she dropped to her knees and took me in her mouth.

Juniper was clearly remembering the same thing because her cheeks turned bright red and she shifted restlessly. “Um, first of all. I never even agreed to a date with James, much less a relationship. And did it ever occur to you that foisting a stranger on me might be a little freaking terrifying?”

“You knew who he was, Juniper,” her father said, finally joining the conversation. “You hadn’t met him yet, but once he introduced himself, you had no reason not to keep your date with him.”

Juniper clenched her fist at her side and gritted out, “I didn’t have a date with him. You two conspired and sent the poor man to a lunch he wasn’t invited to, with a girl who didn’t know he was coming, with no regard to how either of us would feel about it.”

Her mother sniffed haughtily. “James was more than happy to go along with the plan.”

“Good for him,” Juniper snapped. “Now, I just came back to get a few things because I’m going to spend the rest of my vacation with Silas.”

“Absolutely not,” her father boomed. He pointed at Juniper and growled, “You will call James to apologize and pray he forgives you. He’s an excellent catch, Juniper, and I’d hate to see you waste an opportunity to have the life you deserve.”

“The life I deserve?” Juniper echoed, her brows drawing together.

“Yes, dear,” her mother answered, adopting a caring tone that was complete bullshit. “James will keep you in the lifestyle you are accustomed to. You two could be just like your father and me.” I was shocked she’d been able to say that with a straight face. From what Juniper had told me, their marriage was shallow and distant. Her father—and for all she knew, her mother—had been unfaithful multiple times. Honestly, it was a miracle that Juniper wasn’t jaded.

Juniper laughed without humor. “That is the last thing I want.”

“What is that supposed to mean, young lady?” her dad grunted, his expression livid.

“Are you two truly this oblivious, or are you just really good at ignoring reality?” I asked, finally stepping in to make sure they understood that I was there for my girl and they’d better tread carefully.

“Excuse me?” her mother gasped.

Before it went any further, Juniper sighed. “Let me be clear. I am not, nor will I ever be, interested in James.”

“Even if it means ruining your father’s business?”

“Dad never stops working, so I’m sure he’ll be just fine without this one deal. And why would you want to do business with someone who would basically sell their kid to seal the deal?”

“Irony,” I muttered.

Juniper’s mother glared at me as she gasped again. She should have been on Broadway with her level of overacting. “How dare you! We would never sell Juniper! We simply want her to know her place. We’d like her to respect everything we do for her and return the favor so that her actions don’t reflect poorly on us.”

“And what about what makes Juniper happy?” I queried.

“She’s very happy,” her dad stated. “And she doesn’t need the likes of you taking that away from her. Now, you need to leave. And Juniper, I expect you to call James as soon as—”

“I’m not calling James,” Juniper snapped, her tone brooking no argument and making me as hard as a rock.

“And I’m not going anywhere without Juniper,” I snarled. My temper had risen to a boiling point, and it wouldn’t take much to tip me over. The only thing holding me back at that point was knowing it would likely upset my girl.

The room filled with silence, a wordless standoff with no one willing to back down. They were sadly mistaken if they thought they had the upper hand. In their convoluted reality, they actually thought I gave a shit what they thought about me.

“I’m going to go pack a bag,” Juniper announced, breaking the tension.

“You will stay right here and do as you're told, Juniper Finch!” her mother screeched, her tone shrill again. “You’re being a selfish, spoiled—”

“Enough!” I roared, pissed the fuck off that they would talk to her like that. Electricity sparked from my hands, despite the thick leather gloves I was wearing. Juniper immediately turned to me and placed her hands on my biceps.

“It’s okay,” she soothed softly. “They aren’t worth getting upset over. Or showing them things they will never understand and don’t have a right to know.”

She was right, so I took a deep, calming breath and focused solely on my girl. “Go get your things.” I grabbed her chin so I could fall into the depths of her rich, whiskey-brown pools. “Get all of your stuff.”

12

Juniper

I ignored my parents’ squawking and focused on Silas’s demand. “What do you mean, get all my stuff?”

Silas glared at my mom when she echoed my question, and I wanted to giggle at how she snapped her lips shut. But I held back my laugh since it would probably come out sounding hysterical because I was stressed out from the confrontation with my parents. Plus, it would only make them angrier since they wouldn’t find anything about this situation even the tiniest bit funny.

“Grab all of your things and come back to my cabin,” Silas explained, releasing his grip on my chin.

“My daughter has spent more than enough time with you already,” my mom huffed. “She’s wasted practically our entire trip by disappearing with you, leaving us to wonder where she was.”

Thinking about how they’d gone to bed the night I met Silas even though I’d never returned from my walk, I rolled my eyes. “But did you really?”

Her brows drew together. “Did we really what?”

“Wonder where I was. When you thought I was spending the night with James, you didn’t even ask any questions.”

My voice cracked at the end, and Silas slid his arm around my back to pull me against his side. “Juniper is right. It didn’t seem like you were worried about her when we got here. She showed up with a guy you’ve never seen before, and you didn’t even ask her if she was okay.”

“Of course, we did,” my mom denied.

I sighed and shook my head. “No, you didn’t. You were too busy yelling because I wasn’t with the guy you were pushing me at. You made it clear that’s what bothered you about me being gone. That I blew things with James after you went to the trouble to set up this trip to clinch things with his dad and going so far as to use me to do it.”

“Now, Juniper. Don’t be melodramatic,” my dad chided, his lips pursing together.

“Just because you don’t like what I’m saying doesn’t mean I’m being melodramatic,” I argued. “All I did was tell the truth, as sucky as it is.”

“Prove your daughter wrong,” Silas challenged. “Show her that you care about her feelings more than a business deal.”

My dad looked him up and down, his nostrils flaring. “Who are you to demand anything of me? You’re a nobody. I don’t have to prove anything to you.”

“Don’t talk to him like that!” I yelled.

“It’s okay, my beauty.” Silas stroked his hand up and down my spine. “I don’t give a shit what your dad thinks about me. The only thing that matters to me is how he treats you.”

“I treat my daughter just fine.” My dad puffed out his chest. “I’ve always made sure that Juniper had everything a girl could ask for.”

I looked around the gorgeous villa they’d rented for our trip. The rooms were filled with expensive furnishings, but I was so much more comfortable in Silas’s cabin. Sweeping my arm in the air, I sniffled. “I would rather have had parents who listened to me and showed how much they loved me than all the stuff you like to buy when you’re feeling guilty about being a bad husband or dad.”

“How dare you say that to your father?” my mom hissed. “After everything he’s done for you.”

“Maybe if you’d ever have cared enough to call him on the stuff he pulls, I wouldn’t have to be the one to say it,” I retorted.

“That’s enough!” my dad bellowed, his cheeks growing ruddy. “I will not have you embarrass me any longer. Go to your room. Now.”

“You don’t need to listen to them. Move in with me. I’ll take better care of you than they ever could,” Silas vowed.

My gaze darted toward my dad, who was impatiently tapping his toe against the floor. He didn’t seem overly concerned that I was taking Silas’s offer seriously. Probably because I’d always bowed to their wishes without much thought…until now. Giving in to what my parents wanted meant walking away from the man I’d quickly fallen head over heels in love with. Forever.

I didn’t want to do that, but I wasn’t sure exactly what Silas was suggesting. My heart raced at the possibility of spending the rest of my life with this amazing man, but if I left with him now, my parents would probably never forgive me. Which meant there would be no going back from this decision. “We just met a few days ago. Are you sure you’re ready for me to move into your cabin in the woods?”

“You clearly don’t know my daughter that well if you think she’s going to leave the comfortable life I provide her to run off to the wilderness with you,” my father scoffed.

“No, Dad. You’re the one who doesn’t know me.” This time, I was the one glaring at one of my parents. “And you’re proving yet again that you don’t listen to me because I literally just said that I don’t care about the stuff you can buy me. Material things aren’t what really matter.”

“That’s easy to say when you’ve never had to want for anything,” he retorted.

“I might not be able to provide Juniper with everything you can, but I can give her what’s truly important.” He gripped my chin again and turned my head so we were looking at each other. “I meant it when I said we were made for each other, my beauty.”

Although I agreed, I hadn’t taken his words seriously when they’d been spoken in the heat of passion. But the sincerity shining in his bright blue eyes and dripping from his tone made my heart beat faster. They gave me the courage to bring up that four-letter word I’d been holding back since I first realized how deep my feelings for Silas were. “I think so, too. But there’s only one reason that’s good enough to convince me to move in with you.”

“And what’s that?” he asked,

“Love.”

His lips curved into the sweetest smile, and there was no missing the depth of feeling in his bright-blue orbs as he said, “Then you better get your ass to your room to pack your stuff because I love you.”

My mom gasped, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of the language Silas used or the fact that he’d just professed his love for me. Either way, what she thought no longer mattered. Having Silas’s love set me free.

“That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

“I could use the words, too.” His smile widened, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his gaze. “Assuming you feel the same.”

“Oh, sorry.” I shook my head, clearing the daze of having my dreams come true. Cupping his cheek, I whispered, “I absolutely, positively love you, too.”

“Then let's go grab whatever you want from upstairs so we can get out of here.”

“Okay.” Interlacing our fingers, I led him up to the bedroom I was using. Grabbing my suitcase from the closet, I jerked my chin toward the dresser. “Could you toss everything in here while I get my stuff from the bathroom?”

“Of course,” he muttered, yanking open the top drawer. “Whatever it takes to get us out the door faster, count me in.”

It didn’t take us long to pack everything up. My parents were waiting for us when we came back downstairs, my dad standing in front of the door. We couldn’t get past him to leave unless he moved.

“I’m leaving with Silas, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“If you go with him now, you won’t be welcome back in my home,” my dad warned.

I hadn’t been joking when I said I wasn’t into material things like my parents were. I didn’t need much to make me happy, and I had packed most of my favorite things for our trip. If I didn’t get the stuff I’d left at home, I’d quickly get over their loss. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but your threats aren’t going to change my mind.”

“Let her go,” my mom drawled with a careless shrug. “She’ll come crawling back eventually.”

I felt the electricity gathering in Silas’s body again, and I didn’t want him to do anything he’d regret later. If being pissed at my parents triggered the same reaction that being jealous of James had, then one or both of them would be in for quite the shock…literally.

Just like before, I stroked my hand down his arm as I murmured, “Remember. They’re not worth it.”

Dismissing my father that way was apparently the last straw for him because he didn’t bother to look back at me as he strode into the living room. I was oddly okay with having them disown me, so I beamed a reassuring smile at Silas as I nudged him toward the door. “C’mon, let’s go.”

Silas was quiet as we loaded my things into the Jeep, waiting until we were inside the vehicle to turn to me and say, “I’m so sorry, my beauty. I hate that you have to make such a big sacrifice to be with me, but I swear I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you never regret your decision today.”

I didn’t think there would ever be a day I’d second-guess my decision. Leaning over, I gave him a quick kiss. “Just keep loving me. That’s all I need.”

Epilogue

Silas

I squeezed Juniper’s hand gently as we watched Sunny, the nurse, carry our newborn daughter over to the machine to weigh her. My wife beamed up at me, and I pasted a smile on my face to hide what I was really feeling.

I was so fucking terrified.

When we found out Juniper was pregnant a few months after we moved in together, I’d whisked her to the courthouse to give her and the baby my last name. But when it came to the wedding night, I didn’t know what to do. What if I couldn’t touch our child? Would touching Juniper hurt the baby? It wasn’t as though there was a case study about another electric man who got married and knocked up his wife.

I wasn’t willing to risk it, so I told Juniper we would celebrate after the baby was born. She was convinced I was worried over nothing, but I was firm in my decision. I should have known better. When Juniper decided on something, her resolve was nearly unbreakable. Probably due to spending so many years with her choices being overlooked or discarded. The best way to convince her to change her mind was through multiple orgasms, but that obviously wasn’t an option.

I went to bed that night in long pajama pants, a long-sleeved top, socks, and gloves.

When I woke up, it was to the ecstasy of a warm, wet mouth wrapped around my cock. I groaned and raised my head to look down at the erotic sight of my wife swallowing my shaft. Her brown eyes were bright as she stared back at me and let my dick pop out of her mouth.

“See? I told you so.”

I grinned and placed my hand on the back of her head, gently pushing her lips toward the tip of my fat cock. “I think I need a little more proof…”

The memory of how she’d sucked me off before I ate her pussy to several orgasms, then fucked her until she was screaming my name, made my pants tight. Luckily, I was torn from those memories when Sunny let out a frustrated groan.

“Just like your mommy, aren’t you, little one?” she cooed as she returned to us and placed Clover in Juniper’s arms.

“What happened?” Juniper asked curiously as she settled against the upright bed.

“The scale died,” Sunny sighed, giving Juniper a pointed look. “But I recorded her weight before it shut off, so we’re good for now.”

Juniper shrugged lightly, so as not to disturb Clover. “Sorry. Maybe my ability to repel technology is genetic.”

Hope sparked inside me. If Juniper’s theory was correct, then Clover might have the same immunity to my power.

“I’ll just leave you three alone for a little family bonding time,” Sunny informed us with a smile before strolling out of the recovery room.

“You should hold her,” Juniper said softly.

I swallowed hard, then nodded, holding out my arms.

She shook her head and held on to our little bundle of joy. “Take them off, honey. The first time you hold our daughter will not be with all your protective gear. I promise, it will be okay.”

Juniper had my trust completely, but this was a tough request. If I hurt either of my girls in any way…I’d make sure the next electric shock I endured kept me from hurting anyone ever again.

Slowly, I pulled off my leather gloves and set them on a nearby chair. But Juniper wasn’t satisfied with that, and she pointed at my chest. “Shirt too. Babies should have skin-to-skin contact with their parents. It’s a bonding thing.”

“Juniper…” I warned, not ready to go that far.

“Silas…” she threw back in a mocking tone.

I huffed and ripped my long-sleeved T-shirt over my head, dropping it on top of my gloves. With my heart frozen with fear and my body shaking from anxiety, I reached out my arms.

“Relax, Daddy,” Juniper crooned. “You’re going to be the most amazing father.” She tenderly transferred Clover into my arms, and I held her all bundled up in her blanket, cuddling her against my chest.

“She’s so fucking perfect,” I breathed in awe.

“Language, Silas,” Juniper hissed, but she was giggling, so it didn’t have the desired effect. “And stop being such a scaredy-cat. You won’t hurt her. You can’t. Even if I didn’t think she inherited my immunity to your electricity, I still believe you wouldn’t hurt her because you simply wouldn’t let yourself.”

I frowned in doubt, but I trusted her gut. Honestly, mine was saying the same thing. So I carefully unwrapped Clover’s tiny body and held her skin to skin against my chest.

A weight lifted from my shoulders, one so heavy I was pretty sure I grew a couple of inches.

I was holding her. My sweet baby girl.

I sat down on the bed beside Juniper and put my other arm around her, snuggling both my girls.

How did I ever get so lucky?

This was my family. Not only were they amazing but I could show them love through touch as well as words.

“Do you think all of our kids will be this way?” I wondered aloud.

“Yes.”

I glanced at her, surprised by the force behind her swift answer. “What makes you so sure?”

“Because you’re perfect, too. Even though you think you’re a monster, to me and Clover, you're amazing. And you deserve a happy ending just as much as the rest of us. You gave me my fairy tale, Silas. But you forget that my happily ever after includes you.”

I was stunned by her attitude. And humbled. “I love you more than anything, you know that, right?”

Juniper snuggled into my side and sighed. “Yup.”

I laughed and bent my head to place a kiss on my daughter’s cheek, then one on my wife’s lips.

“I love you, too,” she murmured sweetly before she drifted off to sleep with a tender smile on her beautiful face.

Epilogue

Juniper

Silas was the best man I’d ever known, and he only got better the longer we were together. I loved how much he had blossomed under my love, no longer seeing himself as the monster who would have killed someone if it hadn’t been for his sister’s magic. He still had to be careful around others so there weren’t any accidents with the electrical charge that would forever be a part of him, but being able to touch me had lessened the burden for him. Then our beautiful daughter was born, and it was as though he didn’t have a single trouble in the world.

He doted on Clover, showing her each day that she had his unconditional love. My baby girl would never have the same doubts that I’d suffered from with my parents—who’d gone through with their threat of cutting me out of their life. It turned out to be their loss because they missed out on the amazingness that was their granddaughter.

“Daddy! You gotsta see what Mommy and me founded at da store,” she cried after I unbuckled her from her car seat and helped her out of the SUV.

Silas was doing one of my favorite things, chopping wood without a shirt. His bare muscles gleamed with sweat as he buried the blade in the stump he used to prop up the logs he was cutting. Then he crouched low to catch Clover as she threw herself at him.

“What did you find, sunshine?” He settled her on his waist and strode toward the back of the vehicle, where I had stored our shopping bags. I didn’t even bother trying to take them out because I knew better. If he was around—which was basically anytime except when he was working—then he did all the grunt work, as he liked to call it.

“Our Hawoween costumes!” she shrieked, bouncing in his arms.

After what had happened to him so many years ago, Silas hadn’t been a fan of Halloween. He became a little fonder of the holiday since we’d met so close to it, but his outlook completely changed last week when Clover declared it was her absolute favorite day of the year. My gorgeous husband was determined to go all-out to celebrate the holiday with our daughter, including all three of us dressing up in themed costumes.

“You did?” I pressed my lips together at the worried glance he shot me before focusing on Clover again.

She jerked her head up and down in an excited nod. “Uh-huh.”

He peered in the back of the SUV and murmured, “I can’t wait to see what you and Mommy picked out.”

I beamed a grin at him and bumped my hip against his. “Good, because I promised her that we could try them on when we got home.”

“Then I guess we’d better get these bags inside, huh?” He chuckled and shook his head as he reached into the SUV with his free hand to grab our shopping bags.

“Yippee,” Clover cried, clapping her hands. As soon as we were through the door, she squirmed in his hold. “Gotta go potty.”

He set her down, and she scampered toward the bathroom in the addition we’d built about a year after she was born. We’d definitely needed the extra space once she started toddling around, but neither of us had wanted to leave the home we loved so much. Making the cabin bigger had been the perfect solution. Clover loved her bedroom and playroom…and since she was on the opposite side of us, we didn’t need to worry as much about waking her up when we had sex.

Speaking of…Silas dropped the shopping bags on the kitchen table and yanked me against his chest for a passionate kiss that left me wishing our four-year-old still took naps. By the time he lifted his head again, Clover was racing toward us and chanting, “Kiss, kiss, kiss.”

Our daughter was used to seeing her parents show our love for each other and usually wanted a hug or kiss whenever we gave each other one. Silas lifted her small body between us, and we smacked our lips against her cheeks.

“There you go, sunshine.”

As soon as her feet hit the floor, she went up on tiptoes to reach for the bag with our costumes. “Ready to show Daddy our super-awesome costume idea?”

“Yes!” she shrieked.

“And are you ready to see what you’re going to wear to trick or treat in Screaming Woods, Daddy?” I asked with a grin.

Although he had no idea what was in store for him, he didn’t hesitate to say, “Yup.”

I pulled all three costumes out of the bag at the same time and spread them out on the table. His eyes widened as he looked down at them. Tapping each package in order, I declared, “You’re the socket, I’m the plug, and Clover is the light bulb.”

Clover pointed at her chest. “'Cause I’m your sunshine.”

“You definitely light up our world,” he agreed.

She nodded. “Like sunshine.”

He grinned down at her as he brushed a lock of her pale blond hair away from her forehead. “Exactly.”

His easy acceptance of a family costume that was a play on the electricity coursing through his veins proved that his days of defining himself by it were long gone. Now he was just Silas Adler, beloved husband and father.

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Monster Between the Sheets

Twelve of your favorite authors are heading to Screaming Woods, where the monsters mash with their human soulmates. These monsters are tired of hiding in the shadows and ready to fall in love. Go into the woods and meet your new book boyfriend, he might have scales, claws, or fangs, but he’s 100% irresistible.

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About the Author

The writing duo of Elle Christensen and Rochelle Paige team up under the Fiona Davenport pen name to bring you sexy, insta-love stories filled with alpha males. If you want a quick & dirty read with a guaranteed happily ever after, then give Fiona Davenport a try!

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