Wickedly Yours (Witches of Pleasant Grove, #2)

by Jennifer Chipman

Her loyalty is just as important as her place by your side.”

I’d waited centuries for her, and even in the darkest of days, I’d known that the knowledge of her was too tempting a fantasy to fall into. To let myself bathe in her light was more than I could ever hope for.

“Someone who will be by my side, no matter what life throws our way. Someone who will dance with me in the kitchen at 3 am when I can’t sleep.

“Your hair,” he murmured, reaching out to tug at a strand. “It’s like moonlight.”

“Will I see you again?” I couldn’t help the hopeful tone of my voice. He chuckled. “Would you like that, moonbeam?” Moonbeam. The nickname lit me up inside, filling me with a strange warmth. “Yes.”

She was light. Pure, unfettered light. How could I tarnish that with my darkness?

“I think I’m going to be addicted to this after one night.” His eyes closed as he kept up the motions, circling around the nub, driving me wild.

“I believe fate guides us to where we’re supposed to be. But the rest is up to us. A soulmate may be predestined to fall in love with you, but without trust and care, there’s no chance of a lasting relationship.”

“Good girl,” I praised, and I didn’t miss the way her eyes sparked, her whole body seeming to light up at the praise. “Mmm, you like that, huh? Being my good girl?” She nodded, a little mewl slipping from her lips. “Yes, please.”

How would she feel when she found out I’d been here to snatch her away? To spirit her to my realm like Hades stole Persephone? But had he stolen her, or had she gone willingly? It all depended on who was telling the tale.

I wondered if a place that housed such wickedness also knew love.

“You’re not a distraction,” I promised. You’re my salvation.

kind of liked that we were each other’s mirrors. His black and gold to my white and silver. His darkness to my light.

“It doesn’t have to make sense to feel right,”

“Because you’re my light in the dark. You shine so bright, Luna. I never thought… No, could have never even imagined you. How you would illuminate my entire world.”

Wicked fingers. Wicked tongue. He was wicked, and I liked it. Loved it, even.

“Goddess,” I cried out as he devoured me like a man starved. “Yes, you are,” he agreed. “Now, let me worship you.”

“It would be easier if there was any one thing I could point to. But he makes me feel safe. Loved. Treasured. He gave me back a part of myself I hadn’t even known was missing. Part of me had been scared, though. That I’d let myself love him, and he’d leave. That it had been too good to be true. But…” “But he stayed.” “He did. And we chose each other. Soulmates or not, I’d never found someone who felt like home before. Who saw every piece of me and loved all of it. Someone who’d do anything for me.”

That was all I could hope for. A joyful life. Love. And maybe that was the dangerous thing about dreams. They always left you wanting more.

Because finding your mate wasn’t guaranteed in our world. And finding them was a bit like learning there was another half of your heart living outside of your body. No matter what happened, you had to keep them safe.

Gods, he was handsome. And he smelled like my personal brand of temptation like someone had mixed everything deliciously musky and spicy and bottled it up. Plus, in that get-up? I was a goner.

“Sometimes people leave wounds, and even if the scars aren’t visible, it doesn’t mean they’re not there,”

Did I have a praise kink, or did I just like it when he praised me?

“I love you. Fates, but I do. You taught me what it was like to love someone and what it was like to be loved in return. No one’s ever cared about me, not like you do. I’ve spent the last three hundred years wondering what it might be like when I finally found you, but my dreams pale in comparison to the reality of you. You’re my moon, Luna. Even when you’re not around, I can feel my pull to you. You’re the brightest thing in my night sky. The thing I always look for to know I’m home. And if I had to do it all again—struggle through every hardship—I would, knowing you were waiting for me at the end.”