Bewitched Werewolf

Episode Five

I didn’t want to turn around. See him that close to me, lips close enough to touch, body close enough to press up against. I felt his head descending towards my neck, heard him sucking in a deep breath.

Do you want all your clients this much? Is this why you get a big retainer?

My laugh was brittle. No. But it happens sometimes. Not often, thankfully.

I actually didn’t know anyone that it had happened to. It was one of those rumors that wiccans tell each other, the orgasmic aura like ghost stories, a get rich spell, or having multiple orgasms. It wasn’t supposed to be true!

I was here to find this guy a mate, not sleep with him.

Did you do it on purpose? Get me all hot and bothered, then send me into a room full of my own kind and hope I have s*x with someone in a darkened corner while every professional contact I have is there? This isn’t just fundraising but networking and talking to clients. It’s not a joke. Whatever you are going to do is something I need to know about and approve. I’m not going to be led around by my c**k, do you understand?

I turned around and had to look up at him. He was too close so I pushed his chest, moving him back from me a little. I didn’t do it on purpose! I am actually a professional. It was an accident, and it won’t happen again, alright?

“If it does, you’re fired.”

If it does, I will quit!

His eyes were golden brown, and I could almost see the wolf pacing inside of him. He licked his lips and took a step closer to me, the air whooshing out of my chest as I realized that he was about to kiss me.

You’re not going tonight. I’ll call you in the morning. This may not work out, you understand? Be ready to pack your bags. Then he reached beyond me, yanking open the door, while I scampered out of the way.

He jerked past me, the door pulled open so hard it slammed into the wall. He cursed and threw me an irritated glance, clearly infuriated at the loss of control. Then he was gone.

And I had the sad realization that I was all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Actually, that wasn’t entirely true. Yes, I did stand around for a moment or two wondering if I should do what he wanted, or even worse, call to apologize. But then I realized that doing what I was told would be totally out of character.

So I did a little glamour spell to ensure that no one would be able to see me at the party. The place was hopping, and I had a moment of chagrin. If I had just given the man a damned pill I could be here right now, on his arm—like candy, probably of the penny variety, but at least I would be able to ogle and hold onto him. Hear his jokes or listen to him talk about business, but instead I was incognito.

I paused next to the buffet table while I looked around the room. Why did I care about what had happened? Why did I want to hang onto Ivor? It was just a job. And the job was terrible. Find a hot guy as his mate even though I have a crush on him.

Already. So pathetic.

That’s why I’d behaved like a new little witch and tried to take away his headache magically. I wanted to impress him…and touch him. And see how our energies combine.

Stupid.

I saw Ivor across the room talking to an elderly couple, champagne glass in hand. I meandered over, listening in on the conversation.

They think they’re only going to be giving a 5% yield, but their last three projects have had a return of over 20%. We’d be stupid not to invest in it.

Voice sexy, words boring.

Then the couple walked away and Ivor set off, cutting through the people to the other side of the room. I followed him, feeling a bit let down when he stopped before his mother. I’d thought something exciting was going to happen, like I could follow him into the men’s room or something.

“She’s here.”

His mother’s eyes widened, “You’re sure?” She began looking around the room, almost frantically.

“I’m positive.”

My heart started beating faster, and my palms started to sweat. Between them, those are two things that mess with magic. Excitement and fear can really mess with a spell. I decided to get out of there fast, worried my magic would fail, and I’d be caught with my glamour down.

As it was, I could deny it tomorrow. Sure, he thought I was there, but he couldn’t actually see me. I’d just tell him I had stayed in the room like a docile dachshund.

I followed a handsome man out the door and turned to the right, walking back to my hotel feeling unaccountably bereft. He’d been really irritated that I was there. I feared that maybe I should just quit now and go back to New York.

The next morning I had a plan. I was going to keep it professional and bring him a coffee. He couldn’t fire me if I came with a mocha, could he?

One Grande, half chocolate mocha with light whip, and one percent milk later, I went waltzing into the office building. People were working at desks and computers in a huge open space, but apparently Ivor hadn’t come in yet. His secretary let me into his office, keeping the door open, to wait.

Ivor came in twenty minutes later, looking a little disheveled and tired. He saw me and his mouth made a hard line before giving me a tight smile.

Shit, I’m still fired.

I brought coffee! A mocha, actually.”

“Thanks.” He threw his briefcase onto the desk haphazardly, and it slid off, hitting his chair and then bumping to the ground. He looked surprised and then jerked his gaze back towards me, frowning at me. Distracted much?

Sorry, I’m a little off my game. My mate is here. But a coffee is really nice of you.

I stood up straight, felt my stomach plummet into my two-inch pumps and gave an odd smile, Mocha, actually. Well, that’s great. I guess you didn’t need any hocus-pocus after all.

What? He threw me a confused look. No, last night she showed up at the gala. But I couldn’t find her, and now she’s back again. She’s here, somewhere in the building.

“Well, I’ll just leave the coffee here and see you…never. It was nice to meet you. I’m sure they’ll want at least half the retainer, but you’ll need to work that out with them. I just make the magic happen. Don’t get involved with the billing much, you know—

“Why do you have verbal diarrhea?” he said, frowning. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I think you bring out the worst in me. He picked up the mocha from his desk and took a sip.