Magical Midlife Love (Leveling Up #4) - K.F. Breene Page 0,106

nearly undid me.

“You okay?” Austin asked. Time was ticking, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at him. He was in no hurry.

“Yes. Sorry, I’m good.” I beamed at him and gave him a tight hug. “Really good.”

Austin turned and cocked an elbow, and I slipped my hand through his arm.

“Miss, we’ll refresh your lipstick when you get there,” Mr. Tom said, grabbing my clutch.

“Thank you, Mr. Tom.” I laughed for no reason.

With a stupid smile, walking on air, I headed for the door. Mr. Tom fell back, taking his place between Jasper and Edgar. Sebastian would meet us there, hanging around the edges, hopefully invisible. Only my crew and Austin’s crew should be able to see him. I’d made plenty of potion to go around. It had taken most of the day.

“You’re going to knock ’em dead,” Austin said as we slowly sauntered down the walkway.

Parked at the curb was an incredibly sleek sports car in metallic midnight blue, low to the ground, the tires large and wide, the price tag probably enormous. Behind it waited a black stretch limo, and another sat at the curb in front of Niamh’s house.

“What’s…” My eyes followed the smooth curves of the sports car. “Is that…?”

“It’s a McLaren. I just got it. It goes very fast.”

“What happened to the Jeep?”

He stopped by the passenger door. “It’s at the house. If I’ll be escorting you to fancy parties, I better look and drive the part, right?” He opened the door for me and held out his hand.

“Or I could drive? I have a beat-up old Honda that kind of matches the speck of dirt on your shoe.”

“I have no dirt on these shoes.” He winked and handed me into the car.

After he closed the door he crossed to the other side, his hand still in his pocket, his shoulders swaying, his vibe smooth and debonair. I just stared in mute fascination for a moment. I knew he was playing a part, but holy crap, he was playing it well. That raw, primal quality of his was still there, but the rough edges had been smoothed away into a glossy exterior. His power pulsed in waves, heady and tantalizing, and his swagger mixed with his rock-solid confidence nearly caused me to combust.

He got into the car, which molded to him like that suit, an extension of the persona he’d created. He pushed the button to start it and threw it into gear, the car chirping as it jumped forward.

“Jacinta, your beauty has me entranced,” he said, speeding to the end of the street. “You are perfection.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, my heart expanding until it didn’t feel like my body could contain it anymore.

“May I please ask that you be careful about touching other males tonight, and allowing them to touch you? I know I sound like a jealous—”

“No, I get it. I understand that shifters are weird about that. Kingsley makes it awkward.”

“If you knew Earnessa, you’d know why. She’s as possessive as any alpha. Kingsley loves that about her.” He took a deep breath, whipping the car around the corner. Unlike with Damarion, his speed didn’t bother me at all, probably because I knew he was in complete control. He was always in complete control, unless someone was threatening me. Or when we were twisted in each other’s bodies, not knowing where he ended and I began.

“I will control myself to the best of my ability. I trust you implicitly…I hope you know that. Logic fights my beast most of the time, but at a certain point, my animal takes over. Especially now, since we’ve made love…”

“Austin, trust me, I do not want random guys touching me. You’re not asking much, and I understand why you’re asking at all.”

He jammed the gear stick up and stepped on the gas, the car shooting forward as it climbed the onramp to the highway.

My lips pulled to the side of their own accord, half a smile. “But I hope you know this goes both ways—you can’t ask me to follow a rule you won’t follow. That’s not how I roll.”

Shadows passed through his eyes. “I remember my mom and dad fighting about that when I was a kid. He’d fly off the handle when she so much as smiled at a male, but he used to cheat on her left and right.” He shook his head. “It was a messed-up situation.”

“I won’t let you turn into your father. Not only out of duty to you, but