Tiger Lily - May Dawson Page 0,63

us are obnoxiously nosy and protective, but sometimes it works out.”

“He was worried about you being alone after seeing your grandfather,” Archer said. “I went along to keep him from annoying you.”

“And I went along because I hate to be left out,” Dylan admitted.

“I’m glad you came.”

“Are you all right, really?” Dylan asked. “I’m going to call Juniper and ask her to put up a ward to keep him out of Silver Springs, so he won’t come back.”

“Already taken care of,” I said lightly. “I used a potion on him, so he would forget that I was a shifter and all the magic he saw here in Silver Springs.”

Blake’s jaw tensed. “How did you do that?”

“He was waiting in the house for me when you dropped me off,” I explained.

Fury blazed in Blake’s eyes. He could be really intimidating as he rose from the couch and paced across the room, his arms folded across his chest. I had a feeling he was gauging just how far out of town Brad had made it by now.

I hurried on, “I made him tea and heard him out. He wants to get back together. He even managed to wrangle me my dream job in Scarborough.”

Archer looked horrified at the thought, and I realized he was afraid I’d choose… not them. Not Hot Wheels. Not Silver Springs.

“He wanted to stuff you into his trunk,” Blake rumbled.

“I’m aware,” I said. “I was there.”

“The important thing is, Lily is fine,” Archer said. He was always the peacemaker.

“You walked into that house with him there when you could have just run?” Blake demanded. “You put yourself in danger to protect Silver Springs?”

“She’s an incredible girl,” Dylan said, slinging his arm over my shoulders.

I smiled at him as I settled under his arm, resting my head on his shoulder. Dylan was so comforting.

“Maybe she’s an incredible girl who could use an occasional spanking.” Blake said. He still sounded furious. “You just needed to get out of there—to get to safety—and we would’ve helped. You could’ve trusted us for once, Lily.”

I thought of that damned book—of how it was different for everyone, and how my copy had spanking in it—and I started to laugh.

Maybe I hadn’t just read all those romance novels to those scenes for my own amusement. Maybe I liked the idea…

Something to explore later, for sure. I had a feeling Blake would be a willing partner.

Blake’s eyebrow tilted. “I don’t see what’s so funny about this.”

“You will,” I promised him. “You will.”

His jaw was still tight. I turned to give Dylan a peck on the cheek, then rose to my feet and crossed to Blake, who regarded me skeptically.

I caught his corded forearm in my hand, rising onto my toes to kiss the corner of his angry mouth. I felt him give a bit at that touch, and then his arm slid around my waist. He kissed me full-on, his lips hungry.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he said, then something flashed through his eyes as if he had just remembered how I’d ended things. “I don’t know what I’ll do without you.”

I bit my lip. “I’m sorry for what I said in the shop.”

“Does that mean you’re trying to take it back?” he asked, his eyebrow arching.

Dylan sighed. “Blake, come on.”

I bristled at Blake’s words too, but he had a point. I knew I’d hurt them all.

“Yes,” I said. “I’m trying to take back what I said. If you’ll let me. I don’t know that I even believe we all really have mates, but I believe…” I stumbled over the words, because they were hard to say, then forced them out. “I know I need you. That I’m happier with you.”

“We’re happier with you too,” Archer said. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, and I leaned into his touch, planting a kiss to his stubbled cheek.

“Of course you can take it back,” Dylan said, always forgiving. He hugged me, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “You wanted to know that we had something real, that wasn’t just the product of some spell. I get it, Lil.”

I kissed him again, a bit slower, savoring the feel of his lips against mine.

Then it was time to face Blake, who still stood there with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Well?” I asked. “Is this no-take-backs, or…”

“Oh knock it off,” he said, and then he threw his arms around my waist, lifting me into the air. I laughed as my toes swept above the