Page 96 of Meet Cute Magic

Her amulet, as she loves to remind me.

“Rosie…”

“I’m ready, Jack,” she whispers.

We haven’t redone the kiss bond since it wore off, both of us aware of how the intense emotions could impact us. I didn’t want to put any form of doubt into Rosie’s mind, wanting her to know that all of my thoughts, feelings, and words of adoration were mine and mine alone, not a side effect of the intense bond of her magic.

But god, I’ve missed it. I liked having that connection to her, which gave me a better understanding of her feelings and reactions. And, of course, the sex. The sex while bonded was definitely intense, not that sex without it hasn’t been ground-shaking.

She slowly and intentionally redoes the clasp of the necklace before she takes a few steps toward me. Her free hand reaches for mine, grabbing my wrist and turning my hand so it’s facing up before setting the chain into my palm and gently curling my fingers around the warm metal.

“Rosie,” I start. “We don’t have to do this. I know it can make things confusing, and—”

“Jack, there is nothing confusing about what I feel for you. I love you. You love me. My magic will always be a part of me, and it will always be something that ties us together. I want to take you to the club and chat with Geraldine and Casey, and have them know you’re mine, for real. I want you to know for sure if Vi is slipping you something to try and be funny.” She’s referring to two weeks ago when Vi gave me her lusty lemon cookies and Rosie and I had to close our shops for a day, not that I minded. “I want to know what you’re feeling, and I want to have even more of an excuse to be close to you.” She takes off her coat and throws it to the ground like she couldn’t care less, her eyes locked on mine as she steps closer to me. “I want the bond, Jack.”

My heart is pounding as I take a step closer to her, but not close enough to close the gap between us. I’m afraid that if I get any closer, if I can feel the warmth of her on me, I’ll lose all common sense. And just like the last time she bonded me, I want to have a few moments of sanity, of clear thinking before the magic takes over.

“How attached are you to this necklace?” I ask softly, pushing her hair behind her shoulders. She’s looking at me, confused, and like every look she has, it looks pretty on her.

“What?”

“I’ll get you something new, something Rosie, to replace it, of course.” Her brow furrows deeper, and I brush my thumb along it, trying to smooth it out. “I don’t want you ever wearing it when you kiss me again,” I whisper. A shiver runs through me, but I’m concentrated on her wide, hopeful eyes on mine.

“You want the bond?”

I smile softly, brushing a thumb over her lips.

“I want everything with you, Rosie. But we can start with your kiss bond.” Her eyes widen further before she bites her lip.

“I don’t know the long-term effects, not really. I haven’t asked anyone. We could—” Panic is surging, but I shake my head.

“I don’t care, Rosie. I really don’t fucking care. I want you. All of you. And I definitely want anything that makes you feel just as crazy as I do about you.” She smiles wide, though her eyes are shining.

“I already feel that.”

“Perfect.” I continue to stare at her, to take in every change of her face, to catalog it because I never plan to see her without those golden strands dancing along her skin again, if I have my way.

“Are you going to kiss me?” she asks softly after a long moment. I smile wide.

“Not yet.”

Her awe shifts into irritation. “What?”

“I’ve wondered what starts it,” I whisper, then press my lips to her forehead. Nothing happens, and I smile.

“What?”

“Is it just your lips? Or is it the intention?” I press my lips to her temple and pull back again, not seeing those gorgeous strands.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

She’s smiling now before pointing to her cheek. “What about here?” I press my lips where she points and pull back, smiling. She moves to point at her neck, and I follow, letting my tongue taste her this time. A heavy breath leaves her parted lips.

Then her hands move, pulling the low, stretchy neck of her sweater down, the cup of her bra going with it. I groan when I see her full breast, her pink nipple already peaked. “Here?”

“For science,” I say low and sense more than see her smile in response as I drop my head, pressing a kiss to the tip of her nipple. A feather-light breath coasts along the back of my neck as she lets out a pleasure-filled sigh.

“Jack,” she says, but although she intends the sound to be annoyed, it’s anything but. Then she steps back and I watch in utter fascination as she kicks off her cozy boots before moving her hands to the waistband of the thick tights she’s wearing under her sweet skirt. Her thumbs hook in them, then she shimmies, sliding them down and off. Then she’s hooking her arms around my neck and hovering her lips over mine, but not kissing me. Letting me do this my way. Her breaths coast over mine. One of my hands moves to her ass, squeezing it before moving lower to the edge of her skirt.