The Witching Moon: The Witches of Redwood Falls - Book 1 by Janelle Daniels Page B

here.”
    “Raspberry leaf.” He raised a brow and she
shook her head softly before turning back to her work. “It’s
calming.” She picked up her pestle and crushed dried leaves of some
sort into the mortar.
    He rounded the counter, hunching to see her
working beneath a rack of drying herbs. “What are those?”
    “This and that,” she evaded. “Just
restocking my supplies.”
    He tucked a blond curl that fell forward
behind her ear and her motions slowed. She was so beautiful. Her
hands were so soft and delicate you’d never imagine the strength
they possessed. He’d imagined them all over him.
    He closed his eyes,
cursing himself. Don’t go
there!
    “I didn’t realize you were low on anything.
Do you need me to pick something up?” he asked, hoping to distract
himself.
    She blushed. “Actually… no.”
    “Then why are you doing this?”
    She ground a little faster. “I just need to
keep myself busy.” His fist clenched under the counter top.
    “Do you want some help?” His voice was
hoarse. “I don’t mind you putting me to work.”
    She looked at him then. Really looked at
him. Her eyes softened. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,
Drake.”
    “You won’t ever have to find out.” He’d said
the same things many times, but this was the first time he felt a
twinge of doubt. Could he stay here and see her with another man?
He wanted to think he was stronger than that, better than that, but
he knew it he wasn’t. It would break him to see her with someone
else. To see another man hold her, kiss her, as he had never been
able to do.
    Her voice was so soft, he almost didn’t hear
her ask, “Promise?”
    He turned away, muttering a curse. She
gasped and his eyes sliced back to her. “I’m not made of stone,
Poppy. No matter how much I’m trying to hide it, this is killing
me.”
    Her mouth fell open. “I don’t know what to
say.”
    He rounded the counter, gripping her arms.
“Tell me you don’t want this. That you don’t want him. Tell me you
wished you never heard the prophecy, that you don’t believe it.
Damn it! That you’re frustrated and hurting as I am.”
    “Drake…”
    He jerked his head. “No. Don’t. Just don’t
say anything.” She rubbed her red lips together, bringing him to
his knees. “Don’t do that.”
    Her fingers stilled. “Do what?”
    “Your lips. I’m barely keeping my hands off
you as is.”
    Her mouth dropped open. “Why?”
    “You know why.” Her eyes turned wary, but he
couldn’t stop the words from coming out. “You’ve always known why.
I love you, Poppy. I’ve loved you forever. You’re the only woman
I’ve ever wanted and you’re all I’ll ever want.” He grabbed her
hand and kissed her fingers. “I’ve held back for years because it
was what you wanted. But I can’t any more. Tonight you’ll meet him,
but you don’t have to. You don’t have to go.”
    She shook her head in denial, but he cut her
off. “It’s your choice. You can go and meet a faceless man, one you
don’t know, one who doesn’t love you. Or you can stay here and be
with me.” She gasped, trying to yank her hand away, but he held it
firm and pressed it against his heart. His eyes blazed into hers.
“Stay with me. Choose me.”
    Her chin shook, tears sprang to her eyes.
She tried to turn away, but he held her, couldn’t let her go.
    “I can’t,” she cried. “I can’t, Drake. I
can’t outrun this, I can’t ignore it. Whoever’s there tonight, he’s
the one I’m meant to be with.”
    “You’re meant to be with me,” he
growled.
    “No.”
    “How do you know? How do you know it’s not
me?”
    Her eyes searching his face, looking but not
finding what she needed. “I just do. The prophecy says things about
him. Things that aren’t you.” Her voice cracked. “I’m sorry.”
    His gut twisted. She’d never told him
exactly what the prophecy said, and he’d never asked. He hadn’t
wanted to know any of it. But now he did. “What does