Bake This! (A 300 Moons Novella) (6 page)

W
ill had
a hard time getting them going. He pulled and tugged, spraying snow out behind his paws.

Then the sleigh jerked forward and they were off.

Between the falling flakes and the rush of the wind, Tess felt her senses numbed. She hoped that Will’s wolf senses were powerful enough to bring him home. The distance wasn’t so great, but it would be easy to turn slightly and bypass the farmhouse altogether.

Shadowy shapes began to form in the swirling snow, and she forgot to be afraid of anything else.

At first, it looked like a trick of the light, making it appear that the wind had wings.

Then the bird was above her, its form a shimmering mass of darkness and crystalline flakes, big as a man.

“Will,” she cried, but she couldn’t see him anymore. She could only see the snow, all around her, and the shape of the immense bird descending.

Tess remembered her sister’s account of the shadow demon that had nearly gotten the best of her and Derek on the mountain. This must be something like that, drawn to the magic - either hers, or the spell on Will.

Afraid to use any more magic, Tess lashed out at it, striking the creature with her fist.

It toppled like a snowman, but three baby birds arose to take its place.

The sleigh was going so fast now it was practically flying.

But the baby birds were already growing quickly, pecking at each other.

Tess clung to the boards and prayed they would arrive before they grew large enough to attack her.

They were enchanted, that much was clear. The whole storm was probably magical. There had never been a snow like this in Tarker’s Hollow - Will had said so. Certainly no snow had ever covered over the farmhouse.

What if the thing behind this magic were specifically after the old place, and the children inside?

What if they were leading them right to it?

“Stop, Will, turn back,” she screamed into the wind, but she could hardly hear her own words.

They slowed.

She could just make out the shape of the top of the farmhouse ahead of them. It was too late.

The triangle of slate shingles appeared to be raising its hand and opening its mouth to ask for help. But the hand was only the brick chimney. And the mouth was the enormous attic vent fan.

Oh.

Tess shivered from the cold, and concentrating was nearly impossible with the sharp beaks of the snowbirds lengthening before her eyes.

She knew it was dangerous, but she closed her eyes and called to her magic anyway.

It pulled at first, like salt water taffy, then at once it was pliant. She reached for the fan with it, explored the simple motor and the razor sharp blades.

Then she beckoned it.

At once the fan sputtered and coughed to life.

Tess wrenched with her mind, and the fan sailed out the window and over her head.

She urged the motor and clung to the wood of the sleigh as the wind changed directions.

The birds fluttered their wings in protest as the fan drew them nearer, elongating their snowy heads and then plucking them from the sleigh to be turned to mist between the metal blades.

When they were gone, Tess collapsed and let the fan fall into the snow.

The wind slowed almost to a stop.

The snow fell gently, delicate lacy flakes drifting down, as if in a mockery of the storm that had come before.

Had she undone the source of the storm’s magic, or merely scared it away?

Will scampered onto the boards of the sleigh and nosed at her with a wet snout.

She was shivering from head to toe, but she sat up to show him she was okay.

That was when she saw the first little face peep out of the hole left behind by the fan.

“S-santa?” the little boy ventured, looking at Tess in confusion.

T
he trip
back to the barn was much more fun than the trip over had been. Tess held five-year-old Aidan on her lap and Kate carried baby Luna on hers.

Will dashed through the snow, bells jingling merrily.

“You’re both crazy to come for us in that snow,” Kate said with a smile. “Not that I’m complaining, but why didn’t you stay put?”

“Will told me that you had a new furnace. I was worried that it was a high efficiency model and that the vent would be buried in the snow,” Tess replied, grateful that the scrupulously honest answer to the question wouldn’t embarrass her. She’d used a good bit of magic fighting the snow-birds, and she’d be paying her price for a while.

“Carbon monoxide,” Kate remarked. “Smart girl. As a matter of fact, it is a high efficiency heater, but I’m a farm girl so I pay attention to how things work. We turned off the heater right away. I was more worried about the rafters. They were groaning something fierce under the weight of all that snow.”

“Wow,” Tess replied. “I didn’t even think about that.”

When they arrived at the barn Kate insisted that Tess curl up on the sofa in the break room with a cup of hot tea, while Will pulled the sleigh back and forth a few more times to get the rest of the crew.

By the time the whole family was gathered in the break room, Tess was finally warm again. And the price of her magic was nearly paid in full.

Happily, she’d been able to hang back a bit, and no one had asked anything of her that she couldn’t answer honestly without making a fool of herself. Everything was going to be okay.

Will had shifted back into his human form. He sat beside her on the lumpy sofa, his big body radiating delicious warmth.

Across from them, Johnny held Neve in his lap on the floor. The fingers of her right hand absentmindedly caressed the shining ring on her left.

Kate had the smaller kids sitting at the remaining plank table eating apple pie. Tess was glad she’d chosen the one she and Will had… christened, to make the sleigh. The thought of it brought a warm rush to her cheeks.

Derek and Hedda were having a heated discussion in the corner. Tess wondered what could be going on with them. She knew she needed to have a serious talk with Hedda about the magic in the storm. But that could wait, for now.

“I’m going to check on my sister,” she whispered to Will and got up.

“Okay, baby,” he said, the words sending a little shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the temperature.

Derek noticed her heading in their direction.

“Tess,” he said with a smile. “Ethan’s on his way.”

Oh, no.

She tried not to make eye contact, but she could feel the words trying to spill out.

“Do you—” Derek began.

“—No, Derek. I won’t go on a date with your friend,” she said loudly.

Tess was almost sure she’d allowed enough time to pass, but she must have used more magic than she thought. The price was still being paid.

“I broke the irrigation pump,” she continued, unbidden. “I broke the cash register.
And I slept with your brother.
”

Her words hung in the air of the suddenly silent room.

“I was just going to ask if you wanted him to stop for some dry clothes for you,” Derek replied.

“You broke the irrigation pump?” Kate asked.

“You slept with his brother?” Hedda asked.

“Don’t look at me,” Johnny said quickly. Neve slapped him on the head and rolled her eyes sympathetically at Tess.

“She means
Will
,” Neve said. “Right?”

“Yes. Yes, I do mean Will,” Tess replied immediately in a clear voice.

Then she promptly burst into tears and ran from the room.

T
ess’s feet
carried her up the stairs. She pushed open the door to the Christmas-All-Year-Round Shoppe and dashed into the mini-forest of Christmas trees.

It was dark in here, and felt reassuringly like being outside. The scent of the dried cranberry wreathes that lined the walls filled the air.

The felt snow was soft under Tess’s feet. She went to the center of the room and curled up under a tree to finish crying. Though truthfully, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever stop.

What an awful Christmas. It was just more proof that she ought to be holed up alone in a cabin on top of a mountain with a windowsill full of cats.

The door creaked open and then clanked, as if it had been bolted shut.

“Tess,” Will’s voice carried through the trees.

She buried her head in her hands and bit her lip to stop herself from crying out loud. Maybe he wouldn’t find her.

“Tess, please,” his voice was closer now.

“Leave me alone,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut and wishing she could disappear.

“Why are you hiding from me?” he asked.

“Because I embarrassed you in front of everyone,” she sniffed.

“Yeah, that was pretty funny,” He moved next to her on the pretend snow, until she could feel his warmth. “But I’m not embarrassed. Are you?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I told everyone I broke everything,” she said plainly. “But especially because I said that I slept with you.”

“Yes, that was a terrible lie, but we’re going to make that right as soon as we have an opportunity,” he replied.

Tess stopped crying to stare at him, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.

“I mean, sure, you had a mind-blowing orgasm, but I was left hanging, baby,” he said, winking at her and then running his finger down her arm lightly. “But why do I get the sense that I’m missing what you’re really upset about?”

“Because you
are
missing it. I’m upset because I don’t know if you really like me or if you were just having fun. If you were just having fun then I’ve embarrassed myself and my sister and she may never forgive me.”

“And if I really like you?” he asked.

“Then I’ll be so happy because I like you
a lot
,” she said, then hid her head in her knees again. “It’s not fair, I don’t like having to tell you everything like this.”

The room was quiet for a moment.

“You’re right, it’s not fair for me to have a conversation like this with you when you’re stuck telling me the whole truth. But it’s irresistible, Tess,” he said at length. “I do like you, I like you
a lot
, as you said. And I feel like I know you better than I should after just a day, exactly because of this curse of yours. But that’s not the only reason.”

He paused to stroke her hair, the weight of his big hand erasing tension she hadn’t known her hair could hold.

“Tess, you’re amazing. You want to know how things work, you want to make them better, you care about helping people - you don’t just say it, you
do
it. I know you’re not sure yet what you want to do with your life, but whatever it is, I’m sure it’s going to be awesome. And, I hope you’ll do it by my side.”

She looked up.

Will was gazing down at her.

“Wh-what are you saying?” she asked him.

“I’m asking you to be my wife,” he told her seriously, his hazel eyes blazing.

“After
one day
?” she asked.

“Technically I was pretty sure after about six hours,” he admitted. “But it’s true I didn’t ask until just now. Do you want to marry me?”

“Yes,” she said immediately, then covered her mouth with her hand.

“I heard that, you can’t pretend you didn’t say it,” he teased her. “I’ll tell you what, I don’t have a ring, so you can test me out - keep me as a fiancé on a trial basis, until they clear the roads and we can get to the jewelry store in Tarker’s Hollow. Does that sound okay?” he asked.

But the magic had finally loosened its hold on Tess.

Instead of answering she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him like he was going to war.

He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her like she was a delicate flower, not the very sturdy woman she knew herself to be.

She climbed onto his lap and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer, kissing him until she had to stop for a breath.

“No more magic?” he asked sadly. “How will I know you’re not faking with me?”

“You want me to be authentic?” she teased.

He nodded enthusiastically.

“Hm,” Tess said.

“Hurry, woman, do some magic,” he urged her, lifting his hips to rock his very impressive erection against her.

She was nearly distracted from her purpose. But then she remembered the trees around them. Of course.

Tess closed her eyes and called on her magic. It came alive and slid eagerly into her fingertips.

She sent it into the trees.

One by one, their lights came on, filling the room with a soft glow. The bed of felt snow was illuminated in a rainbow of pastel colors.

Will’s dear face was visible to her. He smiled and his love seemed to glow from within.

Tess was safe. She was beloved.

“Beautiful,” he sighed, and she didn’t know if he was calling her beautiful or the trees, but she didn’t care. Both were beautiful, she knew that now. She had seen it in his eyes.

Will wrapped his hands in her hair and pulled her down to kiss him again. He tasted like home.

Tess kissed him back for all she was worth.

He flipped her over, laying her in the soft felt snow, and began removing his clothes.

The soft light showed off the dark ridges and hollows between the planes of his muscles. He was breathtaking, like a living statue.

He bent to help her remove the overalls and flannel she was wearing, kneeling over her when it was done for a long moment, looking down at her.

She didn’t fidget this time, she held herself still and proud.

“You used your magic. Do you have to tell me the truth?” he asked.

“Yes,” she told him.

“When you look in the mirror, do you see how beautiful you are?” he asked, and she could see the tears in the corners of his eyes.

“No,” she replied. “But I can see it when I look at you now.”

“Good,” he told her gruffly.

Then he was kissing her again, but the tenderness was quickly gone and she felt the rawness of his need.

“Please, Will,” she whispered.

But he had already dipped his head to feed on her breasts, lapping and tugging gently with his teeth until she cried out.

“I need to be inside you, are you ready? Is this what you want?” he asked her, through clenched teeth.

“Yes, please,” she whimpered.

Then she felt the heat of his engorged head against her opening. He was so large, it seemed impossible that he could enter.

Will slid a hand between them to massage her clitoris lightly.

Tess arched her back with the intense pleasure and felt him slowly press inside her.

She was full, so full she saw stars.

Will held perfectly still.

Then her own hunger had her lifting her hips to him, begging for movement.

“Are you okay, baby?” he whispered in her ear.

“Yes, but I need you so much. Please,” she whispered again.

He groaned and began to move, slowly at first but faster when he felt her nails sink into his shoulder blades.

The sensation was incredible, Tess clung to him, the man who knew her better than he had any right to, and who loved her anyway.

She looked at him, haloed in the light of the Christmas trees. His eyes were closed, his face torn between ecstasy and the desperate need to wait for her pleasure.

It was enough - it would always be enough.

Her joy swelled and overflowed, sending her into endless waves of bliss, accentuated by the molten steel of him inside her, pulsing and jetting, showing her that he had been obliterated by pleasure at the same instant she was.

She hardly felt his teeth sink into her neck, branding her lightly.

When it was done he rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him.

“Was that… when you bit me…?” she asked, not sure of the terminology.

“A mating bite?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“I don’t know. My wolf… demanded it. I’m not used to him asserting himself that way. The spell has always kept him in the background. It’s supposed to last for three hundred moons. That’s not until next year for me, but I think he’s already marking his intentions. Letting us know his plan. I’m glad he agrees with my choice of mate.”

“Mate,” Tess said, testing the word. It sounded good.

“Does it suit you?” Will asked.

“Yes, yes it does.” She smiled up at him.

“I’m glad, baby. It suits me too,” he said. His voice was so deep, she could feel the vibration with her head against his chest.

One of his big hands began to skim across her bare shoulder blades, back and forth.

“We should go back down.” she said.

“I told them we needed a little time. And I locked the door,” he told her. “I want you all to myself just a little longer.”

Tess smiled against his chest.

Her eyelids were growing heavy.

She took one last look at her love, dappled in light from a forest of Christmas trees, then closed her eyes.

Tomorrow would be Christmas.

But her miracle was already here.