Free Tug of Attraction by Ashlyn Chase

what looked like iced tea and a couple of metal tumblers. A chilly breeze blew off the water at the same time the sun hid behind a cloud and she shivered.
    “Cold?” He was already removing his all-weather jacket.
    “No. I’m fine.” The sun emerged. “Really. The sun feels good soaking into my skin.”
    He suddenly envied the sun, wishing he could caress her arms, shoulders and back. “Yeah, but it won’t be warm for long. Fall is in the air. The leaves are turning and Samhain will be here before you know it.”
    “I know. I hate to admit it, but I enjoy Halloween as much as our Samhain traditions. If the Judeo-Christians realized what a solemn holiday it was for us, they’d be disappointed.”
    “How will you handle that when your child wants to trick or treat?”
    She smiled. “I don’t see any reason he or she can’t celebrate costumes and candy once a year and honor our ancestors too.”
    She gazed at him for a few reflective seconds. Finally Brigit grinned. “You said, ‘when’ and ‘your’.”
    “What?”
    “You said when your child wants to trick or treat.”
    “Ah. So you figure you’ve slowly seduced me to the dark side.”
    The grin disappeared. “No. There’s no dark side. I’m just happy you’re finally seeing it from my side.”
    “I guess I’ve always been able to see your side, Bridge. I just hadn’t realized how committed you were to the idea.”
    “I was straight with you from the very beginning.”
    “Yes, you were. In a way, it was refreshing.”
    Her lips were parted slightly and she was gazing up at him. For some reason, he felt drawn to kiss her. What the hell. If she pulls away, that says something too.
    He kneeled in front of her, so the tablecloth wasn’t between them. Then he swooped in and touched his lips to hers, gently. She didn’t recoil. He added more pressure, and to his delighted surprise, she was kissing him back. He angled his head and opened his mouth to see if she’d accept his tongue. She sought his. He curled his arm around her and pulled her closer. Slipping her arms around his neck, she rose onto her knees and melded against him.
    After a long languorous kiss, he reluctantly let her pull away. “That was nice. I wasn’t sure you’d let me kiss you.”
    “Ethan.” She chided “If I want you to fuck me, why wouldn’t I let you kiss me?”
    And the romantic moment is gone.
    He reached for a sandwich and settled beside her. “Brigit, would you mind using the term “make love” instead of fuck?”
    She unwrapped her sandwich and seemed to be thinking about it. “You’re a dude. I thought you all said fuck.”
    “When all we’re talking about is the act.” He added, “Don’t all children deserve to be conceived in love?”
    “Are you serious?” She stared at him incredulously. “That’s a nice thought, but it’s not reality.”
    “I didn’t say it was. I just asked if they didn’t deserve that.”
    She chewed as he waited for an answer. At last, she nodded. “Yes, but don’t you agree that sometimes the love is between the couple? The child who isn’t wanted is at a distinct disadvantage. Besides, our child would be conceived in love.”
    He leaned back and stared at her. “Are you saying you love me?”
    “Of course, I love you—as a friend and fellow coven member.”
    Ethan groaned. “Great. Friend zone, then.”
    “No,” she protested. “It’s more than that.”
    “What exactly?”
    “I don’t know if I can put it into words.”
    “Try.”
    She inhaled deeply. “Okay. I’m not stringing you along to feed my ego like a high school girl who knows a guy has a crush on her. I respect you. I like you for who you are. I enjoy your company. We’re more than friends. We’re comrades in a coven of shared beliefs and values. We have more in common and know each other on a deeper level than many lovers who’ve been together for years.”
    He mulled that over while he enjoyed his sandwich, wondering if what she described