Free Witch's Bounty by Ann Gimpel

all I could do to remain upright.”
    Admiration kindled behind his eyes. “Even knowing that, you took a chance on me.” His lips curved into a soft smile. “Thank you.”
    Colleen bit back a snort. “You came very close to making me sorry.”
    “I’ll do better next time.”
    Her eyes widened at his words because she understood there would, indeed, be a next time. “Does that mean you’re still volunteering to help? I thought surely after…well, after actually coming into contact with those bastards—”
    “That I’d exit stage left with a bunch of convenient excuses?” he cut in. Duncan edged closer and took one of her hands in his. “I’m not that easy to get rid of.” An odd expression flitted across his face, but it was gone before she could interpret it. “And I’ve never fancied myself a coward. How could I live with myself if I fled back to my nice safe life, knowing I left you to face those…abominations by yourself?”
    She bristled and tried to draw her hand away, but he held fast. “Bubba and I, along with Roz and Jenna, have been doing just fine. I don’t need crumbs from your table.”
    He tipped her chin with his other hand so she had to look at him. “Well now, you don’t have a choice in the matter. It’s not crumbs from my table . You’re an amazing woman. I haven’t been able to think of anything but you since you emerged from that curtain at the rear of your shop.”
    Her stomach did an odd little flip-flop. “What exactly are you saying?” Her lips trembled. She smushed them together, hoping he hadn’t noticed.
    He brushed a knuckle over her mouth. “I’m starting to care about you, Colleen. A lot. I admire your courage, and your mind. You’re beautiful and strong and fearless. I can’t tell you how panicked I was when the Irichna bit you.”
    “My animal forms have power. It took me years to discover just how much.”
    “I noticed.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “You can heal yourself.”
    She nodded. “Most of their poisons don’t bother me, either.”
    “Like I said, beautiful, strong, and fearless.”
    His words sent shivers racing down her spine, but she shook her head. “Scarcely fearless. It’s just I’ve figured out how to function when I’m so scared I can’t see straight.”
    “Doesn’t matter.” He caressed her lips again and then moved closer. His mouth hovered over hers and she understood he was giving her a choice to push him away, to say no. His warm breath soothed and excited her at the same time. Despite a tiny voice telling her that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, she tilted her mouth upward.
    He closed his lips over hers in a kiss so sweet and so electric, it set her soul ablaze with all the feelings she’d denied for most of her adult life. Colleen wound her arms around his neck and pulled him close. She opened her mouth to his questing tongue and sparred with it, enjoying the taste and feel of him. He had a musky, exotic scent that eddied about them. It stoked her lust and she inhaled hungrily, anxious for more of what felt like an aphrodisiac.
    He wrapped her in an embrace and held on as if she were the only thing that mattered in the world. From time to time, he lifted his mouth from hers and murmured Gaelic endearments. At least she supposed that was what they were, since she didn’t speak the language, beyond what she needed to cast spells.
    Heat rose in her nether regions; her nipples pebbled into peaks. Duncan drew her onto the sandy ground so she lay next to him, never breaking their kiss. He ran his hands down her back and cupped her ass, pulling her close. She felt the hard length of him press her thigh and positioned herself so she could rub against him. Desire pierced her, so hot and yet so sweet, she didn’t fully recognize what she was feeling. She understood sex, pure and simple, but this felt like the beginnings of ever so much more. Duncan wasn’t a man she could simply fuck and forget.
    Alarm bells