Mated to the Griffin (Elemental Mates 5)

No, I’m being ridiculous. There might be a whole magical world out there, but not everyone I meet has to be a demon or werewolf. Why shouldn’t nice things happen to me for once?

It was just that in her experience, nice things didn’t happen to her. Not like this. With his rugged good looks, Jared could have been a movie star about to sweep the heroine off her feet and ride away into the sunset together with a gorgeous actress.

He wouldn’t go climb a mountain with a curvy, broke American woman who was desperately trying to reveal the truth about the supernatural world out there.

But then, he’d kissed her. And it had felt right—completely, utterly, fundamentally right.

Where everything about the demon had felt off, being close to Jared made her feel as if everything was exactly how it should be.

Which was weird, because she barely knew him.

But he’s a damn good kisser, so does it matter?

She was exhausted, still a little shaken by the attack, and scared of what was going to happen tomorrow.

If there was no magical artifact, she’d have blown all her savings and ruined her life for nothing. And if there was one...

She didn’t have any magical powers of her own. She’d tried to read up on magic and had bought charms in the little occult bookshop she’d begun to frequent after she’d first seen the werewolf.

But the truth was, she’d never been able to make a single of those spells and potions work. Maybe it was just because she wasn’t magic. The werewolf had been real, after all, so why shouldn’t those spells be?

Marge, who ran the store, had shrugged and told her that it took talent and great strength of will—which obviously was a great excuse if you made a living off trinkets and esoteric books. So maybe it was just that Chiara wasn’t talented enough.

Or maybe Marge was a fraud.

Anyway, the truth was that for all Chiara knew, she might well die up on that mountain tomorrow if the artifact was real. And in that case, spending her final night on Earth getting kissed by this unfairly good-looking hunk of a man wasn’t the worst way to go.

Chiara reached out once more to cover his hand with hers. His hand was large and strong—for all his model good looks, his body was that of a man used to hard work, all firm muscle and strength that didn’t come from the gym.

Even at this simple touch, warmth filled her, something inside her yearning to feel his body against hers, to know what it was like to be held by those strong arms. She’d never experienced anything like it before.

But it was very late, and tomorrow might be one of the most important days of her life.

“Would you like to get breakfast together tomorrow?” he asked.

“I’d love that,” she found herself answering without a second thought.

She had planned on a hearty breakfast before the long hike—it wasn’t just that she wanted to see him again.

Although she wanted that, too...

He leaned in once more, his lips warm against her own.

“Good night,” he said huskily when he drew back.

She found herself flushing again, her heart racing in her chest.

When was the last time she’d felt that sensation of butterflies in her stomach?

“Good night, Jared,” she said, helplessly smiling.

She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring—but she knew what she’d be dreaming of tonight.

Chapter Four: Jared

Quietly, Jared settled in for the night on the roof of the house across from Chiara’s little hotel.

He’d shifted once he’d left her. As a mythological shifter, he was fortunate enough to be invisible to humans. Right now, that ability came in very handy.