But it’shisskin that makes me tingle in a dangerous way. Every touch, every gentle caress. The sizzle of heat that travels straight to my core and pools there.
“How does that feel?” His low, deep voice makes my toes curl, and my heart skip a beat. I’m starting to melt, wishing I could lean into his touch. Wishing I could give my wolf what she wants. She’s in there, even if I can’t shift into her. All those instincts that have lain dormant all these years. He has woken all of that up, and now I want to explore.
It would be so easy to turn around and kiss him now. He wants me to, I know it. He’s only waiting for me to drop my guard. I’ve stayed strong until now, but I don’t know how much longer I can be strong when it feels so right.
His hand lingers in the center of my back, and for a few breaths, neither of us moves. I can almost taste desire in the air. Wouldn’t it be nice to give in? To forget the past?
A look over my shoulder reveals his darkening eyes, his flared nostrils. He’s in this moment with me, wanting me the way I want him.Just kiss him already. You know you want to.I do, I do so much, but I can’t. I can’t forget.
“Thank you. I think I can handle my feet,” I tell him, picking the tube of ointment up off the bed. The moment is over, and the air isn’t crackling with electricity anymore. I feel his disappointment, but he goes with it, getting up, making space in his dresser for my clothes.
While he does that, I take care of my feet, then sit with them resting on the bed, looking over the books he bought. He was really thoughtful today. Another thing about him I wouldn’t have guessed. His capacity for thoughtfulness.
The rest of the day passes slowly. Mostly because having Cole by my side is becoming more and more difficult without wanting to touch him. Trying to keep myself distracted, I taste test some of the chocolate he bought and try on some of the clothes. I use an app on the phone to help me tune my guitar. I do pretty well until we set up my phone, and he sits so very close to me, even leaning over to show me the screen. His masculine scent is so overwhelming, I can’t think about anything else.
By the time we eat sandwiches and French fries for dinner, I feel like I’m balancing on a tightrope. I’m about to tip over and fall into something I’m fighting really hard to avoid.
When it’s time for bed, I rush into the bathroom and take a few calming breaths away from him. I have my own toothbrush now, which I gladly use, before I change into my new nightshirt. Someday, when I can stomach the thought of speaking to her, I’ll have to thank Tara for picking out my clothes and stuff. On my way back to the bedroom I force myself to recall the past, to not forget what he has done to me, but it’s becoming harder to do so with this mating bond so strong between us.
“Did you have a good day?” Cole asks in the darkness while I lie on my back, staring up at the ceiling. I’m so warm, I don’t want to use the blanket that’s covering his naked body. A body I can’t stop thinking about and remembering and longing for. I feel like my skin is going to split—like it’s stretched too tightly over my frame.
“I did,” I manage to tell him while clenching my fists and digging my nails into my palms. This way, I can’t reach out and touch him.
“Good. I feel like I did something right.”
I stare at the ceiling for a few minutes before I finally close my eyes, willing myself not to look at him. Not like it helps, because now I see him in my head. The happy smile he wore when he gave me the guitar, now propped up in the corner. The way we laughed together at a show he streamed on his laptop. The way my heart kept trying to bust out of my chest every time our eyes met.
I’m going to explode if I don’t touch him now. There’s no way I can lie here like this all night and be alive by morning. The strain I’m under will kill me way before dawn.
Opening my eyes, I turn my head to look at him. He’s asleep, on his side, facing me. His soft snores make me smile to myself while I admire his stunning body, only half hidden by the blanket. His scent is intoxicating, drawing me in, making my body hum until there’s nothing left to do but what I’ve yearned for all day in the form of a soft, lingering kiss.
Chapter 12
Cole
This can’t be real,right? I’m still asleep. There is no way I actually feel Nora’s lips against mine. I have to be dreaming.
Although it feels very real. The pressure from her lips. They’re so plump and firm, but yielding when I kiss her back. Fuck, her taste! Intoxicating, wrapping itself around me, leaving me almost drowning in desire while my cock goes rigid. I would give anything for this to go on and on.
When the enticing aroma of her arousal reaches my awareness, reality hits. This is happening, this is no dream. She is kissing me. She’s pressing her body to mine like she’s hungry. Ready. Aching for me the way I ache for her—and ready to do something about it.
I bury my hands in her hair, tilting her head to fit our mouths together better, then plunge deeper inside. Her hands touch my chest, fingers curling into claws before her nails scrape my skin as primal desire starts to take hold.
She makes a desperate sound, moaning into my mouth when it’s not enough to extinguish the fire tearing her apart. I can only imagine what she’s going through. Torn between what her instincts demand and what her brain tells her she shouldn’t do. There’s no fighting this—she’ll figure it out soon. For right now, she’s struggling, giving into her passion, but hating herself for it. And I hate that she has to feel that way. I would do anything to take all of it away.
She throws a leg over me, straddling my overheated body. She is just as hot, almost sizzling when I place my hands on her hips. And still, she kisses me hard, almost angrily, while I reach between us to guide myself into her quivering entrance. So hot, so wet, like a river flowing from her in anticipation of being with her mate.
So tight.So hot, silky, wrapping around me like a glove as she lowers herself one excruciating inch at a time. It’s almost too much, but I hold back for her sake. She’s just as new to this as I am, and I don’t want to hurt my mate. Instead of taking control, I let her have it, satisfied to touch her while the heat between us blazes like an inferno.
She breaks the kiss to pull in a gasp, her hands on my chest to brace herself while she rides. Her eyes are closed, her lips parted, her brow wrinkled in concentration. So beautiful. So perfect. How did I never see it before?
Her hair swings with every move of her head, brushing against my skin, sending sizzles of electricity racing through me until they end at my core. The tension is building in my aching balls, heavy with the need to release everything I’ve been trying to hold back. All of the want, all of the craving, it’s all a little closer to being unleashed every time she drives herself down to my base, rolling her hips, grinding hard. Taking what she needs.
And I happily give it. My hands now roam her silky skin, cupping her tits, massaging them, flicking her nipples with my thumbs until she sinks her teeth into her lip to hold back a moan. I wish she wouldn’t. I want to hear her. I want her to feel free, to go wild. I feel it in her, that bubbling, churning passion, waiting to be unleashed.Give it to me. Give it all to me.
I have to grit my teeth when she starts moving harder, bouncing up and down. I want to come. I need to come, but not until she does. Not until I feel her shatter. Her muscles start to tighten around me as her nails start to sink into my chest. I savor the sensation, giving over to the primal urge to fill her with my seed.
“I am… I’m… Oh, god…!” Then her head snaps back, her golden hair fanning out behind her. Her mouth opens in a silent cry before the tension breaks.
