He blinked, and I wondered if perhaps I had offended him, before he said, “If you would like. I know it is rather unnerving.”
“The whole situation is unnerving,” I said, as lightly as I could. “You are hardly the most disturbing part of it.”
“Once again, you amaze me, Ichabod,” Reiter said.
“Will I hurt you?” I asked, suddenly wondering if I was asking too much to take his head from him. It was not as if I, or most anyone, ever had a reason to ask such a question.
“No,” Reiter soothed before his hands lifted, and he held out his head to me, as if presenting a priceless gem. His eyes focused on mine, his thin lips curled into a reassuring smile.
I received his head into my hands, cradling it lightly with my fingers on either side of his jaw, trying to hold it for the precious vessel it was. It was oddly heavy, but I was careful not to press my fingers into his skin or bones, though I suspected I would not do any damage even if I did. I lifted him until his dark eyes were even with mine. His tongue slid out to brush his upper lip nervously, which for some reason made my heart flutter a bit in my chest. How could a man so terrifying and confident be so uncertain over something so simple? “Is this all right?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said, and I was oddly glad he did not try to nod while I held him, for holding his head with nothing attached to it was an extraordinarily odd feeling as it was, never mind extraneous movement. His body remained still where he sat a few feet away, fingers curled into the knees of his trousers, as if to keep from reaching for me.
I slowly leaned in, his eyes watching mine, and I carefully pressed my mouth to his in the first kiss I had bestowed upon anyone’s lips. It was not a good kiss, holding his face uncertainly, my mouth inexperienced in the pressure and the angle, but it was a kiss, nonetheless. When I pulled back from him, he blinked at me with those dark eyes and then smiled softly. “Was that strange?”
I laughed at that. “A little, but it is not as though I have done that with anyone else, so I do not have much of a comparison.”
Reiter laughed at that too, the vibrations of it barely discernable on my palms. “I suppose that to be true.”
“Is it strange for you?” I asked curiously.
Reiter’s shoulders on his body shrugged nonchalantly, but there was something in the press of his lips together and the slight wrinkle between his eyes that betrayed his eagerness. “I have not kissed anyone while I have been in this form. It is a little strange. But not unpleasant.”
“I am glad to know that I am not an unpleasant companion,” I said with a chuckle.
“You can do it again if you’d like,” Reiter said.
I raised a brow. “Wouldyoulike that?”
It seemed like he was trying to not show his enthusiasm as he simply replied, “Yes.”
So I kissed him. It was still awkward and clumsy, but he did not seem to care, his lips pressing eagerly to mine. His eyes slid closed, and I mimicked him, backing off a little for him to take control of the kiss. It was warm and firm. His tongue suddenly brushed over my lips, and I jumped, pulling him back from my face. He blanched. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I…” I brushed my own tongue over my lower lip. “I just was not expecting that.”
“I will not do it if you don’t like it.”
“I was too surprised to know if I liked it,” I said, giving him a smile. I drew him close to me again, pressing my mouth lightly to his. He kissed me back before opening his mouth against mine and brushing his tongue delicately across my lower lip. My lips parted, and his tongue drifted into my mouth. It was strange, though not unpleasant. But he moaned softly, and that sound sent a shiver of pleasure through me that I had not expected. He must have felt it, because he did it again, and I was glad I was sitting down, because my legs gave a slight tremble.
He finally moved a little to pull back, and I cradled his head lightly between my hands. “You liked that?”
I felt my cheeks heat again. “It was enjoyable enough.”
He tipped his head slightly in my hands, which felt disconcerting. “But?”
“I liked the sounds you were making more,” I confessed.
His brown eyes went wide, and he chuckled. “Oh, really?”
I gave him a shy smile. “Is that strange?”
“No,” Reiter said, giving his head a small shake in my grip. “You seem to be attuned to sound, so it would make sense.”
That made me laugh, and I leaned in to give him a quick peck on the lips. “You already know me so well.”
His grin turned lascivious. “I would like to know you even more.”
“What do you want to know about me?” I asked. He stared for a moment before his eyes flicked down to the front of my trousers. I blushed when his meaning became clear. “Oh. I… am not sure I am ready for that.”
