Kara needed to shut up.She knew she did. She was literally chanting in her head, “Kara, shut up.” But did her lips stop? No. “You’re tall and muscular, with these brooding good looks and devouring obsidian eyes. You walk around with this devil-may-care attitude.” She took a deep breath and let it out as she added, “But you’re also kind and gentle. And really, reallystrong.”
“Is that important?” heasked.
She could tell he was trying hard not to grin. And she seriouslyappreciatedit.
“Maybe, yes. I can’t say that if I was out hunting for a werewolf mate that I would be like, ‘Hey, who’s the weakest of the bunch? Yeah, Iwantyou.’”
He threw his head back andlaughed.
Kara stood there staring at him, wanting to laugh, too, because she was being ridiculous, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He was simply striking andbreathtaking.
When his laughter died down, he lowered his head and looked at her through hooded eyes. Kara decided then and there that he was dangerous, and she should be afraid because he had the power tocrushher.
He stood abruptly and pushed the chair out from between them. Kara’s head tilted back as she looked up at him. Nick took a step closer and took her face in his large, warm hands. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she wondered if he couldhearit.
“Yes,” he whispered. “I canhearit.”
She licked her lips, and his eyes followed the movement.“Are you going to kiss me?”she blurted out, using their bond for the first time. Apparently, she had no control over her mouth in their mental communication any better than she didverbally.
His lips twitched as though he considered smiling.“Do you want me tokissyou?”
“That’s sort of loadedquestion.”
“It’s actually pretty simple, sweetheart. Yes, you want my lips on yours. Or no youdon’t.”
“Do you want to kiss me?”sheasked.
His brow dipped into a sharpV, and he seemed to be wrestling with something but Kara couldn’t hear his thoughts.“I do. Desperately. But you’reseventeen.”
She frowned. “Does my age turnyouoff?”
He kept his hands on her face, his thumbs gently rubbing her cheeks. “No, it’s just, you’re a bit of a minor. I feel like I’m taking advantageofyou.”
Kara reached up and wrapped her hands around his wrists, needing to touch him. “Nick, I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. I realize my age is seventeen, but my maturity and ability to make mature choices is well above the legal age, I assure you. If Iletyou kiss me, it’s not because I’m young and vulnerable and so enamored with your incredible hotness that I can’t make my own choice. If Iletyou kiss me, it’s because I know you’re my true mate. I didn’t understand what that really meant until this morning, when I felt you in my mind. But I understand now. And I understand that I want a chance to have what Sally and Costin have, and what Peri and Lucian have. I want that. I want that with you. Does that make you feel like you’re taking advantageofme?”
He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers. “No. It makes me want to kissyoumore.”
She stood there, enjoying his hands on her skin and waited. She’d made it clear that she was all in. Was she scared of getting her heart broken? Yes. Was she afraid that one day he’d wake up and see that he’d been saddled with an orphan with bags of insecurities? Most definitely. But was she willing to take a chance that maybe, just maybe, he would fall in love with her?Hell.Yes.
“If I kiss you, I won’t be able to let you go. My wolf is already attached, as am I. But if you let me get even a small taste of you, my mate, I will follow you to the ends of the earth. And attack any male who comesnearyou.”
She continued to wait, holding his eyes withherown.
He let out a low growl. “I’m going to hell.” His hand slid through her hair, tugging gently, forcing her head back as his lips crashed downontohers.
Kara wondered how something could feel so right but still scare the ever-loving gypsy out of her. Because kissing Nick, yeah, it pretty much felt like her lips had been created for his. His hand slid down, wrapping around her waist, and he pulled her flush against him. She gasped at the bold move, and he chuckled as he took advantage of her opened mouth. His tongue swept in and touched hers, demanding and coaxing her to respond. She mirrored his movements, molding her lips to his and letting her tongue danceagainsthis.
When he pulled back from her, his breathing was just as harsh as her own. Kara’s eyes were still closed as she stuffed the memory of their first kiss away so she could alwayssavorit.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart,” Nick said as he ran his fingers up and down herspine.
Kara blinked several times before finally looking up at him. He was looking down at her with unabashed desire and awe. “It’s never felt like thatbefore.”
Nick growled. “I know you didn’t know about our world before, but it is still difficult to imagine that you’ve kissed other males before me. There will be none after me,” he said with asmirk.
“Even if there were, with one kiss, you’ve ruined me for any other first kiss oranykiss for that matter,”Karasaid.
Nick moved in quickly as he pressed a firm but quick kiss to her lips. “Good. I’ll be sure that every kiss is better thanthelast.”
