I broke the kiss with a laugh that came out breathless.
Saint rested his forehead against mine, smiling like he was amused, even though his breathing had changed.“Your dog just cockblocked me,” he murmured.
“He’s protective,” I whispered back, still smiling.
Saint kissed the corner of my mouth.“So am I.”
The words landed heavy, not threatening.Just true.
I swallowed.“We should go home,” I said, and my voice sounded rough.
Saint’s eyes darkened.“Yeah,” he agreed softly.“We should.”
Back at my place, Salt and Pepper burst inside like they were checking for intruders.Pepper immediately trotted to his water bowl, took three aggressive slurps, then came back to stand between me and Saint like he was supervising.
Salt did a slow circle of the living room, then settled near the couch, head down but eyes open.Always watching.
Saint shut the door behind us and turned the lock, then checked it once more like it was habit.
“You always do that?”I asked quietly.
He shrugged out of his jacket.“Yeah.”
I kicked off my boots and turned toward him, suddenly unsure what to do with my hands.
Saint stepped closer, and the space between us vanished.
His fingers slid into my hair, tugged gently, and tipped my head back as he kissed me again, this time without interruption.
The kiss went straight through me.
“Saint,” I whispered.
He pulled back just enough to look at me.His eyes were dark now.“Tell me to stop,” he said.
I shook my head.“Don’t.”
Saint’s jaw flexed, like that single word snapped something loose.
He lifted me then, easy, like my weight didn’t matter, and I made a surprised sound as my legs wrapped around his waist on instinct.
“Bedroom?”he asked against my mouth.
“Yes,” I breathed.
He carried me like it was nothing.
When he set me down on the bed, he didn’t climb on top of me right away.He stayed standing, with his hands on my hips, and looked down at me like he was trying to memorize the sight.
The way his gaze moved made me shiver.
“You’re sure?”he asked again, quieter this time.
I reached for him, and my fingers caught the front of his shirt to pull him closer.“I’m sure.”
Saint exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for days.
Then he bent and kissed me again, and the kiss turned hot fast.
