My hands slid from his jaw so my arms could coil around his neck, my fingers weaving into his hair.
He hugged me closer.
From our chins all the way to our middles, we were pressed together. It felt comfortable, being this close to him.
It felt right.
We stood there, clinging to each other, for long minutes.
I didn’t want to let go—if anything, I wanted to get even closer.
His chest rose and fell in sync with mine, a detail that brought a strange prickling to the backs of my eyes.
The rich scent of oak and jasmine filled my lungs. I inhaled greedily, savoring the aroma.
I would miss it, when he was gone.
My stomach lurched.
Shade shifted, leaning back just enough to grip my chin and tilt my face up.
He scanned my expression, absorbing every detail.
Steely determination shone in his eyes.
And he bent, sealing his lips to mine.
CHAPTER 44
Ginger
Shade kissed me thoroughly and meticulously, stroking my lips with his and coaxing my mouth to open.
His tongue was urgent when it met mine.
He used his grip on my chin to hold my head still, maintaining control, his other arm an iron bar on my lower back.
He licked into my mouth, slow and languid. I matched his intensity. I wanted more, I wanted everything he was willing to give me.
When he sucked on my lower lip, my back arched, and a shiver shot down my spine.
My breasts rubbed against his chest teasingly.
I suddenly felt overheated. I was wearing entirely too much clothing.
Like he could read my mind, deft fingers inched to the hem of my tunic and slipped beneath the fabric.
I nearly moaned when his fingers met the skin of my back.
His hand inched up, palm splaying flat at the center of my spine. He kept it there for a moment. When I didn’t pullaway, he slid the hand around, caressing the side of my ribcage. My thundering heart threatened to burst free.
His hand slid to my front.
His fingers turned and splayed, resting on my ribs, thumb halting on my sternum.
It was then he realized that I wasn’t wearing anything beneath my tunic.
His hand froze there, just below the curve of my breast, so close I wanted to scream. One twitch, one movement, and he would have me in the palm of his hand.
