Then he kissed me back.
His hands slid into my hair, cradling my head, holding me like I was something precious he was afraid might break. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, like he was waiting for meto change my mind, his lips trembling slightly against mine. But when I pressed closer, when I made a small sound of encouragement against his lips, something in him broke open.
He pulled me up into his lap without breaking the kiss, his arms wrapping around me, his mouth moving against mine with growing confidence. He tasted like wine and something sweeter underneath — honey, maybe, like his scent made edible, like everything about him distilled into one perfect taste. I could feel his heart pounding against my chest, could feel the rumble building in his throat.
A purr. Deep and resonant and so full of happiness it made my own chest vibrate in response, made something warm and content unfurl in my stomach. I pulled back just enough to look at him, and his face was transformed — eyes bright and wet, cheeks flushed, lips swollen from kissing, a smile spreading across his features that was nothing like his usual nervous grin. This was pure joy, uncomplicated and overwhelming, lighting him up from the inside.
"You kissed me." His voice was dazed, wondering, his hands still tangled in my hair like he was afraid to let go, his amber eyes searching my face like he was memorizing every detail.
"I did." I couldn't help smiling at his expression, at the way he was looking at me like I'd hung the stars, his scent wrapping around me like a warm blanket. "Was that okay?"
"Okay?" He laughed, the sound bright and disbelieving, his arms tightening around me, his purr intensifying until I could feel it in my bones. "That was... that was..." He shook his head, seemingly unable to find words, and kissed me again instead.
This kiss was deeper, more confident, his tongue sliding against mine in a way that made heat pool low in my belly. His scent was everywhere now — honey and orange blossoms, warm and intoxicating — and I could feel his body responding beneath me, could feel the evidence of his arousal pressing against mythigh. He didn't push for more. Just kissed me like he could do it forever, like this was everything he'd ever wanted and he didn't need anything else, his hands gentle on my back, his purr a constant vibration between us.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, his eyes were shining with unshed tears again — but these were different. These were happy.
"You taste like honey." The words slipped out before I could stop them, and his smile turned impish, some of his usual playfulness creeping back, his amber eyes sparkling with mischief.
"That's your line." His voice was teasing, warm, his thumb tracing my lower lip in a way that made me shiver, his grin widening. "I'm the one who's supposed to say that." I laughed, the sound surprised out of me, and he grinned — that brilliant, sunshine grin that I was beginning to realize I'd do anything to see.
"Stay." The word came out soft, hopeful, his hands tightening on my waist, his amber eyes going vulnerable again. "Not for — I mean, we don't have to — I just want to be with you. We can watch a movie or just talk or?—"
"Kol." I cut off his rambling with another soft kiss, feeling him melt against me, feeling his purr stutter and then intensify. "I'll stay."
His whole face lit up, and he pulled me close, burying his face against my neck, breathing in deep like he was trying to memorize my scent, his purr rumbling through both of us like a promise.
"Thank you." His voice was muffled against my skin, thick with emotion, his arms wrapped around me so tight I could barely breathe, but I didn't want him to let go. "For seeing me. For wanting me. For not thinking I'm too much."
"You're exactly enough." I ran my fingers through his hair, feeling him melt against me, feeling the tension finally drain from his body. "You're exactly right."
We stayed like that for a long time — tangled together in his kitchen chair, surrounded by the remnants of the dinner he'd made, his purr a constant vibration against my chest. The candles burned lower, the music played on, and somewhere in the house I could hear the others moving around, giving us space, letting us have this moment.
This was what I'd been afraid of, I realized. This intimacy, this vulnerability, this letting someone see the soft parts and trusting them not to hurt you. But sitting here in Kol's arms, feeling his happiness seep into my bones, I couldn't remember why I'd been so scared.
He wasn't too much.
He was exactly what I needed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
ASTER
Two days after our kitchen dinner, Kol appeared in my doorway with a grin so wide it looked like it might split his face in half.
"Get dressed." His voice was bright with excitement, his amber eyes practically sparkling, his whole body vibrating with barely contained energy as he bounced on the balls of his feet, his honey-blonde hair flopping with each movement. "We're going on an adventure."
I looked up from the book I'd been reading — one Nolan had lent me about local wildflowers — and raised an eyebrow. "An adventure?"
"A date." He corrected himself, the word coming out softer, more hopeful, his cheeks flushing slightly even as his grin stayed firmly in place, his hands twisting together in front of him. "A proper date. Just you and me. I'm taking you to Cedar Falls — it's about an hour away, bigger town, actual shops and stuff. I want to show you things. Buy you things." He bounced again, unable to contain the energy thrumming through him. "If that's okay. Isthat okay? We don't have to if you don't want to, but I've been planning and I really think you'll like it and?—"
"Kol." I set the book aside, unable to suppress my smile at his enthusiasm, warmth spreading through my chest at the way he was looking at me — like I was something precious he couldn't quite believe was real. "That sounds perfect."
His whole face lit up, his scent spiking with joy so strongly I could taste it — honey and orange blossoms, bright and sweet and utterly happy.
"Yeah?" His voice cracked on the word, hope and disbelief mingling in his expression, his amber eyes searching my face like he was looking for the catch. "Really? Because I wasn't sure if you'd want to — I mean, we just did the dinner thing, and I didn't want to be too much, but I saw this bookstore online and I thought of you, and there's this ice cream place that has like forty flavors, and?—"
"Kol." I stood up and crossed to him, reaching up to press a finger to his lips, feeling them curve into a smile beneath my touch, feeling the warmth of his breath against my skin. "You're rambling."
