Nathan’s eyes widened. “What?” he said on a breath. “What do you mean ‘yours’? What does that mean?”
Storm pressed closer, penning Nathan in the circle of his arms and the driver’s side door. He didn’t seem alarmed to be trapped there, nor did he try to push Storm away. Instead, he tipped his head back, peering up at Storm’s face as though Storm held all the answers and they were only a breath away.
“I honestly thought the others were being dramatic,” Storm confessed, realizing after the fact that theothersin question might be able to hear him from inside the Rink. “I didn’t think their obsession with their humans made any sense. But then I met you. And you’re so perfect. You’re honest and strong andradiant. You’re what sunshine would feel like if it didn’t burn.”
Nathan sucked in a shocked gasp. Their bodies lined up, and Nathan’s hands fell to his waist, gripping tightly but otherwise unmoving.
“You’re mine. I can feel it. I know you can, too.”
“This can’t happen,” Nathan breathed. “It’s dangerous.”
“All the best things in life are,” Storm countered. He stole in for a kiss, and Nathan didn’t rebuff him. He kept it light, a quick brushing of lips. “Tell me you feel nothing for me, and I’ll back off. Tell me you don’t feel it. Tell me last night meant nothing to you.”
Nathan closed his eyes, his face twisting.
“Tell me,” he ordered, his voice low.
Nathan didn’t respond. His hands fisted in Storm’s shirt.
“Kiss me.” Another order, this one nearly lost on the sun-warmed breeze.
Nathan closed the space between them, tipping his face back and sealing their mouths together. Storm caught the back of his head in one hand, holding firm as he guided Nathan’s mouth open, tangling their tongues together and tasting the remnants of the white chocolate mocha he’d devoured. Nathan’s arms twined around his back, and Storm uttered a rumbling, inhuman growl that had Nathan’s grip tightening in response.
All too soon, Nathan pulled away. “This doesn’t change anything?—”
“Shut up and kiss me again.”
And Nathan obeyed, reeling Storm in and opening for him right away, letting Storm lick into his mouth and meeting his tongue with his own eager one. Their hips lined up, and when Storm felt Nathan’s hard length in his jeans, heat seared straight down his spine.
“Are they about to fuck in the parking lot?” Malachi asked from inside the Rink. “I was going to take Luke for lunch.”
“If they’re doing that in the parking lot, we’re staying in here,” Luke declared. “I don’t want to see that.”
Storm didn’t want to share this side of Nathan with anyone, so with great reluctance, he parted from Nathan, slowing their kisses to light pecks and finally opening his eyes. Nathan’s were still closed, his brow furrowed adorably.
When he finally opened his eyes, they were filled with regret. “This can’t change anything.”
Storm sighed.
“You’re right, Idofeel… something. I don’t know what it is. But my job has to come first. The truce has to come first. If it all goes up in smoke later, so be it. At least then I’ll know I gave it my best shot.”
Nathan would keep trying to change the guild from within until it bit him in the ass. Storm would just have to be there to make sure he came out the other side unharmed.
“Okay, sunshine,” Storm agreed, brushing Nathan’s bottom lip with his thumb, and Nathan’s gaze went heavy-lidded with want. “I’m not going to disappear, though. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, even from your own nobility.”
His silver eyes sharpened. “I don’t need protection frommyself.”
“Debatable,” Storm said, tugging Nathan away from the car so he could open the door for him. “Go on. Give your report, go on your patrol, do your noble warrior thing. I’ll see you later.”
Giving him one last suspicious look, Nathan got in the car and drove away.
Chapter12
Nathan
The driveto HQ seemed to take no time at all, and soon enough he was logging in for the day and making his way to Sloan’s office for that report. It was early afternoon now, and HQ was bustling with activity. He passed out various greetings to people as he walked the familiar path.
He braced himself before he knocked, certain that navigating this conversation was going to be just as difficult as last time, if not more so.
