Mentally preparing himself, he stepped toward the bathroom door, only to halt when it opened abruptly. There she stood, clothed in his oversized button-down plaid shirt tied in the front and faded jean skirt that fell just above her knees with a pink rope belt. Her golden hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, revealing her flushed cheeks and sparkling hazel eyes.
She was breathtaking.
“Monte?”
“Do you…” He trailed off again, unsure of how to phrase his question without sounding foolish. Kiri watched him, a curiosity gleaming in her eyes that was almost as enchanting as her smile. “Do you have any…any magical powers? Because I feel like you’ve enchanted me.”
“Magic?” Kiri asked, her eyebrows rising in surprise. He could see the blush creep up on her cheeks as she met his gaze.
“Yes,” Monte answered gruffly. The sun had found its way into the room now, blessing her hair with a glow that almost seemed ethereal. She looked less like a woman and more like a celestial creature blessed by the gods themselves.
“But…why would you think that?” Kiri asked after a moment of silence. “I’m not some witch… nor have I ever met one.”
“Because…” Monte hesitated again before finally shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t know. I just feel different around you. Different in a good way.”
“Different?” Kiri echoed, tilting her head slightly to the side as if considering his words.
“Yeah.” Monte gave her a sheepish smile as he moved closer. He was acutely aware of the powerful beating of his heart, the warmth radiating from Kiri mere inches away. He reached out a large hand, lightly brushing a stray lock of blonde hair from her face. The simple touch sent a spark of electricity through him, stronger than any magic spell. “I can’t explain it in words, but you’ve got a hold on me, Kiri.”
Kiri raised an eyebrow at him and then burst into laughter. “Are you teasing me?”
He shook his head, snorting as he looked down at her. “Why would I tease you about something so serious?” His gaze softened as he watched her laughter subside and her cheeks return to their normal color.
“No magic,” Kiri stated finally, reaching up to rest her hand on top of his larger one still perched on her cheek. “Would you think less of me if I admitted that I am equally enchanted by you?”
A shiver of thrill rifled through him, causing Monte’s heart to skip a beat. His breath hitched as he stared down at her, hazel eyes gleaming in the dawning morning light, full of sincerity and something he had not dared hope for. No one had ever looked at him like that before, let alone spoken such words.
“Think less?” He stumbled over the words, fingers involuntarily tightening around hers. “Oh, Kiri, you’ve got it all wrong. You’ve got me spellbound.”
Her eyebrows furrowed, a hint of uncertainty shadowing her gaze. “How so?”
He took a deep breath, his thumb tracing soft circles upon her cheekbone, drinking in her features as if seeing them for the first time. “I’ve never known anyone to look beyond my appearance. To say such things to me. To want to get to know me…”
“Then they obviously didn’t see what I see,” Kiri replied softly.
Monte let out a soft growl that echoed from somewhere deep within him as an unfamiliar tightness spread across his chest. “And what do you see?”
“Someone who is caring and kind underneath all that…” The corners of her mouth tilted upward into a small smile, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes as she patted his hand lightly before dropping it. “I suppose I’ll just need to remedy that, won’t I?”
Kiri launched herself at him, her lips meeting his with a fervor that left him stunned, sending shockwaves rippling down his spine. Her hands came up to cradle his jaw, thumbs stroking the fine fur there as she parted his lips with her own.
His blood ignited like wildfire, each nerve ending flaring in response to the foreign sensation. Overwhelmed and hungry for more, he reacted on instinct; one broad hand encircling her waist while the other nestled against the small of her back, pulling her securely against his solid frame. His tongue brushed tentatively against hers, deepening the kiss—a symphony of sensations roused by her taste alone—sweet like honey and intoxicating like the finest ambrosia.
Her smooth skin met rough calluses as he hoisted Kiri into his arms; she weighed nothing more than a feather.
He could feel the rapid pulse of her heart against his chest and smelled the faint scent of her vanilla shampoo mingled with the minty freshness from her medication. Monte grunted at the sudden closeness, the intimate heat that now radiated between them.
Carrying her like she was precious cargo, he never broke their kiss as he carefully maneuvered back into the bathroom, making sure he didn’t accidentally injure her or her strained ankle.
Kiri gasped against his lips as he set her down onto the large bathroom sink counter.
Monte’s hands roamed freely over Kiri’s body, tracing the elegant curves of her waist and hips; each touch igniting a fire deep within him that he couldn’t resist. He deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring every inch of her mouth as if trying to imprint her taste into his memory.
Kiri moaned into his mouth, her fingers tightening in his hair as she pulled him even closer and between her legs.
He snarled, giving into her demands, caging her between his arms as he got lost into the burning sensations. He pressed himself against her, groaning at the feel of her soft curves against his hard chest.
The kiss was different this time—burning with unsaid desires and unquenched thirsts. Their tongues danced together in a slow, seductive rhythm that had Monte’s heart thundering in his chest like a drum.
