Nico looked to his left and to his right and then back at Elise with a grin. "I haven't seen any creepy dudes. I think I scared him off."
She pressed her lips together tight, and he could tell she was trying to hold back a smile. "You—" She cut herself off. "Come on." She jerked her head to the side.
She led him down a path where there weren't any other visitors, and he thought it might be a private area, but there was signage that seemed to be there for the public. They passed a sign that said "Insect House" and then she turned a corner to go behind it where there was a little covered area that didn't look over onto anything in particular.
"No one ever comes here," she said, turning to face him. "Well, except for people who are trying to sneak a smoke. But I thought we could talk."
Nico breathed in deep and mostly caught the scent of lilacs and shampoo and Elise. Under it all there was a lingering odor of nicotine. But it was fairly old. If someone smoked over here, it had been a while.
"What are you doing here, Nico?" Elise looked up at him and rested her hands on her hips.
Of all the people he thought he would have to make excuses to, he hadn't thought about what he would say to her.
Maybe a small part of him had thought she would be too happy to see him and accept his presence, like he belonged there.
Because heshouldbelong there, and they both knew it.
"I was just making sure you hadn't gotten arrested." He felt the urge to reach out and touch her and forced it down fiercely.
"Is that really why you're here?" she pressed. She crossed her arms under her breasts, and Nico put in a valiant effort not to stare.
"My eyes are up here, buddy," she said after a minute.
Some efforts were doomed to fail.
"You shouldn't be here." She dropped her arms. "My coven sisters barely let me out of the house this morning to come to work, and I'm pretty sure one of them is going torandomly," she rolled her eyes, "drop by and check on me around lunchtime. If they see you here, if they get any hint that you're here?—"
"I'm not trying to cause trouble," he interrupted, taking half a step forward.
"I know that, but it was supposed to be goodbye forever, and it's been less than a week. Are you here to declare war between your pack and my coven or something?"
"That is the last thing I would want." His voice dropped lower, the words a vow.
He hadn't meant to do it, but he had stepped even closer, and Elise was leaning toward him. There was only an inch or two of space separating them now.
The heat radiating from her body called to him, and he could smell the subtle shift in her scent, something sweet and wanting that made his wolf pace restlessly beneath his skin. He needed to back off, but she was a magnet, and he was steel. And when her eyes flicked down to his lips, he couldn't stop himself from leaning forward and capturing her mouth in a desperate kiss.
Electricity andneedscoured him. Her lips were soft and yielding against his, and the small sound she made in the back of her throat nearly tore him to shreds.
She moaned against him, and he found the clip that was holding her hair back and undid it, his fingers threading through the thick strands of her hair and holding her close like that was some way he could control her. Her hair was silk between his fingers, warm from the sun, and he tightened his grip just enough to angle her head back, exposing the long line of her throat.
This woman would never be controlled.
This thing between them was completely uncontrollable. His other hand trailed down her back until he found the curve of her hip and pulled her even closer, her body pressed against his from chest to thigh.
She was so soft against his hard body. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, her hips brushing against his hardening cock. It took every ounce of control not to grind against her right there.
She opened her mouth, and his tongue swept in.
He didn't know what he was thinking, but her dress was right there, riding up already, and as his fingers danced up her thighs, she moaned, "Yes, yes, more, please," and he found the fabric of her panties right there, damp between her thighs.
The heat of her arousal soaked through the thin cotton, and when he pressed his palm against her, she jerked in his arms, her nails digging into his shoulders hard enough that he felt them even through the thick cotton of his shirt.
He teased her entrance with his finger. Elise gasped against him and then buried her face in his neck, something that made his inner wolf growl in delight.
Her breath came hot and fast against his throat, her lips brushing the pulse point there, and a possessive surge of need roared through him. Using her own moisture, he circled that tight nub between her legs and swallowed down every gasp until she panted his name. Her body was frozen in his arms as she rippled around him and came.
Her inner muscles clenched against his finger, her whole body trembling and tight. He felt each shudder and pulse like it was his own release, his wolf preening at having brought his mate this pleasure.
