“It does.” His mate hopped up to sit on the counter beside where Kivani was working, his legs swinging slightly. “So what are we testing?”
“Just the flavor. I want to see how sweet these apples are, if they'll need more sugar in the recipe or if the natural sweetness is enough.” Kivani cut into an apple, the knife sliding through the crisp flesh easily. Juice ran onto the cutting board, and the smell of fresh apple filled the kitchen. He cut a slice and held it up to Dakota. “Try this.”
Dakota leaned forward and took the slice directly from Kivani’s fingers, his mate’s lips brushing against his skin for just a moment. Kivani felt the touch everywhere, his tiger rumbling approval at the contact. Dakota chewed slowly, his eyes on Kivani’s face.
“It’s really sweet,” his mate said. “Like, naturally sweet. You probably won’t need much added sugar.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” He cut another slice and ate it himself, the fruit cool and crisp on his tongue. He was hyperaware of Dakota sitting beside him, close enough to touch, his legs still swinging in that absent way that made him seem younger than he probably was. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Twenty-four. Why?” Dakota tilted his head, hair falling across his face.
“Just curious.” Kivani cut another apple, this time slicing it into thin wedges. Twenty-four. His mate was so young, had barely lived any life at all. Kivani was three hundred years older, had seen empires rise and fall, had lived more lifetimes than Dakota could imagine. The age gap should have bothered him, but his tiger didn’t care. A mate was a mate, regardless of how many years separated them. “You seem older sometimes.”
“I’ve been told that before.” Dakota took another slice of apple from the cutting board. “I think it’s because I’m anxious all the time. Makes me seem more serious than I actually am.”
“What are you anxious about?”
His mate’s legs stopped swinging, attention focused on the apple slice in his hand. “Just stuff. Life stuff. The usual.”
Kivani recognized the deflection for what it was and didn’t push.
“You’re doing it again,” Dakota said softly.
Kivani looked up. “Doing what?”
“Getting all tense. Your jaw does this thing where it clenches.” His mate reached out and pressed his fingers against Kivani’s jaw, right where the muscle was tight. The touch sent electricity racing through his entire body. “See? Right there.”
Kivani forced himself to relax under his mate’s touch. “Sorry. Got lost in my head.”
“What were you thinking about?” Dakota’s fingers were still pressed against his jaw, warm and soft.
“You.” The truth slipped out before Kivani could stop it. “Thinking about you.”
Dakota’s hand stilled. His eyes were huge, pupils dilated. “What about me?”
“That I like having you here. That I want you to stay.” Kivani turned his head slightly, and Dakota’s fingers slid along his jaw to his ear. “That you’re beautiful and I can’t stop looking at you.”
Dakota’s breath caught, audible in the quiet kitchen. “Kivani—”
“Tell me if I’m reading this wrong.” Kivani set down the knife and turned to face Dakota fully, stepping into the space between his dangling legs. “Tell me if you don’t feel this too.”
Kivani reached out slowly, giving his mate time to pull away. His fingers found that strand of hair that was always falling forward, and he tucked it behind Dakota’s ear himself, letting his hand linger against the side of his mate’s face. The human’s skin was so soft, so warm. Dakota’s eyes fluttered closed, and he leaned into the touch just slightly.
“I feel it.” Dakota’s voice came out barely above a whisper. His hands came up to rest on Kivani’s shoulders, tentative and testing. “I’ve been feeling it since I moved in.”
Kivani’s hands found his mate’s hips, his fingers pressing into the soft fabric of his sweater. His tiger was practically yowling, demanding he close the distance, claim his mate, make the human understand what they were to each other. But he held back, giving his mate space to decide.
Dakota made the choice for him. He leaned forward, hands sliding up to cup Kivani’s face, and pressed their mouths together.
The kiss was soft at first, questioning. Dakota’s lips were warm and tasted like apple and cinnamon sugar. His hands tightened on his mate’s hips, pulling him closer to the edge of the counter. Dakota made a small sound and opened his mouth, and Kivani deepened the kiss, tongues sliding together.
Heat flooded through Kivani’s entire body. His tiger surged forward, pleased and possessive, rumbling so loudly he was sure Dakota could hear it. But the sound that came out was barely audible, just a soft growl that vibrated in his throat.
Dakota pulled back slightly, his eyes wide. “Did you just—”
“Sorry.” His hands were still on his mate’s hips, keeping him close. “I didn’t mean to scare—”
“No, it was…” Dakota’s face was flushed, his lips slightly swollen. “It was really hot, actually.”
