Then, it’s time to sample.
“Incredible,” Rupert says, devouring another whole cookie.
“Next time I’ll do lemon white chocolate. That will really blow your mind.”
He bares all his teeth when he grins. “I can’t wait to have my mind blown.”
When he’s finished with his fourth cookie, I notice Rupert has a spot of chocolate on his face, just at the corner of his mouth. I point at it and giggle.
“You got chocolate on yourself.”
Furrowing his brow, Rupert licks his chops in a way that reminds me a great deal of a dog, but he misses the spot completely. Laughing harder, I reach up to his face and wipe off the chocolate with my index finger. Then, on reflex, I bring it to my mouth and lick it.
Rupert’s smile falters, and his mane bristles. I realize what a faux pas I just made.
“Oh, gosh, sorry,” I say, backing away from him andwiping my finger off on a towel. “You just couldn’t reach it, and?—”
He lowers his head, taking a matching step toward me. Suddenly, I’m up against the counter, standing in his shadow.
“Was it good?” he asks, voice as soft and smooth as suede. “Did you like the taste?”
Rupert leans against the countertop with one hand, caging me in with his body. I could move to his right if I wanted and slip out, but I don’t. I enjoy the way he smells, a little like the pine trees where we were walking and a little like musk. His yellow gaze is focused on me and only me, his chest shockingly close to mine. I wonder what it would be like to run my hand through his fur, if it would feel as velvety as it looks.
“Y-yes,” I finally manage to answer. “I love chocolate.”
“Hmm.” Rupert licks his lips again. “I do, too.”
For some reason, we are both breathing harder than before. Neither of us moves, and neither of us speaks as we stare into each other’s eyes. I bite my lip, imagining him lowering his head even more.
What would his mouth feel like if I put mine on it? Would he freak out? Would I be jeopardizing this fragile friendship between us? Not to mention my job—I can’t risk that.
“Peony.” Some of Rupert’s mane tumbles forward as he brings his face even closer to mine. His nostrils flare as he sniffs me, and his pupils expand to encompass nearly his entire yellow eye. “Tell me if I am imagining things, and I will not be offended. But…” His eyes dart away from mine and back again. “It seems as if… perhaps… you might…”
I think I can read between the lines and save him a little grief.
“Do you want to kiss me, Rupert?” I ask.
It looks as if his eyes may just bug out of his head.
“Yes,” he breathes. “Very much.”
So I rise onto my toes and press my lips to his.
sixteen
. . .
rupert
The second Peony’s soft lips land on mine, I let out an unanticipated groan. I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t understand it, not even for a second, but I’m more than happy—monumentally grateful, in fact—to accept. Just this tiny taste of her is overwhelming. I can’t believe she, beautiful Peony, is kissingme. Have I died? Is this heaven? How long has it been since I touched another person this way, bare skin on bare skin?
I restrain the urge to grab her, to haul her against me and crush my mouth into hers, but I’m not even sure how our lips fit together yet. Never once have I tried to kiss in this body.
I press back gently, even though my muzzle is quite a bit bigger than her little lips. My free hand finds its way to her side, and ensuring my claws don’t catch on her clothing, I gently rest it on her hip to keep her in place. She leans intoit, her lips becoming more insistent. Her fingers fall to my fur, and she lets out a hum of pleasure as she grips it. She’s bringing me in closer now, and I clasp her tighter in response.
Then, her tongue licks the apex of my lips. My entire body shudders in response, my mane rising and my fingers curling. I want to do the same in return, to twine my tongue around hers, but I have sharp fangs and I don’t want to hurt her.
But I may not have a choice as my body begs to return her gesture, and finally, my lips part. Peony melts against me, now gripping my mane tightly. My tongue ventures out, tasting the edges of her lips, and she lets out a gasp in response. With her mouth now open, I decide to explore it.
