“It’s strange, not having the ability to end life.”
We’ve only gone a hundred yards, but I have too many questions to keep walking and walking. I stop, staring up at him intently as I ask, “What exactly did you give up?”
“I can’t read thoughts. My ability to simply take life is gone.” He shrugs, but he’s smiling, his baby duck smile. “I didn’t get a lot of details otherwise. I basically had to pluck the light strand and keep working, or keep it and see where things went if you didn’t hate me.”
“And you picked me?” I can’t really believe it. “Why would you do that?”
He releases my hand and steps right up next to me. His eyes drop to my mouth, and the corner of his mouth turns upward. “I’m not sure whether you remember this one moment we shared.”
He’s talking about our almost-kiss. “I—I remember.”
His hand lifts my chin. “I’ve thought about it ever since. Quite often.” He brushes that same hand down the side of my face. “I’ve thought about you ever since I bonded you—too much. Far too much. More than I’ve ever thought about any other human or even any other immortal beings.”
“But why?”
“I’m not sure.” He touches my shoulder. “What is this?”
I shiver.
He drags his fingers down farther. “This feeling whenever we touch.” He shivers this time, too. “It’s almost electric, but instead of pain, I feel pleasure.”
I laugh. “That’s called chemistry. It’s not something I expected to feel with you, if I’m being honest, but I feel it too.”
His eyes flare. “You’ve felt this with someone else?” His jaw tightens. “Who. Tell me.”
“No one in the same way I feel it with you.” This time I’m the one reaching for his face, and he lets me. My fingers brush over his dark, strong eyebrows. His eyelashes are so long, they touch my finger as I do. “You have the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen.”
“Yours are much prettier.” He captures my hand. “But I’d like to try something.” He ducks down, his eyes moving toward my mouth. “I’ve seen humans do this for a very long time, and I’ve never once been curious. But now I find that I am.” He lowers his head even more, his eyes never wavering from my mouth. “Can I?” His deep blue eyes dart up to mine.
It’s not hot for a guy to ask for permission. It’s lame. Have some confidence, or buzz off, loser. But having Death ask to kiss me, knowing it’s his very first kiss, it’s. . .well, it’s actually pretty hot.
I fling my hands around his neck and drag him the rest of the way. When our lips finally meet, it makes that initial tingle feel like static electricity to a cattle prod. The jolt as his mouth touches mine is nothing short of a thousand volts. I shoot to my tiptoes, dragging him closer, needing him closer.
He growls, loudly.
“For heaven’s sake.” A voice I recognize calls from the house. “At least go far enough that we don’t have to see this.” It’s the voice of my stepdad, Steve.
“Shut up,” Amanda Saddler says. “Stay right there, you two. I’m so glad I bought that nice camera. This is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened here.”
I can’t help my laughter.
Xolotl looks disoriented. “What just happened?”
“That’s what a kiss should be like,” I say.
“Is that all there is?” Xolotl looks from my mouth down to the rest of my body. “Because when you press your hands to my chest. . .” His nostrils flare. “I know humans—is mating connected to this?”
“Easy there, sir. One thing at a time.”
He’s beaming at me. “Yes, one thing at a time.” He kisses me again, and I can’t help myself.
I press my hands against his chest.
He growls against my mouth, and I bite his lip. He picks me up then, with one arm, and he starts walking farther away from the house. “Their shouting’s bothering me.”
I had stopped even noticing it.
He shifts me so that one arm runs beneath my knees, and the other’s braced behind my back.
