“Why thank you.” I went to kiss her, but she slapped her hand over my mouth.
“Wait.” She pressed her lips together, mumbling like a ventriloquist. “I haven’t cleaned my teeth.”
“So?” I asked behind her hand, sucking in her glorious scent. Sweet and velvety, instead of sharp and icy, almost as if sleep had softened her.
“So?” Her eyebrows shot up. “Do you really need me to spell it out? I know you’re not used to being a boyfriend but—”
“A what?” Tearing her hand off my lips, I rolled on top of her and pinned her wrists on either side of her head. “Boyfriend?”
She turned her head as if to avoid the morning breath she seemed so afraid of...only to pause. Arching up, she ran her nose along my jaw and shivered. “Okay...what the hell is going on with you smelling so good? Last night you smelled of cedar and caramel and now you smell like the most delicious cinnamon chocolate cake.”
“Same with you.” I pressed a kiss to her mouth. “You smell like sweet summer snow...and yes, I’m aware that’s not logically possible.”
“Then what...?”
“Maybe it’s just fate.”
“Yeah, okay.” She rolled her eyes. “Next thing I know, you’ll be calling me your mate.”
“It’s better than boyfriend.”
“You have a vendetta against that word?” She frowned. “I mean...you do need a label. I can’t keep calling you my kidnapper.”
“Technically, Ididkidnap you.” Arching my chin at the round window across the room where the moon was framed by stars, I smirked. “Can you escape without my help? Do you have any idea how to get out of these mountains?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Exactly.” Shifting my hands higher up her wrists until our palms connected, I weaved our fingers together. Settling deeper between her legs, I lowered my head to kiss her again. “Calling me your boyfriend makes me feel like I’m ten years old. So don’t.”
“What should I call you then?” she asked breathlessly, her chin tipping up to accept my kiss.
The world dropped away as our lips brushed and my heart squeezed so tightly it felt as if she’d reached inside me and stamped her ownership all over it. “Call me what I am.”
“And what’s that?” She sounded drunk again.
“The other half of you.” I collapsed over her, giving her all my weight.
Plunging my tongue into her mouth, I let one of her hands go to grab her thigh, hook her leg over my hip, and slid inside her in one hot, wet glide.
She cried out, arching beneath me.
Fuck, I wouldneverget enough of this. Never stop thanking her for finding me, saving me, being the key I—
“Eh, Xiao Lu?” A knock rapped on the door.
Rook froze beneath me, her inner muscles clenching so tight, I hissed with lust. “Do that again, and I’ll come without even moving.”
Her hand once again planted over my mouth, eyeing the door. “Have you no shame?”
I just shook my head and licked her palm.
She squirmed and let me go.
“Luxin?” Uncle Wen’s gruff voice came again. “I’m so sorry to disturb you but—”
“I’ll join you for dinner soon, Uncle Wen,” I cut him off, withdrawing from Rook before pushing back in.
“Dinner? It’s way past dinner, I’m afraid.”
