I was… ready.
“James,” I repeated, my voice low.
His strides were long and sure as he approached me. His handscame up to encircle my neck. I raised my hands to hold onto his wrists.
But not to try and stop him.
No, because I instinctively knew I’d need something to hang onto.
“You came for me,” I said as I met his eyes.
“Always,” Vaughn said, his voice still sounding harsh, but not because he was angry. He held my eyes for a moment, then his mouth was on mine.
Despite his anger or desperation or whatever it was that had driven him to let his fists fly with his brother and friends, his kiss was incredibly gentle. I’d expected him just to take what he wanted, and I’d prepared myself for the onslaught.
But his mouth was so soft and the kiss was short. A quick press of his mouth against mine.
Then another.
And another.
Over and over he kissed me and every time caused something inside of me to build, explode, then start to build again. His hands were firm on my neck, but it was his head that moved as he took my mouth at different angles. His beard tickled just the littlest bit, but there was nothing funny about it. If anything, it just made the sensation more vibrant.
It was an assault on my senses but in the best way ever.
Vaughn pulled his mouth from mine and kissed the corner, then began peppering my cheek, jaw, and chin with little kisses. I was sure my nails would leave half-moon marks on his skin because I was holding onto his wrists so hard.
“James,” I breathed when he kissed me softly again.
He pressed his forehead against mine. “I was so fucking scared, Aleks.”
“I’m sorr—”
“Don’t be sorry,” he said before I could get the entire word out. “Just swear to me that you won’t ever walk out on me like that again.”
I nodded frantically. “I swear I won’t, James… I just…”
“What?” he murmured.
I opened my eyes. I could see that his were closed. He was still clinging to me, but I knew if I’d wanted him to release me, I would have just had to pull back a little.
“It had to be my choice to come here and I knew it was one of the few you wouldn’t let me make.”
He nodded against me. “Not safe,” he muttered.
“You’ll keep me safe,” I whispered, then I took a chance and pressed my mouth to his. He moaned, and I felt a thrill go through me that I’d done that to him. But when his tongue suddenly licked along the seam of my mouth, I jumped in surprise and broke the contact.
Vaughn kissed me again gently, then whispered, “Just trust me, Aleks.”
I stilled and let him kiss me again like he had before. It took just seconds for me to get lost in his touch again. This time when his tongue traced over that same spot, I managed to hold still.
“God, so sweet,” Vaughn groaned against my mouth. “Open up for me, baby.”
I didn’t understand what he wanted and went to ask him just that at the same time that his tongue did the move again. I jumped when his tongue came into contact with mine. I’d barely processed that he tasted like butterscotch because he immediately drew his tongue back and kissed just my lips. When he repeated the move with his tongue, I found myself trying to figure out what it felt like.
It was weird and awkward and amazing all at the same time. I’d seen people kissing before, but I’d never realizedthiswas what they were doing when their mouths were so passionately melded together.
“Okay?” Vaughn asked, sounding out of breath. He put enough space between us so he could look me in the eye.
