And oddly enough, she never wanted it to end.
PENELOPEWASRIGHT. THISWASPERFECT.
Being with her was both intimate and casual, yet the connection they had to one another was potent.
Of course, her questions were what bothered Obsidian most. Not because she asked them. He wanted to answer every single one, to tell his female everything about him. To share the stories of his past, to hear hers. It was what he’d been waiting for all these years.
Yet he wanted to keep some of the mystery. It was in his best interest to draw her closer, to make her fall in love with him the same way he was with her. It would help ease the confusion all his answers would invoke. And there was no doubt in his mind he’d already fallen for her. Didn’t matter that he’d spent merely hours in her presence, she was his lifeline, the only one he needed.
They moved on the private patio, their own dance floor, as the soft music played above them. Obsidian could hear the conversations taking place far below on the strip, Alden cleaning up inside, the curtains being pulled shut to ensure their privacy. He even heard someone’s deep breathing from the room next door. But he managed to block it all out, focus only on the beautiful female in his arms.
“You said before that perhaps we’re where we were meant to be,” Penelope said, staring up at him. “Do you believe that’s true?”
“I do.”
A soft smile formed on her lush mouth. “Me, too.”
“Yet you question it.”
“It’s in my nature. How, when, why something happened. Those are things I want to know, even if the answers won’t necessarily make sense to me.”
“And you think that’s the case here?”
Penelope’s hand worked its way up his chest, curling around his neck as Obsidian peered down into those honey-gold eyes. His breath locked in his throat as she brushed her thumb along his jaw. She wouldn’t realize how much he needed that simple touch. He’d spent years wanting to be this close to the female meant only for him, dreaming about the day it would come to fruition. Now that they were here, together, he couldn’t imagine a moment spent without her.
“I do. I won’t pretend to understand it, but … is this normal, Obsidian?”
“What?”
“Whatever this is between us.”
He waited her out, somehow knowing she would elaborate.
“When I’m near you, I feel complete,” she said softly. “As though I’ve found my other half. I can’t imagine not having this feeling last forever. But is that real? Or a figment of my imagination? The fantasy brought on by fairy tales and such?”
“This isn’t a fairy tale, Penelope. It’s definitely real.”
Obsidian could see the desire churning in her eyes. It called out to him, tempted him to take what he’d craved for so fucking long.
“Stop thinking so hard,” he whispered, urging her closer.
“I want you, Obsidian. I want to be close to you.”
Her cheek rested against him, the top of her head not quite reaching his chest. In that tiny package was everything he’d ever wanted. Her nearness and the soft cadence of her voice soothed him.
“Not just now,” she said softly. “Always. That’s new for me. I’ve never felt that way about anyone. And like I said, the timing scares me. It feels like I’m moving too fast.”
He tightened his grip on her, keeping her close, their movements limited to swaying.
“I don’t want to scare you,” she whispered. “I’m probably building this up too fast, but—”
Obsidian stopped moving, hooked his finger beneath her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his as he stepped back and bent closer to her.
“You don’t scare me, Penelope. And fast isn’t the right word.”
“What is?”
“Like you said, perfect,” he whispered, leaning down until his lips hovered just over hers.
