Page 147 of Beasts of Mine

“No, you know that because I’ve told you.” I squeezed his hands and waited until he looked at me properly. “I need you to actually believe it.”

Tavian held my gaze without trying to joke his way out of the conversation.

“Malek being dependable doesn’t make you less important, and Luca making a place comfortable doesn’t make you less important.” I glanced toward the bulging pocket of my field shirt before looking back at Tavian. “You make me laugh when I’m tired. You find places I never would have found by myself. You notice things you think I’ll like and bring them to me even when they’re completely useless. None of that makes you temporary, Tavian.”

“You kept them.” Tavian glanced toward the pocket holding the strange collection he had built throughout the morning, and some of the tension finally left his face.

“Every ridiculous one.” I told Tavian as I brushed my thumb across his knuckles, thinking about the seed, pebble, curled pod, bright red leaf, and the shell he had added to my camera bag less than an hour ago.

“I noticed.” Tavian admitted, his thumb moving slowly over mine.

“Of course you did.” I shifted closer until our thighs touched against the stone. “And I don’t want you trying to become quieter or more serious because you think that’s the kind of man I’d keep. I like the man sitting here.”

Tavian studied me for several seconds without answering, and I could almost see him trying to decide how much of that reassurance he was willing to trust.

“Even the loud purr.” I added because apparently I was incapable of leaving the moment completely alone.

“You ruined it.” Tavian’s face twisted into immediate offense, and the sudden return of something familiar pulled a laugh out of me.

“I was being sincere.” I told Tavian as I tightened my fingers around his hands, still laughing at the betrayal written across his face.

“You insulted my purr….again.” Tavian accused me, pointing at himself with our joined hands even as the purr in question started rumbling beneath his chest.

“I said I liked it.” I reminded Tavian, leaning closer when his mouth started twitching.

“That part can stay.” Tavian decided, his wounded expression giving way as I laughed again. Before I could answer, Tavian caught the back of my neck and kissed me. There was humor in it at first, his mouth curving against mine when I laughed, but the kiss changed quickly. Tavian pulled me closer until I shifted onto his lap, my knees settling on either side of his hips while his arms wrapped firmly around my waist. His purr vibrated through both of us, no longer something I only heard but something I could feel everywhere our bodies touched.

“You do like it.” Tavian murmured when we broke apart enough to breathe, resting his forehead against mine while one hand spread warmly across my lower back.

“I like you.” I told Tavian, keeping my fingers tangled in his hair while I held his gaze. Whatever joke he might have made disappeared before it reached his mouth. Tavian’s arms tightened around me, and when he kissed me again, the hesitation from a moment earlier was gone. His mouth moved along my jaw and down my neck while I threaded my fingers through his hair. He nuzzled beneath my ear, breathing in against my gland before pressing a lingering kiss there, and warmth spread through me almost immediately.

“There.” Tavian murmured against my skin, a low, satisfied growl vibrating through his chest as my scent changed around him. “That.”

“What?” I asked Tavian, my fingers tightening at the back of his neck when his mouth remained near the sensitive gland beneath my jaw.

“Your scent when you want me.” Tavian breathed against my gland, unmistakably pleased by the sweetness gathering beneath my blockers.

“You already knew I wanted you.” I reminded Tavian as heat moved lower through me, my knees tightening instinctively against his sides while his hands settled more firmly around my waist.

“I like reminders.” Tavian murmured before kissing the sensitive skin again, his purr deepening when another shiver moved through me. I tipped my head farther and gave him more room. His hands slipped beneath my shirt, warm palms moving over my waist, lower back, and sides while his mouth stayed at my throat. The playful argument about his purr disappeared from my thoughts as his fingers found bare skin and his mouth continued working along the side of my neck.

When Tavian finally stood with me still wrapped around him, I made a surprised sound and locked my arms around his shoulders, instinctively tightening my legs when my feet left the ground.

“Show-off.” I muttered against Tavian’s neck as he carried me away from the more exposed edge of the pool, his grip secure beneath my thighs.

“You’re impressed.” Tavian teased as he adjusted his hold, his purr making the words vibrate faintly against my cheek while he headed toward a more sheltered section of the bank.

“I didn’t say that.” I reminded Tavian, although keeping both legs locked comfortably around his waist weakened the denial.

“You didn’t have to.” Tavian replied with renewed confidence, and I could hear the satisfaction in his voice even with my face tucked near his neck. He carried me the short distance to a broad, dry section of stone screened by an angled root and dense ferns. The waterfall remained loud beyond the greenery, and fine mist cooled the air around us without reaching the sheltered stone beneath the root. Tavian set me carefully on my feet long enough to move my camera bag farther onto the driest rock and help me spread the thin field blanket, smoothing one curled edge before turning back to me. His hands returned to the hem of my shirt but stopped there.

“Off?” Tavian asked, his voice rougher now while his fingers remained motionless against the fabric and his eyes lifted to mine.

“Yes.” I answered Tavian as I raised my arms, my pulse already beating faster beneath the scent he had left along my neck. Tavian pulled the fabric over my head and set it carefully on the edge of the blanket instead of tossing it. He crouched to work my bootlaces loose, pulling the boots off one at a time and placing my socks beside them. I pushed my field pants down my legs while he helped free them from my ankles, and my underwear followed. Tavian stripped himself with less ceremony but still kept everything away from the damp stone beyond the blanket.

When he straightened naked in front of me, the joke I had been preparing disappeared. Lean muscle shifted beneath deep bronze-brown skin as Tavian moved toward me, his body built for the speed and climbing I had watched all day. Pale scars crossed one shoulder and curved along his ribs, and a flush had already spread high across his chest beneath my attention.

“You’re staring.” Tavian observed as he lowered himself between my knees, amusement warming his voice while his own gaze made no attempt to stay above my shoulders.