“Cari,” he says roughly. “I should have done this fifteen years ago.” Then he crushes his mouth to mine.
His lips are hot and firm, with a slight scrape of scales that raises goosebumps on my skin. He keeps them tightly shut, any teeth and flames trapped safely behind them, though the restraint makes his frame quiver in time with my racing heart.
For a second, the whole sky spins like we’re its axis. This—this practically chaste, storybook-ending kiss—itisthe best ever. There’s nothing to compare.
He pulls back, panting slightly. “How was that?”
“Perfect. Again. More.” I lean into him, and he chuckles, giving me three quick kisses in a row and then one long, honeyed press. It’s so sweet, I can’t help letting my tongue out to taste him, darting across his lower and upper lips in turn before teasing the seam between them.
He’s flavored like chocolate and sharp spice. Maybe it’s the ghost of our dinner I’m tasting, but somehow I think the intoxicating, spicy-sweet combination is justhim.
“Yum,” I whisper.
His chest vibrates with a growl. Then his tongue meets mine, stroking against it before expertly invading my mouth. It’s shockingly heated and demanding after the polite, unpracticed pecks, and I’m completely at his mercy.
I pull back, gasping. “I thought you said you’d never kissed before.”
Zed smirks, eyes twinkling. “Lots of experience licking, though. I didn’t know that was part of it.”
“It’s the main part. The good part. I mean, the other part was good, too, don’t get me wrong. But the tongue stuff was great. Better than great! You could do it again anytime, anywhere. I mean anywhere in town, not anywhere on my body,” I correct hastily, realizing how my words could be misconstrued. I’m blushing and babbling, and I can’t seem to stop. “Not that I would mind that either. Actually, you can do that again anytime, anywhere, anywhere.”
Zed lifts his brow. “Like…right now? Right here? Righthere?” He bends and licks a stripe from my collarbone up the side of my neck. “Is that what you meant?”
“Yep!” I squeak. Is this real life, or am I dreaming? It has to be real, because it’s so much better than my imagination. I close my eyes, lifting my face for another kiss.
I feel the leash tighten around my ankles a split second before Radar erupts in a flurry of loud, sharp barks. He hits the end of the long lead with asnapthat jerks me off balance.
I careen to one side, stumbling out of Zed’s embrace with my arms flailing. My hand yanks out of his as I struggle to recover my footing, but my sandal’s narrow heel catches in the gap between the path and the grass that lines it.
I godown. It’s not a graceful whoopsie-daisy, either. It’s a full-on faceplant. I tastedirt.
“Are you okay?!” Zed’s urgent question is nearly drowned out by Radar’s nonstop barking. Zed kneels and grasps my ankle, supporting it as he frees my shoe. I felt the strap of it snap when I fell, but thankfullyitbroke so my ankle didn’t.
“Yeah,” I say weakly, pushing myself up with scraped palms to see what set the dog off. There’s nothing I can see disturbing the peaceful evening, though. Besides the occasional croak of a treefrog, we’re the only ones out this late. “Radar, hush. There’s nothing there.” Of course, he doesn’t listen to me, his growls and barks still echoing through the empty park.
“Radar!” I call more sharply, and finally his head swivels around. He trots back over to us, loosening the leash enough for me to slip my legs out of its snare. I scratch between his ears. “Good boy. He probably caught the scent of an animal,” I say apologetically to Zed. I take off my other shoe and rise with his help, wincing as my ankle twinges a little when I put weight on it.
“What is it?” he asks, noticing my expression.
I give an ungraceful step. It hurts, but it’s nothing terrible. I take another one.Ouch.“Just twisted my ankle a bit. I can walk it off.”
“Cari.” His tone is…something. A heady mix of scolding, affection, amusement, longing. He plucks the leash from my hand, loops it over his wrist, and grabs my broken shoes. Withhis other arm, he whisks me off my feet and cradles me against his chest. “You’re not walking anywhere.”
Chapter 12
Zed
Ican smell Tristan’s shitty hell-magic. Radar can, too. He must be skulking around the park, watching us, maybe hoping to interfere with our date. But I’m not going to let him ruin our perfect evening, so I make a beeline for Cari’s house as fast as Radar’s little legs will allow.
She is oblivious, smiling up at me with pink cheeks and a sheepish smile. “You don’t have to carry me all the way. I’m too heavy. It’s too far.”
I shake my head. “You weigh nothing. I can carry you with one arm.”
“My ankle’s not that bad. Not even a sprain.” She might be protesting, but at the same time, she snuggles into my chest and rests her head on my shoulder.
“Good. But I’m carrying you anyway.” Nothing has ever felt more right.
“We can’t hold hands this way,” she argues, a smile in her voice.
