Seth’s cheeks were bright pink.It was cute.“Well, you’re also hot, which helps.”
Ryan laughed.“Thank you.I’m glad you feel that way.”
Seth rolled his eyes.“Was I not supposed to?”
Ryan took another step forward.Seth was still leaning against that tree, and he wasn’t making any moves to push away or put more space between them.
Ryan was going to take a chance, and he hoped it would pay off.He hadn’t come out here today thinking this would happen, but he wasn’t about to waste this opportunity.
With one last step, Ryan was so close to Seth that their chests brushed together as they breathed.Seth still didn’t move, not even when Ryan reached out to cup his cheek.Instead, he smiled, and Ryan knew that whatever happened next would be welcome.
He leaned in and pressed her lips together.Seth sighed into his mouth as if relieved.Maybe he was.Maybe he’d been waiting for them to stop dancing around each other.They hadn’t done so for long, but Ryan had known he wanted Seth since Seth had saved his life.
Okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but even though Seth probably hadn’t saved his life, he’d saved him from a beating, and that was enough.Sethwas enough.He’d stepped in when Ryan had needed him to.He’d cared enough to defend someone he didn’t know, and he’d checked in on Ryan several times since then.He’d been worried about Ryan and his family.
Also, he was hot.
Seth kissed like a dream Ryan hadn’t known he had.Seth wrapped his arms around Ryan’s neck and held him close, and Ryan let him.He didn’t want to move away.He liked feeling like Seth wouldn’t let him even if he tried.He liked feeling wanted, which wasn’t something that happened to him often.His family loved him, but he’d always been afraid to let anyone else too close when he’d lived with the coven.He hadn’t been able to trust anyone.He and Seth might not share the same experiences, but those experiences were similar enough that they understood each other.
The kiss wasn’t hurried or perfect, but it didn’t need to be.It was a slow meeting of lips, cautious and hesitant, but filled with something deeper—relief.Ryan didn’t know if he’d be able to trust Seth, but he wanted to, and part of him thought that he could.He could have this.He could have someone he loved, someone he trusted as much as he trusted his parents and his sister.
Someone whistled, making both Ryan and Seth jump.Ryan turned to see a young man walking past.He didn’t stop.He was laughing, and he winked at Seth as he waved.
Ryan turned back to Seth.His cheeks had been pink before, but now, they were on fire.
“Please ignore Thomas,” Seth muttered.
“Is he one of your pack members?”
“More like my brother, which is why he did that.”
“I have a sister, so I understand.”
“I know you do.”The words were soft and made Ryan want to kiss again.
So, he did.
