I was crying now, tears sliding down my cheeks, but I couldn’t stop. The words I’d kept tucked away for so long tumbled out.
“I love that you disregarded your safety and went out in a blizzard to check on strangers. You carried me to safety without hesitation. That you made me hot chocolate and gave me your clothes and made me feel safe when I was terrified.” I squeezed his hand. “I love that you see me, really see me, in ways no one else does. And the fact that you’re eight feet tall and covered in fur and technically a different species doesn’t change any of that. If anything, it makes me love you more because you trusted me enough to let me see the real you.”
“Maya.” My name was a broken sound in his throat. “I need to… Can I…?”
“Yes,” I said, not even knowing what he was asking. Just knowing my answer was yes to anything, everything, as long as it involved closing the distance between us.
He cupped my face with both hands, his touch impossibly gentle. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since you made that stupid joke about my username yesterday. Since before that. Since forever.”
“So kiss me.”
For a second, he just looked at me, like he was memorizing this moment, like he couldn’t quite believe it was real. Hell, I couldn’t believe it was happening. Then he leaned in, slow and careful, giving me every chance to pull away.
But I didn’t. I wanted this kiss more than anything.
His lips met mine, and the world narrowed to that single point of contact. He tasted like wine and something wilder, and his kiss was everything I’d imagined and nothing like I’d expected. Gentle at first, almost hesitant, like he was afraid of being too much, or too strong.
I made a sound - need or desire, or perhaps a combination of both, and his control slipped. Our kiss deepened, and I wound my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. My fingers tangled in the thick fur at his nape, softer than anything I’d ever touched.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, he rested his forehead against mine. “Tell me this is happening. That it’s not all in my imagination or dreams.”
“It’s real.” I kissed him again, wanting to feel his lips against mine a second time. “Very real.”
“I should stop. We should stop.” But he didn’t move away. “You’ve been in an accident and you’re vulnerable. I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“Geoff.” I pulled back enough to look him in the eyes. “I crashed my car yesterday, yes. But my brain is working fine. Nothing scrambled there. I know what I want. And I want you.”
“You’re sure?”
Instead of answering, I kissed him again. Deeper this time, with intent. My tongue found his, and he groaned, a low rumbling sound I felt through my whole body. In a swift motion as our tongues dueled, he pulled me into his lap.
Our size difference was immediately apparent. I felt tiny against him, surrounded by warmth and fur and strength. His hands spanned my waist easily, and when I shifted closer, I could feel the hard planes of his chest beneath the soft fur.
“Still sure?” he asked, voice rough.
“Getting more sure by the second.”
His laugh was breathless. “You’re going to kill me.”
“Promise?”
“Maya…” Whatever he was going to say was cut off as I kissed along his jaw, finding the spot where fur met skin at his throat. He shuddered, his grip on my waist tightening. “You don’t play fair.”
“What’s not fair?”
“You can’t…” He broke off with a groan as I did it again. “Sensitive. That’s a very sensitive spot.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Oh, I am. Very much.” I pulled back to look at him, taking in his dilated pupils, the way his chest was rising and plunging. “Is this okay? Am I? Are we?”
“More than okay.” His thumb traced light circles on my hip, careful of the bruise; his touch electric even through my jeans. “I just want to make sure you’re comfortable. Size difference.”
“Is hot.”
He blinked. “What?”
