“Do you think we shoul—” She didn’t get to finish her sentence.
Felix’s lips crashed into hers. Not gently, but fervently, as if he had been waiting for this. Heat rushed through her veins like a wildfire, threatening to consume her at this very moment. At first, she froze, like she had forgotten how to kiss, her mind short-circuiting at the delicious feel of his satin lips asking for entry into hers. She parted her lips for him. The bond flared to life between them like a dormant volcano. Felix’s hand slippedfrom her chin to wrap around her neck, pulling her in closer but not close enough that their bodies met.
Her hands stayed by her side, still obeying his command even when her body begged her not to. They were simply useless as she lost herself between his lips. She didn’t care at that moment that they were being watched by a tree with a face, or that he was a shifter. She cared only about the sweet pressure that made her dizzy. His mouth was like a drug, only one taste, and she was addicted.Those humans were onto something.
A noise escaped her, one that only encouraged the ravenous beast within him further, because he pulled away for only a second just to sweep his tongue across her bottom lip, his fangs grazing them ever so slightly, sending delicious shivers down her body, and something clenching deep within her.
They should have stopped there. Felix’s tail wrapped around her bare leg again, the sensation pulling a hitching breath from her mouth, which Felix swallowed with his own. She felt him everywhere, not just physically, but deep within her, their emotions demanding that they collide together. Fear, frustration,need.The bond wanted it all. It wanted to be greedy. It wanted todevour.
Against her better judgment, she let a hand loose, let it explore where it wanted to. Hesitant, she touched his chest, wanting to feel more of him than just his lips.
Felix jumped back. The cold rushed between them like an avalanche as Avery forgot how to breathe. Felix’s shoulders moved up and down, his nostrils flared, pupils dilated so much that his eyes appeared black.
Avery gasped as her hand went to touch her swollen lips, the flesh still tender.
The sound of wood creaking brought her out of her trance, one she wasn’t ready to leave. Two branches came together to clap, the leaves creating an orange rain.
“Good, good!” The tree looked delighted. Felix, however, did not. “There is a key high in my canopy. Retrieve it for the next clue.”
“Was the key up there the whole time?” Felix questioned, his tail swishing violently, something Avery noticed he did when he was more than irritated.
“Perhaps,” the tree admitted.
Felix rolled his eyes before turning back to Avery. “I will get the key. Can you look out for me?”
Avery was still too stunned to speak, her fingers lightly feathering her lips. It was the best kiss she had ever had, and it wasn’t even real. Well, it was real, far too real. But it had been because a talking tree had asked them to do it. What she should have felt was disgust. Regret. Anything but the burning desire to do it again.
“Witch,” Felix snapped at her.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, Avery swore his softened the moment her eyes met his.
“Mmhmm!”
Felix lingered on her for a moment, his eyes darting to her swollen lips, sending another fresh wave of fire coursing through her. Was this the bond’s doing? Or her? She supposed it didn’t matter. Regardless of where it came from, it was still there.
With surprising grace, Felix shifted into his cat form and leapt onto the tree, digging his nails into the bark to climb higher and higher. The tree winced slightly as its gaze traveled up with him.
He leapt from branch to branch, until it was almost impossible to see his small form bleeding into the night. A spectral shadow retrieved a golden key, blended amongst the hues of pale orange.
A smile played on Avery’s lips. She had been right. The riddle had meant something; it was leading them somewhere. Down what path she had no idea.
“If we solve the riddles, will you unbond us?” she asked the tree.
The tree pondered her question for a moment, looking up to the shifter and then back down to her. “Sure.” It dragged out the ‘e,’ as if it were actually completely unsure. “As the riddle said, if it is freedom you seek…”
She could have sworn the damn cryptic tree was glaring right back at her.
Felix’s voice rang through her mind, interrupting their staring contest. “Witch?”
She hated that he kept calling her that. She had a name.
What sounded like a pitiful meow made its way down the tree.“I can’t get down.”
Fifteen
Felix
He was stuck.
