“If I kiss you again tonight,” he says, voice low and rough, “I won’t stop. I warned you before you came inside. You can still back out.”
My heart pounds so hard it hurts.
I should be afraid.
I should be smart.
I lift my chin anyway, meeting his gaze like I’m braver than I feel.
“Kiss me,” I whisper.
Chapter 4
Evie
Wolfdoesn’tmovefora heartbeat. His hand stays at my neck, fingers resting there like he can feel my pulse, like it matters. His eyes search mine, sharp and steady, checking for fear.
I’m scared.
I’m also sure.
His jaw flexes. Then he leans in.
His mouth covers mine and the kiss is nothing like the ones in the bar. There’s no crowd, no noise, no reason to rush. It’s slower, deeper, heavy with intent. He tastes faintly of tea and smoke, and the way he kisses me makes my whole body tilt toward him like gravity changed.
My hands lift on their own, sliding into his hair, thick and dark under my fingers. I tug lightly, needing to feel him, needing something solid.
A low sound rips out of him, rough and hungry.
He pulls back just enough to breathe, lips still brushing mine.
“Tell me to stop,” he says, voice wrecked. “And I stop.”
The promise steadies me. The control in it does something to me.
“I don’t want you to stop,” I whisper.
His eyes go darker.
He kisses me again, harder this time, and his hand slides from my neck down my side, palm flattening over my waist. He grips, firm, and pulls me closer until I’m pressed to him. I feel heat, muscle, and the hard line of his restraint everywhere.
My dress rides up as I shift, my knees spreading around him without meaning to. The movement makes me blush, but Wolf’s hands don’t hesitate. They hold my hips like they belong there.
His mouth breaks from mine and he drags kisses down my jaw, my throat, the soft spot beneath my ear. Each one makes my breath stutter.
His fingers catch the edge of my cardigan and slide it down my arms. The fabric slips off my shoulders and lands beside me on the couch. His mouth keeps moving over my skin like he’s claiming the space he just uncovered.
“Angel,” he murmurs against my skin, “you’re shaking.”
“I’m okay,” I whisper, and it’s not a lie this time. It’s fear and want tangled together, but the want is winning.
His mouth returns to mine. The kiss deepens. His tongue brushes mine, a quiet demand that makes my stomach flip. I answer without thinking, and he groans like he’s been waiting for me to give in.
His hand slides lower, gripping my thigh through the fabric.
I gasp.
Wolf stills immediately, lifting his head. His eyes lock on mine. “Too much?”
