Soft at first, like a little bomb dropping into the center of me, it grew in intensity. Smoldering, burning, and then igniting. He and I were like a chemical reaction where that needy anticipation found relief. The sweet ache found release.
Orion’s kiss, my God… I thought I’d been kissed before, but no. Only a wet mashing of mouths that bore no resemblance to this.Thiswas finesse and experience, but I felt the gravity of his devotion too. Lust and yearning and care all infused in his mouth that moved over mine, tongue sweeping, exploring. Gentle, sucking pulls and then harder biting kisses, with our breaths rasping and little sounds of want rising in my throat while deeper groans emanated from his chest.
I kissed him just as greedily, needing to taste and be tasted. My hands slid up his neck, then down his back. Strong muscles moved under his suit as his hands roamed my body, until one hand sank into my hair. He made a fist and pulled gently, angling my head for better access, taking what he wanted.
I fell back against the wheel, Orion’s body over mine, looming, but I felt completely protected and safe. Overwhelmed by him in the best way. He kissed me until I was dizzy, then pulled back, suckingmy lip, kissing my chin, my cheek, down to my neck, nuzzling and sending shivers of heat across my breasts and down my back. I clung to him as his mouth moved over my throat, to my earlobe, biting gently, then back to my mouth.
I didn’t want to stop kissing him. I could’ve kissed Orion Mercer until sunrise, and it wouldn’t satisfy that sweet, heavy ache in the middle of me. One that I already worried had migrated up to my heart and would only grow stronger with every touch, never satiated. More wanting him, not less, until it wasn’t wanting any more at all, but something else.
Something so real, I’d never be the same.
“Wait, wait, wait.” Orion broke the kiss, both of us breathing heavily. He held my face, brushing the curls off my brow, then slipped down to cup my cheeks, his forehead pressed to mine. “I think, perhaps, we should slow down a bit. We’re being serious, after all.”
“Did I say that?” I asked breathlessly. “I take it back. Serious can start tomorrow.”
He laughed, and his smile was so brilliant it almost hurt to look at him. A different kind of happy than I’d seen before. And I realized I was too, just when I had started to forget what happy felt like.
I kissed him softly, while I still had him there. Once, twice, then smoothed the lapels of his suit I’d been gripping. Holding on for dear life, actually.
“That was romantic, Harper.”
“I’ll try not to make it a habit.”
He chuckled and took both my hands in his. “Well. What do we do now?”
Before I could answer, Dean peeked his head around the corner. “I hate—and I do meanhate—to interrupt, but Harper, I need backup.”
“Is everything okay?”
“It’s Emery and Xander. Things are getting tense. Can you come?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Can I be of help?” Orion asked.
“Not this time, my friend,” Dean said. “I think Emery would prefer discretion.”
Orion turned to me. “Text me when you’re done saving the day.”
“I will.”
He kissed my forehead and let me go.
Dean shot me a quick smile as he led me through the hay-strewn pathways. “I won Best Costume, but that’s nowhere near as awesome as seeing you two together. Not that I was peeping, I swear.”
“You’ll keep it quiet?” I asked. “I prefer discretion too.”
“You sure?”
“Right now, it’s a bridge too far.”
Dean nodded, and silent understanding passed between us. We rounded a bend and heard Xander’s low voice, tight with pain and resignation.
“The last thing on this fucking planet I want to do is hurt you. But it will only get worse. For both of us.”
A stunned silence, and then Emery whispered, “Okay. If that’s what you want.”
“That’s what I want.”
