Page 25 of Property of Prophet

I know how to kiss a woman.

Apparently there are some things a man doesn’t need his fucking memory for.

When we finally break apart, neither of us goes far. Her forehead stays against mine, her breath is warm across my mouth while I try to remember how my lungs work.

Bear lets out a long, suffering sigh from beside the stove.

Lily laughs against my lips.

“Well, that’s one way to change the subject,” I whisper.

“Wasn’t trying to change it.”

“No.” My thumb drags once across her jaw. “I don’t think you were.”

For a second I think she might kiss me again, and Christ knows I want her to, but she stays close instead, her thumb moving over the rough skin along my jaw while I concentrate on keeping my hands where they are.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“You sure?”

Her eyes meet mine. “I kissed you, Prophet.”

“I noticed.”

A smile pulls at her mouth. “Hard to tell.”

My hand tightens at her waist, enough to bring her against me again, and the smile disappears beneath something hotter.

“Trust me, Doc. I fucking noticed.”

Her breath catches, and there it is again, the pull between us, strong enough that I could close the distance and have her mouth on mine in under half a second. My body is more than interested in where this could go, but wanting her doesn’t mean I get to decide how far we take it.

I loosen my hold.

Something changes in her face when I do. A flicker of surprise gives way to understanding.

“I don’t want you to think I’m stopping because I don’t want—”

“I know,” I say.

“You didn’t let me finish.”

“Didn’t need you to.” I brush my thumb along her side. “We’ve got time.”

Lily studies me for a long moment. “You don’t even know how much time you have.”

The words hit harder than she means them to, and I know she feels it because her face changes.

“Prophet, I didn’t mean—”

“I know what you meant.”

My past could come crashing back tomorrow. Whatever is moving around beyond those trees could finally decide to show its face. I could wake up and remember Heaven, remember why I fell, remember every fucking thing except the man I’ve become in this cabin with her.

None of it means I’m going to rush this.