Page 275 of Black Reign

Something sweeter.

Exploratory.

Like we finally have permission to learn what all those years of words feel like translated into touch.

His thumb strokes my side.

My fingers slip into the dark hair at his nape.

He kisses the corner of my mouth.

My cheek.

Then my temple.

A trail so gentle it raises goose bumps along my arms.

“Cold?” he murmurs.

“No.”

“Finally an honest answer.”

I smile against his neck.

He smells unfairly good.

“You're smelling me again.”

I freeze.

His chest moves with quiet laughter.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don't.”

Dangerous words.

Because I don't.

Not tonight.

I pull back.

His eyes meet mine.

I think he sees the answer before I do.

So I kiss him once more rather than give it words.

Eventually exhaustion wins.

Not dramatically.

My body simply starts losing the argument.

I yawn halfway through something Xavier is telling me about Drew nearly getting banned from a hotel in Milan.