Page 177 of Letters From A Stalker

“I love you.”

“Fuck, Julia.” His forehead drops against mine while his thumb catches a tear I hadn’t realized escaped. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“You almost did.”

“I know.”

Something in his expression snaps. His arm slides hard around my waist and pulls me against him until there isn’t an inch of cold air left between us.

“You’re mine, little ember,” he says against my mouth. “Fuck, I’ve wanted to say that to you with my own face for so long.”

There was a time when those words would have carried something stolen inside them. They don’t anymore.

“Then you’re mine too.”

A low sound catches in his throat. “That was never in question.”

I laugh, although it breaks halfway through because I’m crying again.

“Tell me I can kiss you.”

“Yes.” I breathe out.

His mouth is on mine before the word has fully disappeared. He claims me like a man who has been starving. His lips seal over mine, firm and sure, then part them with a slow, deliberate pressure that leaves no room to doubt what he wants. When I gasp, he takes the opening and slides his tongue against mine, deep at first, then hungrier, stroking, tasting, dragging a sound out of my throat that he swallows immediately. His hand fists in my hair and angles my head so he can kiss me deeper while his arm locks around my waist and drags me flush against him. I kiss him back just as desperately, fingers fisted in his jacket, his stubble scraping my skin. When he catches my lower lip between his teeth and soothes it with his tongue, my knees weaken and I have to hold onto him harder.

When we finally break apart, neither of us goes far. He kisses me once more, softer this time, just his lips lingering like he cannot quite believe he is allowed to.

“I have thought about doing that every single day since you walked out of my office.”

I smile against his mouth. “I noticed.”

“Smart-ass.”

“That sounds more like you.”

“This is me.” He smirks, nudging the tip of my nose with his before pulling away just enough to take in my entire face.

I brush my thumb over his jaw. “Good. I like you.”

“Only like?”

“Don’t get greedy. You already got love and ownership claims in the last five minutes.”

His mouth curves, and he kisses me again simply because he can.

Voices carry from the house behind us. Kai loosens his hold, though his hand stays at my waist.

“You should probably get back.”

I stare at him. “Not before you ask me out.”

A laugh breaks from him as he shakes his head. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

“Yes.”

His smile changes completely, open and almost boyish. “Seven-thirty. I’ll pick you up.”

“You don’t know where I’m staying.”