Page 34 of Bear and Book

He ate neatly, almost absently, like his mind was working somewhere else entirely. Every now and then, I caught him glancing at me, then quickly looking away like I’d caught him at something.

“Elias,” I said at one point, when his fork had hovered midair for a few seconds too long, “are you nervous?”

His eyes flicked up, dark and sharp, but then softened. “Maybe.”

“Why?” I asked.

Elias set the fork down, leaning back slightly.

“Because you’re you. And I’m…” He cut himself off, looking faintly irritated with himself. “Never mind.”

I grinned. “That sounded like a compliment until you bailed on it.”

He gave me a look but didn’t argue. We moved to the couch, the book between us. His shoulder brushed mine every time he leaned in to point out a detail in the text.

His voice softened when he read a line he loved, and I found myself watching his mouth more than the words on the page.

At one point, his knee bumped mine and stayed there. I shifted slightly closer. His breath caught, but he didn’t move away.

We kept talking, but the air between us had changed. Every movement felt charged. His fingers skimmed the page and mine followed, almost brushing his.

I could feel the potential mate-bond like a low hum in my bones, pulling me closer, urging me to close the space between us.

“Leo,” he murmured at one point, without looking up.

“Yeah?” I asked.

His gaze lifted, and I saw the faint wariness, the want, the unspoken question.

I didn’t answer with words and I couldn’t hold back any longer.

I’d been incredibly patient over the past few days and I badly wanted him, badly wanted to take this a step further. Elias finally seemed ready so I took the risk.

I leaned in, slow enough to give him room to pull back if he wanted. He didn’t. Our lips met, tentative at first, then deeper as he sighed against my mouth.

The bond flared, heat rushing through me like a lit fuse.

I cupped the side of his face, my thumb brushing along his jaw, and felt him lean into the touch. His mouth parted, and I tasted the faint sweetness of the wine we’d had with dinner.

When I slid my other hand to the back of his neck, his fingers curled in my shirt like he needed something to hold onto. The kiss deepened, slow and unhurried but so full of heat it left me dizzy.

I shifted, turning more toward him, and his hand came up to rest against my chest.

My bear pressed forward, thrilled and certain. Elias’s pulse thudded under my fingertips where my hand had slid to the side of his throat.

When we finally pulled back, it was just far enough to breathe. His eyes were darker now, his cheeks flushed.

“That was…” Elias trailed off, searching for the word.

“Yeah,” I said.

We didn’t stay apart for long. I kissed him again, slower, letting my lips brush his before pressing in, tasting the quiet sounds he made.

My hand skimmed down his back, over the curve of his waist, until I felt him shiver. He pulled me closer, and the book between us slid to the floor with a soft thump. I didn’t care.

His fingers slipped under the hem of my shirt, warm against my skin.

The touch was tentative, like he was still deciding if he was allowed. I caught his wrist gently and pressed his hand more firmly to me.