Page 26

“Thank you.” He put the scissors and bag aside. Turning back, he angled himself toward me, bringing a knee up on the couch. “Whatever happens or doesn't between us, I hope you'll stay the night.”

“You want me to spend the night even if I don't sleep with you?”

“You're here, we're both adults, I have guest rooms, and, honestly, I'd feel better knowing you're safe. I should have listened to you last night. You were afraid to go home, but I told you Osric was after me and took you home anyway. Thankfully, he didn't hurt you, and I have an opportunity to correct my mistake.”

I'd forgotten about all that. “Oh. Right.”

Tristan took my hand and wove our fingers together. “I also want you to stay because I want you here, Destiny.”

I let out a long breath. “How long?”

“Until it's safe for you to go home. Or as long as you wish.”

Or as long as I wished? I wasn't going to touch that. However, there were other things I'd like to touch. “I'd like to kiss you again, but I don't know how much more I'm ready for.”

He rubbed his thumb over my fingers. “I've lived a very long time. I know how to control myself, and I enjoy savoring the anticipation. I won't expect any more than kissing.” He grinned. “Hopefully, a lot of kissing.”

My thighs tensed, and a shiver ran up my belly to tighten my nipples. I took a sip of my wine and set it on the table.

Tristan set his glass down and picked up a grape. I turned toward him, ready to get back to the kissing, but he bit the grape in half and regarded me with heavy lidded eyes. Slowly, he raised the other half of the grape to me. I opened my mouth, but he rubbed the juice on my lower lip.

He leaned down and licked the juice from my lips. The unusual kiss sent a shiver down my spine, and I had to remind myself this was only going to be kissing. No getting carried away, Destiny. Focus!

A clink came as he set down his wine glass. His palm swept up my arm, over my shoulder, and cupped the back of my head as he leaned in. Our lips met and opened as my eyes closed. It was slower, more luxurious than our first kiss, and I arched into him to feel more. My barriers fell, and aching need poured into me. I groaned with it, drowning in lust. Beneath it ran a tide of emptiness so great it became a clawing thing, pushing the lust into a savage state.

Mindless, I reached between us and grabbed him through his pants. Tristan cried out and jerked back as he pushed away from me. Sanity returned, and I gasped as I dropped my shields back in place. When I opened my eyes, Tristan was pressed into the far corner of the couch, his arms braced against the cushions.

“Tristan?” Oh, fuck, was this my fault?

Panting, he held up a hand, closed his eyes, and breathed deeply until his breathing slowed. When he opened his eyes again, the mask I'd seen before was back. I hadn't realized it was missing until then.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered.

“Why?”

“I dropped my mental shields without thinking. Feeling your desire made me . . . well, you know what it made me do. It was an invasion of your privacy, and it won't happen again. I know to be more vigilant now.”

“You felt it?”

“Yes, I'm sorry. I won't—”

“Then you know why I had to stop.” Tristan sat up, laid his hands on his thighs, and exhaled. “I nearly lost control. I'm so sorry, I can't go any further with you.”

“I thought maybe I'd done something to you when I touched your emotions.”

“No, it was me. Just kissing you . . . it was too much. If I start kissing you again, I don't think I can stop.” He shook his head. “I mean, of course I'd stop if you asked, but it would cost me. Do you understand?”

Did I understand? Of course, I did. I'd felt it too, and if he hadn't stopped, we'd probably be naked already. But it had been his feelings. I'd only borrowed them. I'd been aroused too, but not to the extent he'd been. And it was more flattering than any amount of pretty words.

I tried to hide my smile. “Did you just say I'm too sexy for you?”

He chuckled and ducked his head. “Too sexy to just kiss, yes. But when you're ready, you will be the perfect amount of sexy for me.” He held up a hand when I started to speak. “I need you to be sure you want to go further the next time we kiss. I know it's asking a lot. Kissing should be fun and romantic, without any expectations upon it.”

“You did say you enjoy the anticipation.”

“Evidently that was pre-Destiny me.” He grimaced. “Just being around you is difficult. I constantly want to touch you. It's as if Heartbreak is still drawing me to you even though you're right here.”

I chuckled. “I'm flattered, impressed, and disappointed.”