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Our gazes were locked on each other. I was afraid to look away, afraid to move in case this was all a dream, and I might spoil it. I didn’t stop to question if it was a good idea. I didn’t stop to think about what was happening between us.
All I knew was that if he didn’t kiss me, I would take charge and do it myself.
When he bent his head—thank the fates—pressing his lips lightly to mine, it was as if fireworks ignited in my body, the fuse burning fast and bright.
I moaned against his mouth, my lips parting, my arms coming up to wrap around his neck. He responded instantly, slipping his tongue between my lips to caress my own with a teasing stroke. It drove me mad. My fingers clenched, digging into his shoulders, and he brought both hands to my cheeks, kissing me again and again.
This was nothing like the kiss we’d shared in his apartment. This kiss consumed me, and I lost myself to the sensation of being wrapped in Holden’s arms. I deepened the kiss, and Holden groaned. The ache between my legs became intense as I throbbed with need.
No, never in my life had I experienced a kiss like this before. Just as I was about to lose all hold on my sanity, Holden pulled back suddenly.
I stared up at him, confused and blinking. He glanced behind me. “Someone’s coming.”
He gave me a slow half-smile as I kept my arms around his neck, trying to process his words when my brain was addled with lust, and it was just about the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
Then I realized what he’d said. The sound of footsteps approached, and I quickly dropped my arms and scooted away from him, just as Faye popped around the corner of a hedge.
“Oh, hi,” she said cheerfully, her smile growing as she looked back and forth between us. “So sorry for interrupting.”
Her twinkling eyes clearly showed that even though she hadn’t quite caught us, she knew we’d been up to something. I stood quickly. “What are you doing here?”
Faye adjusted her headset. “It’s almost time for dinner. When you weren’t in your room, I radioed to find out if anyone had seen you. Someone said you’d headed out this way.”
“Not to worry,” Holden said smoothly, standing as well. “Here she is. If you lovely ladies will excuse me, I must also change for dinner.”
Holden turned to me and took my hand, bringing it to his lips, his eyes watching me the entire time. They sparkled with lingering desire. “Until next time.”
Then he was gone, leaving me to face Faye’s knowing grin all on my own.
“Not a word,” I said as I marched back toward the estate, “and I’ll let you pick my dress again this time—but don’t get used to it!”
Faye simply laughed.
16
HOLDEN
“You ready to make your next elimination?”
I sat next to Garrett in the family dining room for a late breakfast, choosing not to dine with the contestants this morning. I’d likely be a distraction from the competition they were preparing for, and most had probably chosen to eat in their rooms anyway.
I glanced over at Garrett. “You say it like I’m not making decisions that impact my entire life.”
Garrett snorted as he speared a waffle with his fork. “You’re being dramatic. We haven’t even reached the hard part yet. Surely at this point, you have a short list of women you’re seriously considering. That makes it easier to send home the others.”
In theory, yeah. But there were so many intricacies to consider, like how my future mate would handle a life of leading the pack by my side. My thoughts drifted back to that kiss yesterday afternoon. It had blown my mind. All I’d wanted was to whisk Kayden away to my room and forget everything else except the raging desire she sparked in me.
Desire wasn’t even enough to describe it. There was a longing, a yearning for her. I didn’t understand it at all.
“I might have a few in mind.” I drained my coffee and poured another mug. I wasn’t ready to discuss my strange pull toward Kayden yet. “Who do you think I should send home?”
“No, no, no. Hold up.” Garrett slammed his mug down, coffee sloshing over the rim. “You can’t just say you have a few in mind then change the subject. Who?”
“I’m not changing the subject.” He gave me anoh-come-onlook. “Seriously. I’d like your opinion. But if you must know, I think Sydnee, Kayden and Brooklyn are my current top contenders. That could change at any minute, though.”
That’s what was so stressful. What if I sent home the perfect woman before I even got a chance to know her? An image of Kayden’s face flashed in my mind. She was the perfect woman, my subconscious seemed to be telling me.
The only problem was that I wasn’t sure she was. Her experience and knowledge of leading a pack, things an alpha’s mate must do, were limited. She could learn, of course. But I’d told myself long ago that choosing my mate was about her ability to stand by my side as a leader—the right leader, who my pack would support and respect.
