for her to balance on.
“Wait here,” I demanded, brooking no room for argument. I’d watched her on the edge of Chiara’s small bed, and instead of intervening, I’d just stood there, waiting for her to wake up. I’d let her fall. Fuck. This was my fault. I should have woken her up and thanked her for staying. She’d been here all night, and there had been no way for me to contact her to let her know when I would be back.
I rifled through the cabinet, searching for the first aid kit, and when I put my hand on it, I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Seriously,” she huffed out. “I’m fine.” Placing the kit on her lap, I then opened it, grabbing everything I needed. “Mateo.” The alcohol wipe was first, so I ripped it open and lifted my arm to press it to her face. But at my movement, she wrapped her small hand around my wrist, halting me. “Are you listening to me?”
“I hear you,” I grunted, meeting her stare. “But you’re bleeding.” It was explanation enough, but she didn’t seem to understand me. Her eyes glazed over, her hand on my arm letting up slightly. “Let me clean you up,” I murmured.
Luna didn’t look away, searching for something in my eyes. Whatever she was looking for, she must have found, because she finally let go of my arm and pushed her face closer to mine. She winced at the movement. I had no doubt she’d have a headache soon.
Her breath fanned across my face as I wiped the blood away. It was smaller than I initially thought, but it was still wide enough to need some Steri-Strips. I placed three over the cut and trailed the dried blood down her cheek with the alcohol wipe until it was clean.
Luna’s breath stuttered at the movement, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. We were so close in the small space; all it would take was one jerk of my body and we’d be flush against each other. Her blue eyes swirled, becoming darker the longer we stood there. But it was her squeezing her legs together that had me dropping the wipe.
Another person wouldn’t have noticed the action, but I wasn’t just anyone. I was a master at taking in people’s body language and predicting what their next move would be. It was a life-or-death skill that I’d honed years ago, but in moments like this, it served in a completely different way.
My chest stilled when she swiped her tongue over her bottom lip. The air in the room was running out, our time nearly coming to an end. Doing anything with her wouldn’t be a good decision, I knew that, but I still found my palm opening up and cupping her cheek.
She had me under her spell and I was helpless to it. She drew me in, demanding I pay her attention. I wasn’t going to back away, not like I did with everyone else. For once, I was going to take what I wanted, consequences be damned.
I’d think about how it was a mistake later, but right then, I did what I’d wanted to do from the moment I’d seen her on the curb.
I slammed my lips against hers.
I grabbed the back of her neck, holding her to me.
I bit down on her bottom lip, swallowing the moan she let free.
I took what I wanted, not caring about what it would mean.
Her legs opened wider, and I took the opportunity, pushing closer to her, loving the way she felt as her body molded to mine, like it was always meant to be there.
Our tongues met, dueling in a battle we’d had no idea would rage. I gave it my all, beating her to the win, and controlling the kiss. But more than that, she let me.
She let me touch her.
She let me take a part of her.
She let me steal a piece of her soul with our kiss.
My hand moved down the side of her chest, to her waist, and grasped on to her hips. I yanked her forward, showing her exactly what she did to me with one simple kiss. She was driving me crazy, and there was nothing more that I wanted right then but to take every part of her. I wanted in. In on her. In on us. In on the part of herself she kept so guarded.
“Mateo,” she moaned, breaking her lips from mine. But I wasn’t done yet. I had to