tiny holes in my heart that his laugh wrought, and the hunger in his gaze emboldened me. After pulling my arm from his neck and adjusting myself so that my palm rested on his cheek, my thumb swept up and down. It halted when he jerked his head to the side and snapped it between his teeth.
The gentle bite barely pierced my skin, and the sting was quickly soothed by his tongue as it swirled across the wound. Still, the action caused me to wince as the surprise and rising heat drew my monster's attention.
He yanked away, his mouth opening wide to avoid any further injury. That banked fire in his eyes died as his face crumpled.
"I didn't mean to. I didn't think," Kian rambled.
Slapping my hand on his back, I interrupted his escape and tried to press him forward again. "It's fine. It's nothing."
"No, it's not fine. You're hurting. I shouldn't have." The recrimination was obvious as that content lie he covered his emotions with lifted, exposing a hint of the self-loathing he had for his Fae half.
"Come here." When he didn't, I scooted towards him until he couldn't back up any further without falling off the bed. "Come here, Kian. If you're worried about it, you could always kiss it and make it better."
I let him go and pushed myself to where we began, allowing him to choose. He examined my face, and I hid the ache that oozed in when we separated. I hadn't noticed it before, but when we touched, the pain lessened. Showing him would only guilt him into returning, and I needed it to be his decision. I wanted him to come to me on his own, without influence. Deep inside, in a place I'd buried long ago, I wanted to be chosen.
Time ticked by, slowing until the space between us seemed infinite. Then he edged closer. His deliberate movements to keep from jostling me misted my vision, and I blinked to shove it down. It felt like my soul expanded, pulsing behind my heart and growing with each inch that closed between us until I couldn't take it any longer. I reached for him, needing the touch of him to affirm something inside that I couldn't quite name.
When he gripped my hip, and our bodies fit together again, that pulsing finally burst, sending ripples through me. A heavy sigh released the pressure that had built within, and it mingled with the hum slipping from his lips.
"Are you sure you aren't Fae?" he asked.
"I'm not positive about anything right now. Why?"
"Because you have a way of making me do things I probably shouldn't just by asking."
A wicked grin appeared before my gaze dropped to his mouth. "So, all I need to do is ask? Oh, I have a long list of tasks I could use some help with."
Chapter Eleven
Kian had no trouble with the first item on my list. When I tugged his bottom lip between mine, he smiled, pulling it free before taking over. Playful kisses slowed to sensual movements that caused me to forget about every ache that lingered.
But when my hand roamed lower, he inched away.
“Zella, I'm not sure this is a good idea. Why don't we take a nap?” He held my hand in his own and pressed it over his heart.
The rapid thumping contradicted his calm suggestion.
“I told you, Kain. I'm much better, and sex always works better than the tabs do. But I won't push you,” I said, hoping he would change his mind.
He sucked in a breath, hesitated, and then blew it out slowly. “I don't know. Are you sure? It's not the fog convincing you of that, is it?”
A laugh tried to escape, but I swallowed it down. Kian always worried over the pheromones he gave off, but I'd become used to them more and more through repeated exposure. Even if I hadn't, I never regretted my time with him.
“You ask that every time.” I freed my hand and placed it on his cheek, watching as his eyes closed. My heart leapt a little at how beautiful he appeared. “I'm better, I promise. If you'd rather, we can just sleep.”
My fingers danced along his cheekbone until they arrived at his ear. I hesitated until he nodded slightly, giving me permission. With the lightest of pressure, I brushed my fingertips over the pointed tip. A shiver vibrated through his body, and his eyes popped open, revealing a fire that burned within him.