My smile grew. "Male. Is that a problem?"
"To repeat your rather emphatic statement, no." The heat still burned in his eyes, but there was something else—something that made me quiver in anticipation and perhaps a little fear as he added, "Although I do prefer to know whether I have competition or not."
"Tao's not competition. As I said, he's just a friend." I smiled and picked up my purse. "Thank you for the lovely evening."
"Indeed." He waved a hand to the front door. "Allow me to escort you out."
He did so, his fingers pressed lightly against my spine, causing all sorts of havoc to my pulse rate. The maître d' opened the door as we approached, and a blast of wintry air hit my skin. I shivered and crossed my arms as we left the restaurant, half wishing I'd brought Kiera's coat with me. But that was a risk given that, at the time, I'd had no idea if this man was safe or not.
I still wasn't sure, but for entirely different reasons.
"Here," he said, stripping off his jacket and resting it over my shoulders. My nostrils flared, taking in the scent of him, feeling it wrap all around me as securely as his jacket. "Take this. You can return it on our next date."
I smiled. "Thereby ensuring I do have to see you again."
"Of course."
He was still holding the lapels of the coat and he tugged on them lightly, pulling me closer. My chest brushed the silk of his shirt, and my already erect nipples reacted as if we were both naked.
"Call me tomorrow," he added, voice little more than a murmur. Then he kissed me.
It was like no kiss I'd ever felt before. It was heat and passion and desire, but it also transcended all that, becoming as tumultuous as the fiercest storm. Electricity surged between us, swirling around our flesh, through our flesh, until it felt as if we were nothing more than night and air and energy.
When we finally parted, I could barely breathe and my legs felt like water.
"Is it always like that?" I muttered, touching his forearm to hold myself upright.
He smiled and ran his finger lightly from my cheek to my kiss-swollen lips. "Kissing another Aedh is like flirting with the sun. There isn't another sensation quite like it."