Santa Soldier Bear - Meg Ripley Page 0,10
than he ever thought he would.” He found himself leaning closer and closer to her as his polar bear urged him to close the distance between them.
“And if she might have felt the same thing, what do you think she should do about it? I mean, considering that they live in completely different parts of the country?” Melody had turned now so that she faced him.
Her face was so close to his, close enough that he only had to lift his hand to touch her cheek. Roman longed to tell her that none of that mattered if they were mates, but he knew it did. There was always something that jumped in the way of happiness, no matter what fate might be trying to say to the contrary. Did Melody want him to just brush off these feelings? Roman couldn’t do that.
“You and I both know that a shifter can wait an entire lifetime, just hoping for the chance to run across the one person they’re meant to be with. I’m not saying I know what to do about it, but I do know it’s there.” He swallowed, hardly believing those words were escaping his mouth.
She swallowed. It was a simple motion, but the way it moved her throat was tantalizing. Roman wanted to sink his teeth into it, to reach out with his tongue and touch her skin. He wanted to be a part of her, and he wanted her to know what it was like to be a part of him.
“Are you joining the Force?”
Did she know that Amar had talked to him about it? Roman didn’t doubt how tightly knit everyone in that household was, so he wouldn’t be surprised if Amar had mentioned it to the rest of them. His old buddy had tried hard, but Roman knew that Sheridan, Wyoming was his true home. He could never be happy in a place like L.A. “No.”
Melody swallowed once again. Her lips moved, and for a moment, he thought she might kiss him. Instead, she swayed back ever so slightly. The increase in distance was so slight, but it was like a knife in his heart. “Well, at least we’ve had tonight,” she said quietly. “I’ve had fun with you, Roman.”
He felt as though he’d been trying to hold water in his hands and could only stand by helplessly as he watched it leak through his fingers. Melody was special. She was magical. She was like that Christmas wish that people always talked about in the movies, something you hoped would come true, but you never thought would. All he knew was that he wanted to keep a hold of her as long as possible. “Me, too.”
“I’d better put all of this away.” Melody reached forward, taking a plate in each hand.
After allowing himself a moment to see the curve of her backside as she stood, Roman joined her in cleaning up.
The two of them operated in a symphony of kitchen noises as they rinsed plates, covered leftovers, and returned everything to the fridge. Even though it felt like an anticlimactic end to what had been a promising evening, Roman found that the simple act of kitchen work was pleasant as long as he got to do it with Melody at his side. He liked the way her hair responded to her motions as she rinsed a dish. He certainly didn’t mind seeing her bend over to load plates in the dishwasher. There was something authoritarian and domestic about her as she arranged items in the fridge. It was when he could stand back and realize that everyday chores were turning him on that he knew for sure he’d met his match.
“Thanks again,” Melody said when they’d finished up. “I’d better be heading to bed.” She wiped her hands on a towel and turned to leave.
As though someone else was controlling his body, Roman’s hands were suddenly on her hips. He spun her around, pulling her close against him as he pressed his lips to hers. Roman expected her to pull back and slap him. He deserved it for just grabbing her like that without permission.
Melody stiffened in surprise, stepping backward as she caught her balance, but then melted into his embrace. Her hands slid up his chest, across his shoulders, and around to the back of his neck as her lips grew pliant and welcoming.
He dared to flick his tongue into the warm depths of her mouth, exploring, needing to know more of her. Roman knew