Sedona Surrender (Sedona Pack #4) - Lisa Kessler Page 0,20

much longer, I might kiss you.” Chandler’s warning echoed through my mind, but I shut it down. All bets were off. She was my mate, made for me. I’d keep her safe.

“Then I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered.

I bent to close the distance between us, my lips caressing hers. Her mouth was warm and soft, and I needed more, kissing her over and over as my fingers slid into her silky hair. She moaned as my tongue searched for hers. My wolf howled from the depths of my desolate soul, echoing through all the pain and regret of the past few years.

Her affection was a gift I didn’t feel like I deserved after turning a blind eye to my previous Alpha’s sins.

She moved her arms around me, her hands exploring my back. My fingers tightened into a fist in the back of her hair as I pulled her in close, aching for more.

“Cole,” she gasped against my lips. “Wait.”

Her words cut through the haze of desire. I forced myself to loosen my hold on her as I rested my forehead against hers. “Are you all right?”

Her sexy, well-kissed lips had me yearning to take her right here in the parking lot. She smiled and ran one hand up my chest. “I’m okay, but it’s late. I think I better get home.”

I was going to need a long, cold shower, but I took a step back and nodded. “Sure. I’ll take you back to your car.”

She caught my hand and squeezed. “And I’d love for you to be my plus-one for the fundraiser if you’re available.” She paused and added, “It’s black-tie optional. Do you…?”

She looked uncomfortable so I saved her the trouble. “I have a suit, and I clean up pretty well.”

She laughed, color flushing her cheeks. “I bet you do.”

We got into my truck, and I drove her back to the Wolf Pack Bar, over the complaints of my wolf and my raging erection. Neither understood why we weren’t going to live happily ever after with Madison now. Thankfully, the head on my shoulders was running the show right now.

When we pulled into the parking lot, her Honda was the only car left in the lot. I parked next to it and turned her way. “I had a really good time with you tonight.”

“I had a great time, too. Good night.” She reached for the door handle, then stopped.

She turned around and kissed me so fast, it took a second to grasp what was happening. I held her tight, deepening the kiss. Our tongues wrestled, hungry with need. Fuck, I’d never wanted anyone as urgently as I wanted the woman in my arms. If I could’ve gotten her on my lap, I would’ve taken here right here in my truck, but the steering wheel made that scenario impossible.

When she broke the kiss, her nostrils flared as she caught her breath and stared directly into my soul. “I’ve never…done anything like that before.”

Good, my wolf growled.

I caressed her cheek, struggling to find my voice. “I’m not complaining.”

“Be patient with me. This is…new,” she whispered.

“We can take it slow.” It might kill me, but in that moment, with her breath on my lips and my thumb stroking her soft skin, I realized I’d die for her. She was my mate, fated to be the other half of my soul. My wolf, and my instincts to protect her, were already locked and loaded, but the rational part of me recognized that I didn’t really know her and she didn’t know me. Not yet.

I wanted to change that. I wanted to know, for the first time in my life, what falling in love felt like.

Her gaze locked on mine. “What I told you earlier, about not giving my heart unless it’s going to be forever? Well, it’s been easy to keep things shallow before. But with you—” she paused, searching for words “—my body is ready to get naked, but my head is worried.”

I dropped my hand from her face, my voice raw as I whispered, “I’ve never met anyone like you, Madison. I want to know everything about you. But we’ve got time. I won’t push you.”

“Okay.” She looked relieved and torn all at the same time. “When we sang together tonight—” she broke eye contact, staring out the windshield at her car “—you looked at me like you meant every word. I don’t know what to do with that.”

I caught her chin, turning her head to look at me. “I did