Starlight Web (Moonshadow Bay #1) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,69
met,” he said. “There’s something about you, January Jaxson—something that…feels so right.” And then, he kissed me again.
The second time we pulled apart, he reached up and stroked a loose strand of hair out of my eyes. “You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful, and witty, and I love the way you smile.” He bopped me on the nose. “And you’re hungry—and so am I. Let’s eat.”
As he slowly let go of me, my mind was reeling. It felt like years since any man had looked at me the way Killian was.
“I… I’m not sure what to say,” I managed to stammer out. I almost blurted out a “Thank you,” but thank gods, I caught myself before I did.
“How about, Would you like some pizza, Killian? To which I would answer, Yes, please.”
If Ellison had said something like that to me, he would have been mocking me, but Killian was laughing, and there was nothing sarcastic about it. He was teasing me. I swatted him lightly on the arm.
“If you’re hungry, get a plate. You don’t have to stand on ceremony,” I added. I pointed to the cupboard.
He pulled out two plates, handing one to me. We loaded up on pizza and carried our food and wine over to the table, where he sat down kitty-corner from me, close enough to take my hand, yet still able to see me without turning his head.
I wasn’t sure what to say. The kisses had been wonderful, and I wanted him to know that. I didn’t want to leave him wondering. But how did you say that, especially to a man you barely knew? How did you approach the subject? “Hey, plant your lips on me again” seemed a bit too casual, even though it was what I was thinking.
Actually, if I admitted it to myself, I was already beyond the kissing stage in my thoughts. I was thinking about how his hands would feel on my body, how he would feel pressed up against me, with both of us very naked. But I didn’t want to say that, either.
So I settled for, “I’ve wanted to kiss you for a while, too.” It felt almost too coy, but I meant it. And it was a way to break the ice. Kissing someone new was a huge move for me, given I’d been married eighteen years.
“I thought I felt a spark between us,” he said. “At least, I was hoping I did—because I’ve been sparking around you for a while.”
I grinned. “Ever see Hotel Transylvania?” The movie was one of my favorites.
He laughed, knowing the reference. “So, did we zing?” And that answered that.
I nodded. “I think…so. I only know that you’re the first man I’ve kissed since I left Ellison, and for eighteen years, he was the only one I kissed—at least with tongue. The group we hung out with did a lot of air kissing, but that’s more of a social nicety than anything.” I paused. “Do you mind if I ask you some questions?”
He shrugged, biting into another piece of pizza. “Go right ahead.”
“Have you ever been married?” I hated that I wanted to grill him now, but I needed to know what I was walking into before I allowed myself to go any further. Maybe he just wanted a casual affair, or maybe he was a serial monogamist. I couldn’t let myself get too wrapped up in daydreams until I knew the playing field.
He shook his head. “No, actually. I came close, once, but I couldn’t go through with it. I didn’t love her the way she loved me, and I only asked her to marry me because…I thought I should be married, and my parents were pressuring me, and she was pressuring me. I regret ever proposing—I hate letting people down. But I was a lot younger and more easily manipulated.”
“What was her name?”
“Brindle, actually. Her parents were horse freaks. She was also a wolf shifter, but her pack was very strict on how members were allowed to date. Her mother acted as a chaperone until we were engaged. Only then was she allowed to date me without having her mother or her brother around.” He grimaced. “I can’t begin to tell you the shit that hit the fan when I broke our engagement. I’m glad I didn’t sleep with her, or it would have led to a shotgun wedding.”
I snorted. “Do those still exist?”
“You’d better believe it, though this was quite awhile ago. I’m a lot older than you are.”