We left the restaurant holding hands. I couldn’t keep the ridiculous, giddy grin off my face as we walked to the car. How did I get so lucky? It was fully dark outside now. The clear night sky twinkled with pinprick stars.
When he opened the car door for me, I practically swooned at the old-fashioned gesture. It was such a little and inconsequential thing, but to me, it meant the world. It meant he was looking out for my needs, even tiny things that I could easily handle myself. Stupid, I know. Millions of women would probably think that kind of mindset would set feminism back a hundred years. It wasn’t about what I could do for myself, or what I should do for myself… For me, it was just that fact that he was there for me, instinctively. I felt like no one had ever been there for me, in even the most minor ways like that. Even my dad. I knew he loved me, but he always seemed so careful not to be too affectionate in front of my mother and brother, like he knew it would stir them up. He went out of his way to avoid upsetting them.
Now it felt like I had someone fully on my side. Someone was looking out for me. I hadn’t realized quite how much I craved for someone to notice me.
My breath caught as he stepped in a little closer. I hadn’t climbed into the car yet, so we were both snuggled together. Oh, so close
….
His fingers brushed my face, pleasurable sparks coaxing a needy sigh from me. He cupped my now deeply red face, stepped in even closer, but just when I thought he would kiss me, he paused.
“I never want to do anything you’re not ready for. Tell me if I move too fast.”
I nodded. Yet again, words escaped me. I didn’t know if it was the sparks from our bond or my nerves that were zipping through my body giving me goosebumps. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.
“Tell me what you want,” he murmured.
Oh, he knew what I wanted. I was practically on my toes straining for him. He could probably smell my arousal. Goddess, that’s embarrassing.
“Use your words, darling.”
My stomach swirled as need dipped low in my core. Was this what it would always be like with us? Like the rest of the world melts away until it’s just he and I. I could get used to this.
“I want you.” I whispered. I could feel my cheeks still raging with the heat of that annoying blush.
Agonizingly slowly, he brought his lips to mine. His eyes bored into mine as he did so. I thought I might o****m from the intensity of his stare alone. Goddess, I thought his simple touches were magical, but that’s nothing compared to his kisses. The desire he ignited in me seared my soul to his. In that moment, I knew, no matter what complications we faced, none of it would matter.
When we did break apart, panting for breath and drowning in want, I grinned. I’d expected my first kiss to be sloppy, awkward and weird. But having given full control to him, I simply followed his lead. Tasting and testing. Soon, we found a natural rhythm that I prayed would never end. I could have stood there and kissed him forever, and it wouldn’t be enough.
“You were worth the wait,” he murmured before kissing my lips once again.
I wanted to say something equally heartfelt but all I could do in the moment was grin stupidly and stare lovingly.
We were so focused on each other that we failed to sense the danger.
In an instant, he was ripped from my arms and flung away from me. It all happened so quickly, it was hard to figure out exactly what was going on. One second, my arms were around his neck, his hands resting on my waist, then the next second, he was tossed across the carpark. I had no idea where the attack had come from. It was as if the person, or people, were invisible. But that wasn’t possible.
Then I felt someone, something, grab my wrist. I could just make out the shape of a figure materializing in front of me… that didn’t make sense. It seemed as if the person were made of shadow. A soft, somehow swirly, mass of humanoid shadow had seized my wrist.
I desperately wanted to scream, but my voice simply wouldn’t work. Not even a squeak or a gasp came out. Nothing. I was frozen. What was the point of being a powerful werewolf if I couldn't even breathe in a tough situation?
Before I could calm myself enough to react, the shadow was yanked from me. I watched, pathetic and motionless, as Kelton pulled the shadow away from me. For a second it seemed like the shadow had mass, Kelton was able to physically grab it and move it. The next it seemed like Kelton was grabbing at smoke. What the heck was going on?!
Then, for a completely frightening moment, the shadow turned to face me. I don’t know how I knew that, since it was just a blurry shape, but I was certain that the thing was looking at me, assessing me. Then it melted into the shadows, literally, and completely disappeared. But before it faded completely, I swear I saw two glowing red eyes.
Kelton rushed forward and pulled me into his arms. Instantly, his touch affected me. Still, it took a good few minutes for my frantic heart and breathing to return to normal.
I don’t remember the drive home. One minute we were standing in the car park, the next we were in the car and Kelton was speeding us back toward campus. The next thing I registered was being tucked into my bed in my dorm.
“Stay with me?” I whispered.
“Always,” he replied.