Page 6 of Heat & Hard Candies

“Maybe some of them. But you’re outgoing, and playful, and thoughtful. And gorgeous—really gorgeous. I want a guy like that. You—I want you.” She let out a breath. “I’m not selling this very well. I’m shitty at social interaction. This is why they wanted me to playBachelorette.”

“What?”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “I kind of wrote a passionate letter—or ten—to convince the Society to let me play Survival. I’ve seen all of the episodes of all of the available seasons dozens of times. I’ve been studying it since the beginning.”

“And you want me to believe that you wantme?” My voice was skeptical.

Something in her expression grew steely. “Yes.”

I didn’t believe her.

It must’ve been apparent in my gaze, because she changed gears and asked, “How can I prove it?”

“Kiss me,” I said.

If she had really seen all of the episodes of every season, she knew none of the other human women had evenlikedhaving any kind of physical contact with me. It was a bit of a confidence killer.

I’d be damn glad when the game was over.

“Kiss you?” The shock in her voice told me she wouldn’t do it.

“Mmhm.”

The redness on her face spread down her neck and over her collarbone. I’d never seen a woman blush like that, and somehow, it just made her more appealing.

I needed to stop thinking that way. She would belong to someone else.

She stood slowly.

Then walked around the table.

When I made no move to get up, she stiffly sat down on my lap. My cock hardened immediately—hell, it was already hard at the possibility that a compatible mate might be somewhat interested in me—but I didn’t acknowledge it.

“I’ve never kissed anyone before,” she said, then pressed her lips to mine.

The words registered with the hard, tense contact of our mouths.

Shewhat?

If the woman had never kissed anyone, it was my responsibility to make it good for her.

Lifting a hand to her chin, I tilted her head slightly and parted her lips with my tongue. She opened for me without hesitation, and made a noise of pleasure as the kiss deepened.

My free hand caught her waist, adjusting her position to make her more comfortable. She moved her hips slightly, until my erection was pressed against her center.

She was uncertain at first, but her hands found my hair as she started kissing me back. Andfuck, there were fireworks.

Launa kissed me like I was the air she needed to breathe.

Like she was starving, and I was food.

Like—

Like she legitimately wanted me to be her mate.

Holy fuck.

She wasn’t bullshitting me.

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