Page 43 of Frost and Felines

"Dance with me?"

She hesitated, those crystalline blue eyes searching his face. "I'm not much of a dancer."

"Neither am I. We can be terrible together." His grin widened. "Come on, I promise not to step on your toes. Tiger's honor."

"Well, when you put it that way..." She placed her hand in his, and his tiger rumbled in satisfaction at the contact.

He led her to the dance floor, pulling her close against him. One hand settled on her lower back while the other clasped hers. The satin of her dress was cool beneath his palm, but her skin radiated warmth.

"See? Not so bad," he murmured, guiding them in a slow circle.

"The night's still young. Plenty of time for toe-stepping." But she relaxed into his hold, her free hand resting on his shoulder.

The scent of her perfume – something light and floral – mingled with her natural storm-touched essence. His tiger wanted to bury its nose in her neck and breathe her in. Instead, he settled for drawing her fractionally closer.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said softly. "Blue suits you."

A slight flush colored her cheeks. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

"Pretty well? That hurts." He spun her out and back, catching her against his chest. "I'll have you know I spent hours picking out this tie."

Her laugh vibrated through him where their bodies pressed together. "Ten minutes, tops."

"Fifteen, actually."

They swayed together, and Kieran found himself mesmerized by the way the lights caught her platinum hair, how her eyes sparkled when she smiled. His tiger stretched lazily beneath his skin, perfectly content to have her in his arms.

The music swelled, and Mallory's fingers tightened on his shoulder. "Kieran?"

"Hmm?" He looked deeply into her eyes, caught by the intensity in her gaze.

"Thank you. For making me laugh again."

The simple honesty in her voice made his chest tighten. He wanted to kiss her right now, to show her exactly how much she meant to him.

Instead, he squeezed her hand and twirled her again, delighting in her surprised giggle.

"Anytime, storm witch. Anytime."

Kieran guided Mallory through the quieting halls of The Hearthstone, his tiger still purring from their dance. The satin of her dress whispered against his fingers where they rested on her back. His inner beast wanted to pull her closer, to breathe in more of that intoxicating storm-touched scent that was uniquely her.

"You were right about the party. It was perfect," he admitted, enjoying her satisfied smirk. "Though that centerpiece was definitely crooked."

"You're impossible." She bumped his shoulder playfully.

They rounded the corner toward their rooms and Kieran's keen eyes caught sight of something green hanging from the ceiling. His tiger's attention snapped to full alert – mistletoe. Charlotte must have hung it when he wasn't looking. That crafty woman.

Before he could decide whether to point it out or tactfully guide Mallory around it, she came to a stop directly beneath the sprig. Her blue eyes lifted to the ceiling, then met his with an intensity that caused his breath to catch.

"Mistletoe," she said softly.

"We don't have to—" he started, but she was already rising on her toes, one hand sliding up to cup his jaw.

The first brush of her lips against his was tentative, questioning. His tiger surged forward with a possessive growland Kieran deepened the kiss, pulling her flush against him. She tasted like punch and possibilities, her mouth warm and willing under his. His hand tangled in her hair as he angled her head to better claim her lips.

Mallory made a small sound in the back of her throat that drove him wild. His tiger wanted to back her against the wall and show her exactly what she did to him. Instead, he gentled the kiss, pouring all his unspoken feelings into the press of his lips against hers.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Kieran rested his forehead against hers. His tiger rumbled in delight at the flush in her cheeks, and the slight swell of her lips.

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