Page 31 of Klaus

It was very wrong. Very unlike me.

Just as it was unlike me to take her face in my hands once she was finally close enough to touch, to stroke her smooth cheeks with my thumbs before finally tasting the lips I’d watched move every time she spoke. So sweet, as sweet as I’d imagined without meaning to imagine.

She froze, but only for a moment, before leaning into me. I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding her close as her arms wound around my neck. Her mouth moved beneath mine as though she’d kissed me every day of her life, sure and confident, lips parting for my tongue to sweep along the crease before dipping inside.

She groaned, arms clenching tighter, a shiver going through her as she touched her tongue to mine. My arms tightened as well, all but crushing her against me. Her full breasts pressed against my chest, and I wished her robe wasn’t tied so tight so I could slide my arms beneath it and touch her bare skin.

But this was enough. For now. The fire building between us, threatening to overtake us both until we burst into flame. I couldn’t breathe by the time the kiss ended, the two of us still touching from head to toe.

Her chest rose and fell in time with her rapid breaths. “What was that for?” she whispered, beaming.

What was it for? “You’re just too fetching in that robe,” I explained, making her giggle. I couldn’t tell her how desperately worried I’d been for the briefest of moments, that I’d been certain she’d come to a bad end. That the thought of harm coming to her had made me sick.

That the lion had urged me on and roared in triumph once I took her in my arms. That he’d made it all but impossible to concentrate whenever he got a corner on my attention, reminding me of her scent and the sound of her laughter and the warmth which emanated from her lush body.

That I had wanted to touch and taste her for weeks and had no choice but to give in once everything became clear. There was her, and there was the rest of the world. As simple as that.

Except she was the world. That was the craziest thing of all. My heart swelled with joy when she smiled up at me, still safe in my arms.

That joy dissolved when I remembered the reason for my fear. She couldn’t always be in my arms, though I’d rather it be that way.

“We need to talk,” I announced. “There’s something you ought to know.”

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