Page 303 of Hunters and Prey

Placing a palm against his chest she didn’t feel the heartbeat on the left like she would with a Kalan human. Moving it to the right she felt that strong pounding against his chest that told her he was alive and strong and…nervous? His heartbeat was too rapid to be normal for his kind.

Chiara took her hand off and he gripped her wrist so quickly she gasped, but he didn’t harm her. Roman placed it back over his heart, staring into her eyes. “I enjoy your touch,” he told her. “I’m simply anxious. I don’t want to ruin the progress we’ve made with my desire.”

“Desire?” she asked, frowning a little. Did she desire him?

“Yes,” he breathed. “There is so much I’d like to do to you, to make you feel things…”

Chiara had been with quite a few partners, but only for the one sexual encounter. Her body had needs after all. But the attachment was never something she’d been interested in. Of course she knew that once with one person would not be the best experience. It took time to learn what someone liked, how they preferred things.

What could Roman accomplish with time?

She licked her lips and realized her breathing was more rapid than before. “I’d like to perform an experiment,” she told him. “I’d like to kiss you, but with your permission of course.”

His hands came out of his pockets and clenched into fists when she waited for his response. “Of course you have my permission, velika,” he said hoarsely.

Chiara tilted her head and smiled slightly. “What does that mean in the Drakesthai tongue?” She took a step closer and placed her hands on his shoulders carefully.

Roman’s hands rested on her waist, but he still waited for her to make the next move. “It means ‘gorgeous.’”

Considering how long he’d been calling her that…Roman was completely invested in her.

It was time to perform the first most obvious test. If they didn’t have chemistry there was no point in tethering herself to someone who would only distract her from work and need attention…

But Chiara didn’t think that would be the case here. Her heart was already beating harder than necessary which caused her breathing to be erratic. She was nervous too. Then she went up on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.

It wasn’t the most alluring or graceful kiss she’d ever performed, but she’d needed to just dive in so to say. Otherwise she would worry about how awful this could turn out for too long and simply give up.

But as Roman’s arms tightened around her on instinct and she breathed in his strange scent, she relaxed into him. This felt natural. It felt as easy as breathing should be. And his full lips were soft.

She kept it simple at first, getting used to the feel of his entire body against hers. His arms were strong and reassuring. Then his wings wrapped around them both, encasing her in a gentle darkness.

It didn’t make her feel claustrophobic either. The added layer of the wings made things feel cozier, like a favorite blanket. They made things between her and Roman feel more intense as soon as she began to feel like they were in their own world.

Roman slid his tongue across the seam of her lips, asking without words. She opened for him and he dove in, taking everything she would give him. Chiara gasped and pressed harder against his chest, grip tightening on his shoulders as she felt a tingle flow through her limbs.

A pulsing ache began between her legs and she couldn’t get enough. One hand went to the back of his neck and she yanked him down so they were closer, so she could run her tongue along his canines and taste him like he tasted her.

Those large hands gripped tight and lifted. Chiara wrapped her legs around his middle, her short height no longer a problem now that their faces were level with each other. Gently she nipped his lower lip and then moved to his neck, pressing a kiss there as she breathed in his scent again.

He smelled of the wind and fire. He smelled like freedom and desire.

Roman groaned when she raked her dropped canines across his lower lip. The desire wound her tighter and tighter.

It had been so long since she’d had romantic contact with anyone. Chiara didn’t like casual touch, but with the right person she felt it was essential. No matter how much she preferred to avoid it, humanity needed the contact and her body was reminding her of that now.

But she wanted to be in control. Chiara refused to let hormones and biology dictate her choices.

Her lips brushed against his once more and she released him, sliding down his body. Chiara felt his obvious desire pressed against her stomach once her feet touched the floor. Grinning she pushed away from him.

“Seems we passed that test,” she murmured.

Roman readjusted himself in his pants, not even bothering to be subtle about it. “That was a test?”

Chiara nodded. “Yes, I wanted to see if there was physical desire on both sides.”

He gave her a wicked grin. Roman stepped forward, getting in her space. “You desire me?”

She smiled up at him. “Apparently. That makes things easier I think.”

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