Page 99 of Wolf Cursed
His eyes flashed with barely restrained violence as he said, “The next person who touches you will burn to ash for it. Those bruises you came here with will be your last, that is a promise. Even if they kill me for it.”
I thought of Silas and the others. Of what they’d tried to do. And what Kai would do to them if they succeeded.
“If they knew how you felt about me, they’d hurt me to hurt you,” I said.
He nodded. “I’m so fucking sorry for the way I acted,” he whispered, stepping toward me until we were so close I could feel his breath. “And if you don’t feel the same, it’s okay. But I needed you to know the truth. I never wanted to hurt you. I was protecting you the only way I knew how.”
“Okay, I have to ask you something first. If I say I feel the same way, are we, like, married or something?”
He chuckled. “Not quite.”
“Okay, because you had me up until human lust,” I admitted. “After that, the mating stuff gets confusing.”
His smile widened, and he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me closer so that our hips touched. “That’s a good start,” he said, his lips brushing my cheekbone. “A really, really good start.”
He dipped his head, brushing his mouth over mine. Hot breath warmed my face, and my body responded. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close, and rose onto my tiptoes so that our mouths met again.
The kiss was slow. Sensual. Heat spread lazily at first then faster until my body burned and my core ached. Kai’s hands held me tight, and I was pretty sure it was the only thing keeping me upright.
My shirt rose, and Kai’s hands brushed the bared skin of my hips as he tightened his hold on me.
His tongue worked like magic against mine, and I rocked into him, the heat building toward need.
“Kai,” I breathed.
He made a sound deep in his throat and lifted me up, cradling me against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he walked us back to where he’d left his bike. He sat down, straddling the seat while I straddled him.
My hips rocked against his, and he groaned. “Ash, you’re killing me.”
“You’re the one who brought up human lust,” I said.
He laughed quietly, his body shaking with it, and I couldn’t help feeling thrilled at the sound. Kai’s laugh felt like a rarity, something he only shared with a select few. I loved that I was one of them.
“You’re right, but as much as I want to do this with you, I don’t want the first time to be on the back of my bike at the Roan Mountain overlook.”
“Sounds romantic,” I said, nipping at his ear.
He leaned away, holding me so that I couldn’t try for the other ear. “Not with the entire pack out hunting for you,” he pointed out.
“Buzzkill,” I muttered.
“Yeah, murder does that.”
I sobered. “They would kill me, wouldn’t they?” I asked, my hands still pressed against his shoulders for more reasons than just stability. “Silas, I mean. And the others. If they found me out here.”
“No,” he said firmly, his hand cupping my face as his thumb brushed against my jaw. “I wouldn’t let them.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
He scowled.
“Why do you stay here if the pack is so violent?” I asked.
This close, it felt like I could see every secret thought Kai worked so hard to keep hidden from the world. It was hard not to get lost in all that intensity.
“Because.” He sighed. “It’s not their fault. Without an alpha, their wolves are too strong. Their baser instincts are too dominant.”
“You’re making excuses for them, Kai. They’re violent. Unpredictable. Dangerous.”
