Page 44 of Lion Conquers All
It was wrong. She knew her definition was wrong. But years of trauma had ruined her. She’d tried to tell Aarav that she was broken. He wouldn’t believe her. He was still there. Every time she turned around he was still there. Still being kind. Still calling her that name—shuarra.
He considered herhiseven though she mostly had nothing to do with him.
How was any man that patient?
It was too good to be true. At some point he would lose his patience too. He would either give up on her or get mad at her. It was inevitable. That’s why she didn’t have relationships. Ever. She was better off on her own.
She stared at his mouth again. Those perfect lips.
Her fingers clenched around hunks of his shirt. Her mouth opened, but she didn’t know what she wanted to say. She wanted to kiss him, but she was terrified to kiss him. She licked her lips wondering what his would feel like. What he would taste like. And then circling around and doubting herself that she’d like it at all.
His hand moved to the back of her head, cupping her neck. He leaned down slowly and brushed his lips across hers. A feather-light touch.
It was so fast. So gentle.
And teasingly playful.
“Something like that?” His voice rumbled from his chest softly. His mouth quirked into a grin—a grin that dared her to accept the offered challenge.
“Mmmmhmmm,” she breathed out.
She wanted more. She stretched onto her tip-toes.
He bent again, grazing his lips over hers. It was more a promise of what a kiss would be, than anactualkiss.
God. This man. He was still letting her choose. Still giving her the power. She could feel it in his grip. The second she moved or let go of him, he’d release her. She trusted that wholly.
She was safe with him and that brought tears to her eyes.
“Am I that terrible, you’ll punish me with tears that punch holes in my heart?” He dragged his lips across hers once more and then kissed her forehead. He used his thumbs to wipe away her tears, but they kept falling from her never-ending well of pain and surprise.
She sputtered out a laugh and shook her head. “They weren’t bad tears.”
Her body trembled and quivered and shook. She wanted the kiss he’d promised. But she had to ask for it. She knew he wouldn’t push. He’d promised not to push. And now she was crying and he’d probably let her go and then there would be no kiss and she’d wonder what it would’ve been like…
She moved her hands to the front of his shirt and grabbed the fabric, tugging him down. He was so tall. She wasn’t short, but he was still at least a foot taller than her.
He leaned down again.
He was so close.
Only a fraction of an inch lay between her lips and his. She could feel the heat from his body pressing against hers. He had an arm around her back and another cradling the back of her head.
And he just waited.
She lifted herself onto her toes, closing the gap. Her lips met his completely this time. They were soft and warm and wet and wonderful. It wasn’t her first kiss, but it was the first time in a really long time.
His arms tightened a fraction, pressing her body closer to his. Pressing her softer curves against his hard planes of muscle.
He fit. They fit. She liked how he made her feel. It was scary for sure, but not terrifying. It was exciting. The way she imagined it should’ve been.
His mouth moved on hers, tilting, and sliding, and exploring. He slipped his tongue between her lips and a squeak escaped her. But his tongue retreated before she could decide if the surprise was a bad thing or a good thing.
What she did feel was an energy between them. A hunger she hadn’t been willing to acknowledge. It resonated beneath her chest, almost like the purr of his animal, soothing and constant. It pulsed inside her and pushed her closer to him.
He nipped at her bottom lip before he straightened and separated their mouths.
She whimpered at the loss, surprising herself.
