Page 55 of Watch Me Burn
But Damien just kissed me with that exact desperation, and the knowledge crushes my chest, pressing against my lungs until breathing hurts.
He eases me down the door, his hands steady on my waist as my feet find solid ground. My legs feel like water—without his touch grounding me, I’d end up in a puddle on the floor.
“I want you, Luna. In case that wasn’t clear before, I hope I’ve left no doubt in your mind.”
“Jesus, Damien. Message received.”
His mouth curves in satisfaction, and he leans down to capture my lips again. This kiss carries the same devastating tenderness as the last, and I melt into it with the same desperate hunger, giving him everything I have to offer.
He releases my lips but doesn’t pull away, his breath still warm against my mouth. “Can I call you?”
My head moves up and down because words have abandoned me. My throat feels too tight, my brain too scrambled to form coherent speech.
“And can I take you out again when I get back?”
Another nod is all I can manage. His expression shifts from hopeful to radiant, and the smile that takes over his face should be illegal. All I can think about is hauling him next door, shoving him onto my bed, and spending hours exploring every inch of his body.
Oh shit! I’m totally fucked!
The morning light streams through the window over the kitchen sink as I crack eggs into a bowl. Like every morning, my body is sore in all the right places. My wolf was relentless last night. I don’t know how the man does it. He must pop Viagra like candy.
Even now, hours later, I can still feel the touch of his hands, the way he whispered my name in that gravelly voice that makes my core clench.
But it’s Damien’s kisses that keep creeping into my thoughts, no matter how hard I try to push them away. The memory of his mouth on mine, tender and consuming all at once, makes my heart race in a completely different way than my wolf’s brutal possession does.
I roll my neck, trying to shake the headache blooming. It’s been there since yesterday morning, a dull throb behind my eyes that won’t quit. I’m probably just tired. Since my wolf came into my life, exhaustion is my body's new normal.
The girls wander into the kitchen, meowing and demanding breakfast.
“Morning, babies.”
I pour their kibble into three separate bowls, and they dive in as Shadow waits at his spot beside the island. He’s always so patient, letting me feed them first.
I grab his bowl and fill it with the raw meat mixture I prepare for him, setting it down near the door. He needs to be fed apart from them, or they’ll try to steal some bites.
“There you go, handsome.” I scratch behind his ears as he begins to eat.
I go back to my eggs, but my mind won’t shut up this morning. After those soul-stealing kisses with Damien three days ago, I again expected punishment from my wolf. I know he hacks into the sanctuary’s cameras, so I braced myself for the brutal fucking he delivers when his jealousy flares.
Instead, he surprised me. The last few days, yes, he was rough and relentless as always, but now, even when he’s brutal, he touches me like I'm something beloved and breakable all at once.
This is the problem. In the darkness, with my wolf’s hands on my body, I can think of nothing else. He drives away every rational thought, every doubt, every longing for something more. But in the light of day, Damien creeps back into my mind with his intense eyes and devastating kisses, and I’m torn between two different kinds of need.
I want the raw passion my wolf gives me, but I also want what Damien offers. A real relationship. Someone who wants more than just my body, someone who looks at me like I’m the center of his universe.
The front door opens and closes, followed by Maren’s voice echoing through the house.
“Luna! Where the hell are you? I need coffee and food before I deal with any horny animals today!”
“In the kitchen.”
I’m glad she’s here and grateful for the distraction. I grab two more eggs out of the fridge and add them to the bowl, pouring them into the heated pan, the sizzle filling the room.
Maren appears in the kitchen archway, shaking snow off her head.
“You couldn’t have done that on the front porch?”
She gives me a sheepish smile. “Sorry, it’s freaking cold out there today. I’m staying for a few days because I don’t want to deal with that road. I think they might close it.” She eyes the pan of scrambled eggs with obvious interest. “Please tell me you’re making enough for two.”
