“Don’t you trust me?” Salvatore brushed his knuckles down the side of my cheek, and his touch left goosebumps in its wake.
“Of course, but—”
“No buts. You do or you don’t.”
I swallowed. “I do.” I’d seen small glimpses of Salvatore’s dominant side in the short time we’d spent together, but tonight felt on a whole other level. Maybe I should’ve felt a little wary, but I was too excited.
A smile turned up the corner of Salvatore’s lips as he held my chin. “Good little lamb,” he said, and then turned on his heel to walk farther down the hall.
“Wait…little lamb?” I asked once I’d caught up to him.
“It’s fitting, no? I’m the Wolfe, you’re the lamb…”
“Don’t wolves eat lambs?” I joked, and as Salvatore looked down at me, his eyes glittered in the darkness.
“Yes. They do.”
A shiver racked my body, but it wasn’t just his words that caused that reaction. Just being in his presence again, feeling the power and control emanating off him, had my cock stirring. It was like I’d wished Salvatore into appearing tonight, and now that he had, I was holding out for something more. Something I knew shouldn’t happen, but I wanted it anyway.
And because the darkness had me feeling a little bolder than usual, I said, “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
“Good surprise?”
“A very good surprise. I’d been thinking about you, and—” I clamped my mouth shut. I hadn’t meant to put all that out there.
“Oh, do go on.”
I shook my head, too self-conscious now, but Salvatore wasn’t having that. He took hold of my elbow, and when I faced him again, he lifted my chin to meet his eyes.
“You’d been thinking about me? Tell me what you were thinking about.”
“No, I—”
“That wasn’t a question.”
The fierce look on Salvatore’s face told me I wasn’t getting away with not answering him, and so I said, “Before I saw you…I’d wished you were here. With me. Like that you came with me…as my date.” I tried to look away, but he held my chin firmly. “But I wasn’t sure you were still interested…”
Quick as a viper, Salvatore backed me up, and his hands flattened on the wall on either side of my head, caging me in. My pulse sped up as he leaned in, angling his head like he was going to kiss me. His breath was a hot whisper on my lips, and then he said, “Well, little lamb. Let’s clear that up right now, shall we?”
10
Jesse looked like a butterfly trapped there against the wall. Delicate and fragile, pinned where he was by nothing other than my will and stare, which was holding his in an unwavering battle of supremacy.
This was the moment. The one that would truly tell me if he would be mine for the taking, and his blown pupils led me to believe I was one touch away from having what I wanted.
With my hands on either side of his head, we were close enough that I could taste the air leaving his lungs with every shaky exhale he made, and the longer I stood there, silent and unmoving, the more nervous he became. That was all part of the build. That climb to the precipice I would eventually push him over the edge of.
“You weren’t sure I was interested…is that right?” I said, my voice pitched low but my words clear and precise. When all Jesse managed was a nod, I moved in by the side of his head and said, “Oh, I’m interested. But you know who I am…what I want. And before I show you just how interested I am, you need to know that once I put my hands on you…my mouth…you’re mine. That’s you agreeing to be with me until you say otherwise.”
He sucked in a deep breath, and then I shifted my weight again so I was back looking him dead in the eye. Jesse’s chest was rising and falling more rapidly now, the excitement no doubt mixed with a hint of wary curiosity as he tried to wrap his mind around what I had just said to him.
“It, uh…” He paused and licked his top lip, and I followed the path of that pink tip with my hungry gaze. I wanted to taste that mouth, wanted to tangle my tongue with his, and I was so close now. So fucking close. “It almost sounds like you’re warning me.”
My lips curled. Smart little lamb. “I am.”
“Why?” Jesse asked. “Am I in danger?”
“I told you before, wolves eat lambs. So, yes, Jesse. You are in danger. I’m dangerous to your peace of mind. To your body. To your every waking hour, if I’m doing my part right. And Jesse?”
A soft moan came from the back of his throat before he said, “Yes?”
“I always do it right.”
Jesse swallowed. “I… This is crazy.” He looked from side to side, as if remembering for the first time where he was, and once he seemed satisfied we were the only two there, he brought his eyes back to mine. “This is my first night. I don’t think I should be back here.”