“We decided to ditch the disguises when we decided to get the house fixed, and I got rid of the brown hair dye. But I kept forgetting I didn’t need the glasses anymore. So, I’d put them on in the morning and forget I was wearing them until someone pointed them out.”
“That makes sense. And I knew you’d dyed your hair, but the reasons behind it never clicked until now.”
She arched an eyebrow. “How’d you know that?”
“I told you, I know about everything that happens in this town. And I’d heard all about the woman who came into the grocery store as a brunette with long hair and black framed glasses. I knew that was you the moment I saw you in the shop, even though your hair wasn’t brown anymore.”
She chuckled as she shook her head. “It’s gonna take some time to get used to the small-town mentality. I bet you know even more than others though, because of your troop.”
“I do. I have to make sure I know of any threats, so I can protect my people. I know it might not seem like it, based on what happened the other night at the drive-in, but you guys couldn’t have picked a safer town. I’ll always keep you protected.”
Leaning into the hand still caressing her cheek, she smiled into his eyes. “I know. And just know you guys have all the dragons on your side now, too. Between both of our people, we can’t lose.”
“I hope it never comes to that. I know what you guys have been through, and I’d rather not be the cause of you all going through more. I want to protect you, Liv. I can protect you.”
Warmth built up inside of her, lighting up her soul. Leaning up on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips gently to his. “I know you can, Cody. I’m just saying, let me return the favor if it’s ever needed.”
A low rumble built in his chest, vibrating through the hand she had pressed against it. But it didn’t scare her like it would have in the not too distant past. Instead, it made her smile. It wasn’t a threatening sound—more like his gorilla talking to her, and she loved that more than she thought she would.
Cody started to swallow the sound down, and she shook her head quickly. “Don’t. Just let him talk.”
“He doesn’t scare you?” he asked, pulling back slightly and looking at her with surprise in his chocolate eyes.
“No. No part of you scares me, Cody. Including him.” His chest vibrated her hand again and she smiled. But a moment later, her br
ow furrowed as she caught the doubt in his eyes. “Do you not believe me? Or… is it that he makes you nervous?”
Exhaling heavily, he shrugged, uncertainty crossing his handsome features. “He didn’t used to. Back when he talked to me, I mean. Now… I guess since I’m never sure what he’s thinking or feeling, it makes it hard to guess what he’s going to do. I don’t feel like that about him with you,” he added hastily. “I’ve felt his emotions for you. He’d never hurt you.”
Olivia bit her lip, conflicted because the part about his gorilla not hurting her was something she already knew. An animal could never hurt their mate. They were programmed to do the exact opposite of that.
Should she tell him she already knew, because she knew they were mates? Did he know yet? He’d said his animal talked to him the other day—could that have been what he said?
She didn’t know what the right thing to do was, so in the end, she ignored all of it, smoothing her hand down his chest. “I know he wouldn’t. And I think you should try to trust in him more. I know the tragedy you went through changed both of you to an extent. But if your gorilla had gone out of control or turned crazy and mean, you would have felt it long before now. I think he’s probably more like the animal you remember than not.”
Giving her the half smile that weakened her knees, he stroked his thumb down her cheek. “You’re amazing, you know that, right?”
Before she could reply, he leaned down and kissed her, softly at first, then firmer as he deepened the kiss. The warmth that had been making her insides glow burst into flames, racing through her blood and over her skin as she slid her arms around her neck and pressed her body against his.
This kiss felt different than the others they shared before. It was even more intense and potent, and it felt like they were connected on a deeper level, like their souls were merging into one.
He ran his tongue across her lips, and she didn’t hesitate, immediately opening for him. She tangled hers with his as soon as he swept in, and the blood in her veins boiled as her core tingled and tightened.
Cody tangled the fingers of one hand in her hair while the other slowly slid down her back, coming to rest at the curve of her ass. Arching into him as their kiss turned wild, she scraped her fingernails gently against his scalp, feeling like no matter what she did, she couldn’t get close enough to him.
Pulling his mouth from hers, he trailed his lips over to her ear, biting down gently on her lobe. She moaned, and as though the sound startled him out of the moment, he pressed his forehead against hers while they both fought for breath.
“I didn’t mean to push you,” he said, his voice raspy and strained.
Her words were breathless when she replied. “You didn’t. At all. I’m fine, Cody. More than fine.”
Pulling back just a bit, he gave her smile, the heat in his eyes keeping the flames of her own fire stoked. “Good. But maybe we should eat our lunch before I do end up pushing you further than you’re comfortable with.”
Biting her lip, she stared into his eyes as she thought about how to reply. Did she really want to stop? The answer to that was a resounding no, but then that begged the question—how far was she ready to go?
All of the trust and desire she felt tangled up with the deep emotions she already felt for him, and she knew the answer.
She wanted Cody. Every single bit of him—his heart, his body, his forever. And she wasn’t willing to wait any longer than she had to. It already felt like she’d waited a few dozen lifetimes.