Still, maybe it wasn’t a bad thing she had. She hated reminding him of such a painful time in his life, but she didn’t think he allowed himself to think about the good times with his family nearly enough. Glancing up at him, she caught the distant look in his eyes and the small smile on his face, and knew he was thinking of those good times right then.
Good. He needed to remember more than just the tragic ending. Life was kind of like books, in a way. It might sometimes end in tragedy, but there was a beginning and middle that, more often than not, held all the good parts. And it was important to remember those, as well—not just the last few pages.
She was really glad he’d had Noah to help him. Not just with escaping and keeping him from going back, but for all the years since. She’d known he was also a lion, but she hadn’t realized they had any other connection besides the Enforcers.
Brow furrowing, she wondered if Noah’s past had something to do with whatever he felt was missing. She considered it for a moment, but she didn’t think so. Surely, he’d looked at his backstory and wondered the
same thing, and clearly come up empty. Whatever it was, it didn’t have to do with his past, or wanting to find a mate. She wished she could help him, though. He was a good guy, and he’d done so much to help Luke. She wanted to return the favor.
Luke squeezed her closer against him and she smiled up at him, brought back to the moment. He lifted the arm that wasn’t wrapped around her and brushed the hair away from her face, his eyes roaming over her features before meeting hers.
“Thank you. I haven’t spoken about them in more years than I can count. I needed to, and for the first time since I was twelve, I was able to remember more about them than just that night. That felt good.”
“I’m glad you’re remembering the good times with them.”
His eyes dropped to her mouth and his thumb rubbed gently against her lips. Her breath caught as he turned to face her and leaned down, kissing her softly. It was slow and gentle, but it didn’t stay that way for long. Soon, it was amping up, heating her blood in a way she felt down to her toes.
Going up on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck, taking the initiative and slipping her tongue into his mouth. He groaned, low and long as he pulled her in closer, their tongues tangling as they sought to get even closer.
Her tiger began purring, and like before, his lion answered, adding a deliciousness to their kiss she loved. Her core clenched, her blood heating in a way only Luke had ever inspired in her, and as amazing as it was, it wasn’t enough.
She hadn’t done much physically with a man before. And she’d always thought that when she did, it would be with her mate. She’d have bet money on it.
Her tiger hadn’t said Luke was her mate, but she honest to God didn’t think it could get better than it was right then, even if her mate was someone else.
The thought made her heart clench painfully. She didn’t want to consider the possibility that he might not be her mate. The thought was physically painful.
It was then that she realized, despite not knowing if he was—despite everything—she was completely falling for him. Her heart was already almost totally lost to him. And she couldn’t imagine any other man would ever make her feel the way he was in that moment.
That made her next words some of the easiest and most natural she’d ever spoken.
Nipping at his bottom lip, she pulled away, staring up at him breathlessly. “Come to my room with me.”
He froze, his mostly golden gaze searching hers. “Come again?”
“You heard me.” Easing away from him, she trailed one of her hands down his arm, lacing her fingers with his. “Come to my room with me. I want—well, I want you. Come with me.”
His eyes, already full of desire, heated even more. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I know what I want.”
Without waiting for a reply, she pulled him along with her to the door, going inside and up the stairs, fingers locked with his the whole time. Just as she was opening her door, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye and glanced over to see Georgie staring at them from the doorway of her own room.
The thirteen-year-old inside Tarun wanted to either stick her tongue out or smirk at her, but she did neither. She ignored her, instead. She had Luke, after all, and she felt no need to rub it in, despite the fact that she knew Georgie would want to if their situations were reversed.
She put her from her mind and pulled Luke inside her room. He had her in his arms before the door could shut behind them, and then she didn’t think of the other woman again. Hell, she didn’t think about anything. The only thought in her head was how freakin’ amazing it felt to be plastered against his body as he ravaged her mouth.
And there was no other word for it than ravaged. That was exactly what he did. His mouth devoured hers, licking, nipping, and sucking, until the only thing keeping her from turning into a boneless heap at his feet were his arms.
One of his hands tangled in her long hair, gently tugging her head back until he had access to her neck. His other hand slid slowly down her back, his thumb brushing her breast in a caress that made her gasp, before continuing on to her ass, where he squeezed, pulling her pelvis in against his.
Holy hell. There was no mistaking the hard length pressed against her stomach. Nerves fluttered in her belly, along with a healthy dose of excitement.
She always imagined that when the time came when she slept with a man, she’d be a massive bundle of nerves and fear. But she was learning that who the man was made all the difference, because she wasn’t scared like she thought she’d be.
She was intrigued, excited, anxious. But not fearful.
His lips left hers, skimming over her cheek until they reached her ear. He nipped the lobe before sucking it into his mouth, soothing the sting softly, before letting go and moving his lips to her neck. Slowly trailing them down, he licked and sucked, the whole time kneading her ass with his hand.