“Thanks.” I rested my head on his shoulder and looked back at the picture of my grandparents. I’d give anything to have my mom or them here, any family really. My mom’s cousin, Emery, was wonderful, and I loved getting to know her family, but she wasn’t a member of the Society anymore. She left with my mom when they were teenagers. I still wasn’t sure whether that was a sign I shouldn’t get involved. I had thousands of questions I wish I could ask, but dwelling on them only made me more overwhelmed.
“I’m here for you, Ave. I know nothing has gone as you’d hoped recently, but you’re not alone.”
Sometimes I wondered if all of them could read minds. With his heightened sense of hearing, could he hear my thoughts? Of course not. He just knew me well.
“I know.” I kissed him gently. When I started to pull away, his hands went to my neck, and he pressed his lips to mine with a searing heat. I trailed my fingers up his biceps over his shoulders and into his hair.
He lifted me under my thighs, so I was straddling his lap. I smiled against his mouth before tugging on his lip with my teeth. A low growl rumbled from deep in his chest, and he slid his hands over my butt and up my back, crushing me against him.
His tongue slid between my lips, and I melted into him. My head dropped back, exposing my neck, and he took the opportunity to kiss a trail down to my collar bone before tilting to the side and biting my neck. I gasped. He sucked the same spot. He was going to leave a mark, but I didn’t care. This felt too good. He felt too good.
“Luca,” I moaned his name, and his fingers dug into my hips, pulling me impossibly closer. I felt his need and moaned again.
He licked my jaw and bit my earlobe. “We should stop.”
I tightened my grip on his shoulders. “No.”
His warm breath tickled my skin as he laughed. “No one is going to walk in and interrupt us this time.”
“Good,” I whispered before returning the favor and biting the end of his ear. He gripped me harder.
“Ave, you know how bad I want you, but I don’t want us to do anything we aren’t ready for just because it feels good at the moment.”
“Fine.” I sighed and dropped my forehead against his chest.
Even if I was bitter about it now, he was right. We had insane chemistry, and nearly every time we kissed it spiraled into a steamy make out session. One of us needed to keep a clear head. For now.
He rubbed my back in soothing strokes. “Someday, baby.”
I kept my head down and wrapped my arms around his neck. Normally, this kind of talk made me blush in embarrassment, but this time, the promise had me smiling.