Devlin opened his eyes, then kissed the palm of her hand. She let her hand linger there as she watched him locate each finger and plant a sweet kiss upon each one.
She started to wonder if the man was made in a lab or had fallen from some alien planet. There was no way that any man could be that considerate, romantic, and fucking scorching hot all at once.
“I want you to feel good, baby,” he replied, pressing her hand back to his face. “I haven’t known you for very long, but I know that you deserve it.”
Kate felt something beyond sexual desire burst inside her chest. It was a warmth that made her blush, but it also made her feel wanted in ways that she had never been before.
She wanted to lay there in the dark, feeling the dew and the mist of the cool night with him for eternity. That was the feeling that scared her.
THIRTEEN
DEVLIN
Devlin was on a high for days after he and Kate made love. He had a bounce in his step, and his inner cat just could not stop purring. No matter what he was doing, there was an inner exuberance that added pleasure to every act.
Memories ran through his mind like an undercurrent to his thoughts. He could be ordering a coffee or making a phone call, and behind his eyes, Kate was there, the curve of her lips, her bright green eyes, and her wonderfully soft skin.
She was all around him, inside him, as if he’d drank a deep draught of her essence, and now, he was saturated by it.
He had never felt so in tune with his panther before. It was as if meeting his match had struck a chord inside that made them resonate in perfect harmony. There could be no doubt that Kate was his mate.
Over the next couple of weeks, he saw her almost every day. They carefully sidestepped the four-date rule by not actually dating … instead, they stayed at his house a lot, watching movies, ordering in, and making love. Devlin was so comfortable with the situation that he gave her a key so she could come and go as she pleased.
One night, as Devlin was curled up in bed next to her, he realized that he never wanted to be parted from her again. Of course, he’d known that from the first moment he saw her, but they had been together for some time now. He wanted her by his side for the rest of their lives, and surely, by now, she could feel it too.
The flickering of the TV made deep shadows flow across the walls, the dim light illuminating Kate’s pale skin. Her red hair looked dark where it was fanned out across the pillow. She was curled against him, and he snuggled against her back, gently stroking her arm with his fingers. The moment was heavy with intimacy, and Devlin never wanted it to fade.
“Kate?” he said softly. She murmured, her voice rough with sleep. He sat up a little to watch the adorable frown cross her face. He’d learned that this was her wake-up expression, and he found it unbearably cute.
“Honey?” he whispered, stroking her arm a little harder. “Sweetheart?”
“Hmm,” she muttered. “I’m not asleep. Just dozing.”
Devlin leaned over and kissed her cheek. She rolled toward him, settling onto her back so she could reach up and brush her hand against his cheek. He kissed her softly, feeling the heat rising from her as she relaxed into his kiss.
Her body was warming from his touch. He trailed a hand gently down her chest, his fingertips brushing lightly across her breastbone. Her nipples hardened in anticipation, and he could sense the throbbing between her legs.
He kissed her again, and she reached up, putting a hand on his shoulder to pull him down to her. Devlin wanted nothing more than to fall into her, body and soul, but he had to speak his mind.
I can’t stand another day of this…watching her leave, not knowing when she’ll be back. I want her to stay with me, always.
“Kate?”
“Hmm?” she muttered, her eyes closed again.
“I want you to stay with me.”
She laughed softly, wriggling against him as she snuggled against his chest. “I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered.
Devlin sighed, a little exasperated. Part of him was begging to just take her again and put aside his fears. That was most likely his panther, demanding satisfaction. Devlin wanted more, though.
I need confirmation that we feel the same. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow morning full of anxiety because I don’t know when she’s coming back.
“That’s not what I mean,” he said. Kate’s eyes snapped open, and he was relieved to see that now, she looked properly awake.
“What do you mean?” she asked, hooking a hand around his neck in an attempt to pull him closer. She turned her lips up for a kiss, and he was so drawn by the sweetness of her mouth and the haunting song of her skin he almost forgot what he was doing.
“I …” Devlin’s voice was cut off as Kate kissed him. When she pulled back, he saw the little grin on her lips, the mischief in her eyes. She was teasing him, attempting to throw him off track so they could make love again.