“I love that picture,” she said. “It’s my favorite.”
Hopefully, she hadn’t posted it to her social media. I didn’t think to check. But why wouldn’t she have posted it? She was always online. I’d ask her tomorrow. I didn’t want to ruin this night by telling her about witness protection.
Just the thought of it tampered my rising lust. That and what happened at the ball. But, she seemed okay with it. The light in her eyes, her bringing me into her home, and her encouragement…she really wasn’t scared of me, was she?
I needed to let what happened tonight go and enjoy this moment. Enjoy her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hunter
“I got you something,” Lina said, hurrying to her closet. “For Christmas.”
“I should go get my present for you. I—”
“No. In my family, we opened on Christmas Eve. Yours was Christmas Day, so that’s how we’ll do it.” She grinned, handing me a gift bag. “It’s nothing fancy, just…well, something special.”
I took the bag she offered me and nodded. “Thanks.”
“Come here.” She went to the couch and sat down. “Open it here. I want to watch.”
Her eyes were so wide and her face so aglow, I couldn’t help but be excited. She took in everything with such wonder and intrigue, it was like she was learning everything all over now that she was in the world of the living again.
I sat next to her on the couch in her bedroom sitting area and pulled the bag open. There was so much tissue paper in there I couldn’t see, so I dug around and touched something cold. I glanced at her, and she had her hands clasped in front of her chest as she watched me. The light in her eyes erased all the shit that’d happened tonight.
There was no fight. I hadn’t lost control. We were in our own little world. It was at that moment I understood how she got trapped here. It was comfortable. Safe.
She nodded, so I turned my focus back to the gift. I peeled away the tissue and found a picture frame. Inside it was the selfie I’d seen on her screen saver.
Our heads were tipped together, touching, and we both had ridiculously big smiles on our faces. The flash had lit up Lina’s brown eyes until they nearly glowed.
“I know, I look like a demon, but I muted out the color best I could. I love our smiles.” She smiled the very same one in the picture. “We’re so happy.”
“You make me that way.”
She nodded. “You, too. Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I said, taking in the beautiful picture again. “The frame, is that candy corn?”
“Yeah.” She laughed. “I knew you’d appreciate that. Speaking of…I’m about out, when will I get my next bundle of candy on my doorstep?”
“I might have a secret stash at my place, but I’ll be bringing theminsidenext time.” I reached for her. “Come here.”
She leaned toward me, and I pressed a kiss to her lips. “Thank you. This is great.”
“Merry Christmas, Hunter.” She brushed her fingers along my lips and smiled. “You’re the best present I’ve had in my entire life.”
I claimed her lips a little harsher than I’d planned, but her smile, her scent, her…acceptance of me broke my resolve. Delicate hands framed my face, holding me still as her tender tongue caressed my lips, begging entrance. Breathing her in chipped away at my restraint, and I went a little deeper. Surprisingly, she tilted her head and let me in even further.
I had to remember to keep things slow and controlled with her, not only because of her past with men, but to keep myself in check. It wasn’t rage I felt, but the rush of being close to her, wanting her so damn badly, that urged me to let loose and devour her. No way would I expose her to that. I wanted to be different, better—for her.
Her hand slid down my neck as far as the two open buttons on my shirt would allow, and she grabbed the deltoid as if she were holding on for dear life.
I broke off the kiss, hoping to God I wouldn’t see the fear in her eyes I had earlier. That’d kill me. I’d seen enough of that in my lifetime.Please not with her.
Dilated eyes stared back at me. Her lips were shiny, and her breaths were coming short and fast.
“This okay?” I asked, curling some stray strands of hair behind her ear. “It’s been a…crazy night. I don’t want to push you.”