Something dark flashed in his eyes in response, but he said nothing.
I took a sip and savored not just the flavor, but the comfort of something so simple. The warm milk coupled with the heat emanating from Bastian's body made me very sleepy.
“Happy birthday, Lark.”
I looked at the clock and saw it was midnight.
“It'll be official in three minutes.”
We sat silently until the clock read 12:03. Bastian leaned closer and kissed me, so sweetly. I'd like to recant my previous statement. What an incredible way to ring in my eighteenth year.
We had school in the morning so, in unspoken agreement, we both stood. Bastian took my cup and disappeared into the kitchen while I lingered in the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
“I know you offered me the second bedroom when you moved in, but I didn't realize you had a bed set up in it already.”
He joined me in the hall. “I didn't. That's what took me so long to get to your uncle's house. Dom let me pull out a bed he had in storage and helped me set it up.” He touched my cheek and added, “As much as I want you in my bed with me, I didn't want you to feel you had to: that there was no other option.”
And just when I thought it wasn't possible to love this boy any more, I am proven wrong.
“I'm a very lucky girl.”
At my door, Bastian turned into me and lightly brushed his lips over mine. This was our first night together and I was eighteen, but we were both feeling a little off because of the events that led us here. I was still angry and so was Bastian. When we made love for the first time, I didn't want anything to taint the experience. One look at him and I knew he was thinking the same.
“I'll see you in the morning, Bastian.”
“Sweet dreams, beautiful.”
Closing the door quietly behind me, I headed to the bed. It was a very comfortable bed, but I laid there as the minutes ticked by because I couldn't seem to slip into sleep. I knew exactly why I wasn't falling asleep. This wasn't where I wanted to be. I may not want to have sex tonight, but I did want to feel Bastian next me. Climbing from bed, I moved across the hall before knocking lightly on his door.
When I entered, he was just flicking on his light: an action that made visible his dragon.
“What's wrong?”
“I really appreciate you and Dom setting up a room for me, but I want to sleep here with you.”
His eyes held mine as he pulled back the covers. It was all the invitation I needed. I slid in next to him as he pulled the covers up and shut off the light. Our bodies were pressed together from chest to thigh, my head resting on his shoulder. He held me so closely as if he never intended on letting me go.
“Better?” I heard him whisper.
“Perfect.”
Chapter Nine
I was having the most incredible dream…until I opened my eyes to find Bastian next to me—watching me—a slow smile spread over my face.
“I wasn't dreaming.”
By the expression on his face, he had a similar experience when he woke. Turning on my side to fully face him, I touched him without consciously knowing I intended to. His inhale was audible and his body hummed under my fingertips. My eyes tracked the movement of my fingers before I moved my gaze back to his sizzling one.
“I'm eighteen.”
He actually growled, deep in his throat. “We have school.”
“Um.” Was my only thought on that as I leaned over and kissed his chest. With almost superhuman speed he moved on top of me and I had only a second to see the raw lust, which turned his features harsher, before his mouth took mine. The kiss was hot and slightly out of control, so I was surprised when he managed to pull himself together enough to move away from me: going so far as to climb out of the bed. He realized his mistake when my eyes moved down his bare body to the boxer briefs he wore. I hardly recognized my voice when I all but purred, “That is so not helping.”
“Brat.”
My eyes traveled back to his face to see a combination of desire, humor and frustration there.