Chapter 199

The kiss melted my bones. Heat started in my center and then exploded out of me. My hands tangled in his hair, and he groaned as I launched myself from the ground and into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist.

His tongue teased at the seam of my lips until I opened for him, and then his tongue delved between them, tangling with mine. He wrapped one arm around my back and the other clutched my ass tightly against him. I groaned in repressed need. Goddess, he was perfect.

The kiss lasted less than a minute, but it was imprinted on my soul, and I knew in one crystallized moment this man would be the end of me. Whether it be together, wrapped in his arms, or alone and shattered, a forgotten toss away in his conquest for his queen. I didn’t know the answer, but he was either my everything or my death. That I was certain of with an almost finite clarity.

He was the first to pull away, placing his forehead against my own. “I’m sorry.”

My eyes fluttered open. “Why are you sorry?” My voice sounded needy and breathless, and I felt his hard length that was pressed against my center flick against me.

“Because…” He pulled away. “I like you, Amy. A lot. But I promised myself a long time ago that I would only give myself to my mate, my queen, my soul mate.” His eyes held a sorrow that made my heart cry out for him.

“And that isn’t me…” I answered as he clenched his eyes shut.

“That isn’t what I’m saying.” He grabbed for my hand. “I don’t know if you are meant for me. I would explain it, but I can’t, not yet.” I furrowed my brow and tried to tug my hand away.

“What are you talking about?”

His fingers tightened on mine. “Please.” His voice begged, and I softened. I gave a tiny nod, and he pulled me back to my couch, pulling me down onto his lap. “After my mom was killed, and I had to watch my dad disappear a little each day without his mate, I made myself a few promises. One was that I would only be with my mate. The other, well, it’s a little more difficult. But the gist of it was that I wouldn’t bring my mate into my current situation. So until all of this is figured out, I won’t bring a female into my mess.”

I stared down at him, and his eyes were so open. He was laying everything out for me. And he was letting me make the choice. “So what does that mean… for this?”

He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Goddess, I don’t know. But I like you, Amy, and I don’t want you to question it. But I know we both have our parts to play in this, and I’m terrified.”

“Why?”

He pulled back, and his eyes shifted. His voice came out deeper, rougher, and I knew I was speaking to his wolf. "Hello rabbit."

“Hello wolf.” I smirked as he smiled. His smile was stunning.

“My human is failing to explain this, because he doesn’t want to hurt you. So I came up to let you know my feelings about this matter.” He was so matter of fact. I liked that, so I nodded.

“Okay.”

“There are people watching us, waiting for us to get too close, trying to tear us apart before we get there. And while it is annoying, it’s an opportunity. One we feel like we have to take.” He looked a little sorry about what we were explaining.

“What kind of opportunity?”

Chapter 190

“One in which we both will have our parts to play. And then maybe once we figure it all out, we can explore this between us more.” He leaned in and smelled my neck. “You are keeping your own secrets, rabbit, and I am champing at the bit to figure it out, but I know you have your own reasoning.” He pulled back. “But I want to be honest with you, too.” He stared into my soul with his white blue eyes. This close, I realized his bright blue eyes were ringed with a darker, midnight blue ring.

“I want to be honest with you.” I nodded.

He nodded and then looked away. “My human, he is very much set on you. You are all he thinks about, even if your scent is wrong.” I wanted to chuckle, but he continued. “But there is a wolf I am interested in. I don’t know her human, I don’t even know her name, but I am set on her.”

“Oh…”

His eyes snapped to mine. “But neither of us will make a choice either way until all of this is over. And I won’t deny him, as he won’t deny me. I don’t want you to think that any decision is set in stone. He likes you very much, with an intensity I have never seen from him.”