Page 71 of Paws & Order

My breath catches. "The opposite?"

His laugh is soft. Almost embarrassed. "That I'm being too patient."

Heat floods my face. "Oh."

"Yeah."

Neither of us looks away. For a long moment, the only sound is the crackle of the electric fireplace. Then I rise onto my toes and kiss him. Softy at first.

His hand slides to my waist.

Mine catches in the front of his shirt.

The kiss deepens. Slow. Unhurried. The kind that makes the rest of the world quietly disappear. When we finally pull apart, his forehead rests against mine.

"Still want dinner?" His voice is rough.

I smile. "Probably."

"Probably?"

"I'm trying to remember what dinner is."

His laugh vibrates against my skin. God help me. I love that sound.

A few minutes later we're sitting at the counter with takeout containers open between us.

Neither of us is paying much attention to the food. Or the conversation. Or anything resembling normal behavior. The cupcake sits untouched nearby. An innocent blue menace.

Cassian glances at it. Then at me.

"Think we need it?"

I follow his gaze.

Then shake my head. "Not even a little."

His smile is slow. Dangerous. The kind that makes my stomach flutter. He breaks the cupcake in half anyway.

Offers me a piece.

"Just in case."

I take a bite. Lemon. Honey. Something warm and magical beneath both.

Cassian takes a bite too, and for a moment, nothing happens.

Then we both freeze. The warmth blooms outward.

Not overwhelming.

Not uncontrollable.

Just enough to make it impossible to ignore what was already there.

"Clover."

"Clover," he agrees as our eyes meet.