Page 55 of Bad Witch

“I gotta know. Why Roman? Why did you ask him first? Was it just the Aradina thing? You thought we were together, or was there more to it?”

I had to be honest here. Like he said, we needed to communicate, and I had to assume that meant out of bed as well. If we were going to do this, there needed to be trust. “The Aradina thing was a big part of it, I assumed you were unavailable, but also…” Why was this so hard?

“Also what?” he said, giving me another gentle squeeze, encouraging me to keep talking.

“You give me butterflies and swirly, fluttery feelings when I’m with you,” I admitted.

His nostrils flared. “And that’s a bad thing?”

“This is temporary, Fender. We both know it. I chose Roman because I wanted you too much, and I was afraid that if we started this, it’d be harder for me when it ends.”

His eyes flashed gold. “Does it have to be temporary?”

I stilled in his arms. “Yes.”

“You wanna tell me why?”

“I can’t.” I didn’t want to talk about this anymore. I pressed back into the couch. “It just has to be this way.”

He nodded and held my chin gently. “Whatever you want, baby.”

Was he just placating me? It felt as if he were placating me. “I’m serious about this, Fender. We can’t do this if you think⁠—”

“I heard you, peaches, loud and clear.”

His voice was sincere, and relief slid through me. “Besides, one day, you’ll find your mate. However long this lasts, there will be an end, there has to be.”

He leaned in, his breath brushing my lips. “You got it. But how about we get to the beginning before we worry about the end?”

The flutters in my lower belly returned. “Where do we start?”

“With a kiss,” he said roughly. “It has to start with a kiss.”

Then his mouth covered mine.

Chapter

Fifteen

Fender

* * *

Yes.

Fuck, yes.

Indescribable sensations flooded me when my mouth covered hers. Her lips were so soft. The beast vibrated in my chest. She kissed me back tentatively, so sweetly inexperienced that my chest hurt with the desire to care for her and to soothe her nerves. She was trembling even harder than me. She tasted like candy and Tempest, and I wanted to wrap her up and protect her. I wanted to hold her to me so tight and never let her go.

I couldn’t, though. I couldn’t do any of that.

Instead, I forced myself to keep the kiss gentle. Gliding my hand up her back, I finally got to slide my fingers into her thick, gorgeous hair. Finally, I knew its softness, its weight and warmth against my skin. The beast rumbled in satisfaction.

Our height difference was a lot, so I lifted her carefully, and she squeaked against my mouth.

“I’ve got you,” I said and moved around the couch in my small living room. Gripping the arm of the couch, I eased us down, so she was sitting on my lap. I wanted to take her to my bedroom. I wanted her scent all over my sheets, but she wasn’t ready for that.

For now, until she asked for more, I was just going to hold her, kiss her.