“Tell me,” I growled.
She started breathing harder, heavier. “I want this. You.”
That’s all I wanted to hear. That’s all I’d ever wanted to hear. I leaned back and stared into her face. I cupped each side of her neck, my thumbs smoothing across her cheeks as I stared down at her lips. And then I slammed my mouth down on hers.
I kissed her with all the pent-up arousal and passion I had for her, all the desire and lust that had been building up in my very marrow for my entire existence.
We kissed for what seemed like an eternity and I never wanted it to end. I never once stopped grinding myself against her, the front of my jeans damp from all the pre-cum that spilled from the tip of my cock. I smelled her arousal, the wetness between her thighs. It was like spun sugar coating the air.
So fucking sweet.
She broke the kiss and panted, and I wanted to fucking take her mouth once more.
“We should slow down. This is so new to me… no matter how right it feels.”
Yes, so fucking right.
“You want slow?” She nodded in response. “I’ll give you all the time you need. You control the reins, baby girl.” She gasped a little at my endearment. I smoothed my finger along her bottom lip and she parted her mouth. “I’m not going to be far, Rue. Never.”
And then I left, giving her space, giving her time. But I meant what I said.
I would always be close. Always.
Chapter Six
Rue
“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait for you?”
I glanced over at Ronnie and shook my head. He looked so concerned at the moment. It would’ve been comical if I didn’t know how serious he was.
“No, I’ll be fine. Being alone would be kind of nice.” I looked around at the wilderness that surrounded us. “I kind of like it out here. It’s peaceful.”
“Listen,” he said, and I glanced back at him. I could tell he was nervous, and I had an idea of where this was going. “I know things have been weird recently, and I know you said how you feel, or don’t feel, about me.” He ran his hands up and down his jean-covered thighs, glancing around as our families finished packing up the campsite. “But I wanted to know if you think you and I have even a small chance of giving it a go?” He looked at me so hopefully, and I knew I had to clear things up.
I thought about Damon, his face coming to mind. I looked at Ronnie, the bruise he had on his cheek angry-looking. I thought about the way we’d played it off like he tripped and hit his face on a rock. We didn’t talk about why he got his ass kicked, hadn’t even discussed with each other what Damon said to me. To be honest, I didn’t even know if Ronnie heard all the things Damon said, how I was his mate, how he would not let me go.
But the truth was it didn’t even matter. I wasn’t going to stop feeling these things toward Damon. I couldn’t. The very idea of ignoring them seemed abhorrent, so wrong in nature that they made me physically ill.
Ronnie was my friend, had been for a long time. But the feelings he had for me clouded his judgment. I knew that. I needed to clear things up now—again—or things would only get worse.
“Ronnie, I know the feelings you have for me go beyond being… friends.” I swallowed the thick lump in my throat, because this felt awkward. “But I don’t feel those things for you.” And then I looked at him, a little bit nervous about what he’d say. I’d spoken only loud enough so he could hear.
I didn’t know what I expected. Maybe for him to be upset. Disappointed. I was prepared for just about anything, anything aside from him acting like it was no big deal.
“Yeah, I figured. But I wanted to give it one more shot.” He gave me a sincere smile, and I felt as if the stress was off my shoulders. “It’s about that man in the woods, right? The shifter?”
I was nervous all of a sudden at hearing his words. And then I nodded, unable to stop myself, knowing he was right, that what I felt was real, that this was all about Damon. “Yeah.”
He nodded. “I kind of heard what he was talking about right after
he kicked my ass.” He chuckled a little bit and lifted his hand to his bruised cheek. “I’ve never actually seen a mated shifter before.” He shrugged. “But I guess what they say is true about them being possessive.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just kept my mouth shut.
We were kind of in this limbo, not saying anything, awkwardness between us. But I think it was just on my end, because Ronnie seemed easygoing at the moment, like this wasn’t bothering him.
“Can you guys give us a hand?” Ronnie’s dad hollered out, and it snapped my attention into focus.