He leaned in close, so close that his lips barely brushed over mine. He was watching me, checking to see if it was okay to kiss me. I didn't respond, just leaned so our mouths touched. He didn't wait, but angled his head and took the kiss deeper. His tongue delved into my mouth, tangled with mine. His hands cupped my jaw, holding me just where he wanted me.
"Ian," I murmured as I took a breath, then sank back into the kiss. It was all so familiar, but completely new. He tasted of mint, as if he'd just brushed his teeth. His mouth was tentative at first, then grew bolder. He was gentle, yet demanding. This wasn't a borrowed Ian, a sexual snippet—as the old woman had said—of someone else's love, but my own. This was my first kiss. My last first kiss.
"Was it as good as I remember?" he asked when he lifted his head, watching me.
"God, yes," I whispered. "Better. So much better."
Ian squeezed his palm against the ruby ring, then sucked in a deep breath.
"Holy shit." His eyes widened, then grazed over my body. It wasn't a simple 'check out the girl' kind of look, but a 'I know what you look like naked and I know what I did to you' look. Thank God I hadn't left the house in sweats and no make-up. Bending down, his breath fanned my ear. "Did you like the ass fuck as much as I did?"
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lexy
Ian didn't wait for me to answer. He just pulled me down the street, keeping a firm grasp on my hand with the ruby ring. Glancing over his shoulder, he said, "You're not going to say a stranger kidnapped you off the street, are you? This is insane, so I have to check."
He didn't stop walking, so his belief was obvious. But he had lingering doubts because it was insane. I'd just been dropping off my dry cleaning and now Ian was here. Forever.
"No, because we know each other," I replied.
That slowed his steps. "We do. Hell, I know you. I know what you taste like, what you look like when you come. I know you more than just sex. I know you."
"Exactly." He started walking again with purpose now that I agreed. It amazed me how he quickly remembered our time together, down to the minute detail. To the ass fuck. The nerves at the entrance of my back door tingled. I needed so desperately what only he could give me. I'd tried, oh, I'd tried to satisfy myself alone in my bed, but while it had taken the edge off, it hadn't worked. I needed him.
He growled and picked up the pace, practically tugging me down the street. I let him take me wherever he wanted, which was less than a block. "I live here."
He tilted his chin up, directing my gaze to a brownstone. I was only about two miles from my own apartment and I was stunned that we lived so close together. He'd been nearby all this time and I'd never met him before. As he unlocked the door, he said, "If we're eternal mates as you say, as the ring shows me, then you're mine." His gaze roved over my body, took in every inch of me. Possessively. He looked at me as if he could see through my clothes. "All of you."
That completely and totally worked for me. I didn't even get a nod of agreement in before he kicked the door closed behind us and his head lowered to mine, in a kiss as good—no better—than I remembered. His tongue traced over my lips and when I opened my mouth for him, he dipped inside. I tasted him, yes… yes! This was Ian. While his scent was mingled with that of soap, I found the familiar tang of pure, unadulterated male. Even a few hundred years later, he smelled the same.
I pulled back, momentarily worried. "I'm not a slut. I don't go home with guys on the street like this. It's you." My heart was racing and I tried to catch my breath, for he had stolen it with that first kiss. "I… how are you okay with all of this? Don't you find it strange? Ten minutes ago you didn't even know I existed. Now you say I'm yours."
Even though his eyes remained locked on mine, his large hands roamed over my body. I had a hard time focusing, remembering I'd even asked him a question, as his heated palms skimmed over my hips, my waist, then higher still to brush and mold my full breasts. My eyes slipped closed.
"The ring has shown me all I need to know to want you. Again. In my bed. In my life." He dipped his head for a quick kiss. "In my heart."
"God, yes." I was so thrilled my heart felt ready to burst. In my heart. It was more than I could hope for. He wanted me. Body and soul. Blood pumped through my veins quickly, hotly as if my heart would burst. It was. With love for Ian.
"That's the last thing you said to me," I told him.
He shook his head. "That wasn't us, not really. We can be sad for what happened to them, but I think we owe it to them to do it right this time, to spend the rest of our lives together. I mean the next fifty years or so."
I quirked an eyebrow. "You don't have any stalker ex-girlfriends, do you? Women scorned?"
He laughed and shook his head. "Let's let them go. Leave them in the past, all right?"
Wiping the tears from my eyes, I replied, "Yes. All right."
Stroking a finger over my cheek, he said, "If I remember correctly, while you weren't a slut, you were a naughty girl." He grinned at me, his lips wet from the kisses, his lids lowered with eager desire.
I bit my lip, remembering all the things he'd done to me because I'd been so naughty. "I was," I agreed, letting the past slip from me. Reveling in having Ian—my Ian—in front of me.
"Just for me," he added. There was a touch of dominance, a hint of that alpha male in there that had my panties soaked.
"Oh yes, just for you."
Curling my palm around the back of his neck, I pulled his head down. Kissing him. Like I'd never kissed before. I poured my soul… and heart into it with everything I had. I gave over to him completely. Nothing held back. I could bare my soul, give up my heart to Ian and he'd protect it. Keep it safe. Nurture it. Love it.