I could always eat in the cafeteria or back in the marketplace, but that would mean facing hordes of people and possible conversations. Not willing to deal with that, I went inside.
Kal stood from where he sat on the couch.
I shook my head. Nope. I darted toward my room. His arms came around my waist, catching me.
When I stiffened, he released me and said, “Sorry. I didn’t ask permission.”
The hurt was obvious in his tone. I didn’t want to hurt him. I never wanted to hurt him, but his confession had surprised me. I drew his arm around me. When I sagged against his chest, his other arm joined the first.
His nose pressed against my neck, taking a deep breath. “Please don’t run.”
“I don’t know how to deal with everything.”
“I don’t either.”
“Were you telling the truth?” I asked.
“Yes.” He kissed my neck. “Are we alright?”
“I don’t know.”
Kal’s arms tightened, basically squeezing the life out of me. “I shouldn’t have told you.”
I wriggled. Kal held me fast for a second before letting go and allowing me to turn around. “Don’t,” I said. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m… odd.”
“No, you’re perfect.”
A breathy laugh escaped my lips.
“Can I kiss you?”
“Yeah.”
Before he could close the distance, I kissed him. Our lips molded together. I kept the pressure soft and the tempo unhurried. I wasn’t even close to ready to return his words, but I wanted to soothe some of the pain I’d caused.
His hands squeezed my hips and his tail ran up my leg, creating tingles in its path. When his tail tickled the edge of my ass, I groaned. Kal’s textured tongue dipped into my mouth and swiped against mine. I clutched his silky hair to keep him close, relishing the rough swipe of his tongue.
Kal drew back, then pressed a soft kiss to my lips.
I’d expected this to be awkward, but it wasn’t. I thought he’d get mad at me for not responding to his confession, but he hadn’t. Kal kept surprising me. Time and time again, he proved himself trustworthy.
“Thank you.”
“For what, my Seth?” he asked, arms crossing over the small of my back and holding me securely in his embrace.
“Not getting mad.”
“Why would I get mad? You’re allowed to feel how you want.”
I kissed him, sucking his bottom lip into my mouth. Kal groaned and gathered me close. I tangled my fingers in his hair again, but this time, desperation laced my movements. Ineededto get closer to Kal. The kiss turned hot and wet.
My stomach grumbled, and Kal chuckled against my mouth. “No,” I protested.
Food could wait.
“You need to eat.”
“Later.” I pressed my lips against his. Kal returned my kiss, hands clamped onto my hips. I ground against him and bit his lip. He grunted, pushing me to the couch. When the backs of my legs hit the cushion, I started to sit, breaking contact with him.Kal hung over me, panting. I yanked him down by the front of his shirt, making him settle on top of me.
