Glaring, I opened my mouth to snap at Kal, who was sprawled under me, but nothing came out. He stared up at me, his breath fast. His tail wrapped around my leg as he gripped my back. My eyes flicked to his lips, and his hold tightened as he arched. My brain shut off, and I fell forward.
His lips were hot, almost too much, but it made me want to press closer instead of pull away. Our mouths molded together, moving in slow tantalizing movements. I groaned, and Kal’s tongue darted out and swiped against my bottom lip before retreating. I pressed my tongue against the seam of his mouth, and he opened for me without hesitation.
Our tongues clashed. His was textured with scales, and it made me moan. My hands fisted on the front of his shirt, unwilling to let him go. I’d kissed people before, but none of them compared to this. I never wanted it to end.
“You have fifteen minutes,” a voice said.
I started, and Kal grinned. Unable to help it, I pressed one last kiss against his lips. When I shifted back, he smiled again, but this time, it was soft. I swiped my thumb across his glistening bottom lip before standing.
Holding a hand down to him, I said, “Come on.”
Kal slipped his hand into mine, and I hauled him up. Fingers laced, we walked toward the door.
Chapter 16
One step forward.
I stepped out of the shower and tugged on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. At the last second, I caught sight of my bruised arm, so I snagged a hoodie from the bed.
Kal was stretched out on the couch, stroking Lucy who slept on his stomach.
“You know us failing was your fault, right?”
Kal frowned. “It could have happened to anyone.”
“You shot the ceiling.”
“I was aiming for its head,” he barked.
I tensed at the rough tone. Angry, he was angry. My first instinct was panic. I wanted to hide in my room. I was halfway turned around when I paused. This was not a sustainable pattern.
Kal won’t hurt me.
The thought lit me up from the inside. Instead of hiding, I faced him. “Kal, I was teasing. It’s not a big deal. We can play again.”
“I’m sorry.” His eyes flicked away from me, and his tail went limp.
I stepped closer. “What’s going on in your head?”
“I’m the youngest of five.”
“Did your siblings pick on you? I’m an only child, so I don’t know much about siblings.”
“They did, yes, but this has more to do with my soul type,” Kal said, voice tight. Lucy chittered at the lack of pets and jumped off, allowing him to sit up.
“You’re soul type?”
“I’m a creator,” he said in a growl.
“So?”
“My entire family are warriors. I’m the first one who’s not.”
I glanced at the paintings and figurines I’d liked from the moment I saw them. “Are these all your work?”
“Yes,” he ground out like he was confessing a great sin.
I stood between his legs. His tail hooked about my ankle, and his face pressed into my chest as his arms snaked around me. My muscles tensed, and for all of one second, I considered backing away, but his spicy scent tickled my nose and his hot body temperature sank into my skin, soothing me.
