And I smile as I stare into her eyes. “A relationship,” I say finally. “Arealone.”
The smile that blooms across her face could set the whole Mojave on fire. “A relationship,” she repeats, tasting the word. “I like the sound of that.”
“Yeah?” An infectious happiness spreads through me that’s almost impossible to contain.
“Yeah. Official and everything.”
I can’t hold back my grin. “Well, then, let’s make thistrulyofficial.”
I close the distance between us. My fingers slide behind her neck, cradling the base of her skull. Her breath catches, just a tiny sound, but it sends a full-body shiver through me.
And when I kiss her, the world tilts. Her lips meet mine like they’ve always belonged there. Like this kiss is the answer to every unsaid thing between us.
There’s no rush, no desperation, just depth.
Intention.
Feeling.
I pour everything into her. The worry from earlier, the relief she’s okay, the truth I’m still too afraid to say aloud. Her hands find my chest, then climb to my shoulders, gripping tight as if she’s holding on for dear life.
And then she melts.
Her knees buckle the slightest bit, and I feel it. Feel her sway into me, as though she’s no longer standing on solid ground. I wrap my arm around her waist, anchoring her, refusing to let her fall.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper against her lips.
She nods, her forehead resting against mine for half a second before she kisses me again. Harder this time, needier, like she’s just remembered how fragile this all is and wants to memorize every part of it.
Her lips move with hungry precision, deepening the kiss until it’s all heat and emotion. My hand cups the back of her head as her fingers tug gently at my shirt, our mouths locked in a sensual rhythm that speaks louder than words. We sink into each other, almost as if the kiss alone is enough to anchor us to the earth.
And that’s when it happens.
Dracula, in all his chaotic glory, launches himself into the stacked pile of painted rocks, because of course he does, and the result is a spectacular burst of color. The rocks scatter, sending vibrant dust and flecks of pigment into the air, a swirling kaleidoscope of pinks, blues, and golden ochre catching the breeze as we deepen the kiss.
It’s cinematic.
It’s surreal.
Like the universe itself just threw confetti on our moment.
Clover gasps against my mouth, a soft, delighted sound. “Oh my God…”
I grin, forehead still pressed to hers. “Did your cat just… giveus his version of fireworks?”
She lets out a breathless laugh, pure and unfiltered. “I think he did. And for the record, he’s your cat too.”
The color is still dancing around us in the air.
“Then I guess it’s official.”
She nods, her eyes shining with wonder. “Yeah. It really is. Us, and that he’syourcat too.”
I pull her closer to me, trying to fight back my laugh, but as I wrap my arms around my woman, I can’t help but give a little head nod to the damn cat.
He did good.
Little-fucking-bastard.
