Kira?
The call of her name hit her again, pulling her from her thoughts. It wasn't Nash calling her.
It was different. Yet familiar at the same time.
Was she really so tired that she couldn't distinguish between what it felt like to sense her own twin brother and the wolf she was sleeping with?
The entire thought was ludicrous.
She stood and stretched. She was tired. She was starting to mix up all her feelings, that's all. She never should have tried to reach out to Kade when she was so tired and feeling so run-down. Besides, she had way too much on her mind to think straight. Nash was probably looking for her and it was time to go.
That's all it was.
And that's exactly what she kept telling herself, the stakeout forgotten, until she got back to the cabin and slipped back through the window into her room. She kept telling herself that until she crossed the hall, opened Nash's door, and slid into bed next to him, where, just as she expected, he was waiting for her.
"Hey." Nash lifted his arm and Kira scooted in close until she was tucked in tight. "Are you feeling better? I was worried about you."
She tipped her head up to his, and even in the dim light of the moonlit room, he could see the question in her eyes. "You knew I wasn't sick?"
He nodded and kissed the top of her head. "I knew you needed some time alone. Besides, do you think that if I really thought you were sick I wouldn't even bother checking on you? Come on, babe. You should know better than that."
"What should I know?" Her voice was laced with mischief.
Her hand stroked his bare chest. Nash let out a little moan, because her hot touch on his skin never failed to stir him. Especially when her hand started to slide down his torso the way it was currently doing.
There was no doubt what she had on her mind, and of course Nash always had the same thing on his mind, too. But there were a few things he needed to say to her first. "You should know exactly how I feel about you, Kira." He placed a hand on hers, stilling its travel south. "And I hope you know exactly what that means for me." Nash let the silence go for a few minutes before he asked, "You do know, right?"
She stilled beneath him but then answered, "I think so. I'm just not entirely sure I know what it means."
It meant everything. He just didn't know how to tell her that. He'd been wrestling with what he was feeling, unsure of how exactly to tell Kira what he was thinking and feeling. He'd been waiting for the right time, but there never seemed to be a right time. Because he was terrified he'd scare her away.
Nash wrapped his arm tighter around her. "I don't have a lot of experience with things like this, Kira." He swallowed hard and continued. "I already told you that in my pack, mates aren't a choice you make-they're chosen for you. So quite honestly, I don't even know if how I'm feeling is normal or not, or even if there is any normal anymore. But all I know is-"
"Did you say mate?"
He squeezed her arm and twisted so she was underneath him. He hovered over her, able to look down in her dark, sexy eyes when he said what he needed to say. "I did." He waited for that to sink in. "And like I said, I don't even really know what it means right now, but I … " Her eyes had filled with unshed tears. "I'm sorry," he added quickly. "I wasn't trying to upset you or scare you or … well, the very last thing I wanted to do was make this-"
"You didn't." Kira's hand came up to his face and cupped his cheek. Her fingers scratched the scruff of a beard that had started there. "I'm not scared," she clarified. "The exact opposite, in fact."
"Yeah?"
She nodded and smiled and it was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. "Yeah. In fact … " Kira wiggled until her other arm was free from the blankets and she wrapped them both around his neck. "I feel the same way."
Of course she did. He already knew without a doubt that she felt exactly the same way he did and it was long past time he did something about it.
A deep growl rumbled within him. Nash knew his animal would not be satisfied until he made her his. And that's exactly what he was going to do.
He kissed her hard and thoroughly. It was a kiss of possession and desire and when he pulled back, she was gasping, her face flushed with need. Her hands dropped away from his neck, and Nash seized the opportunity to shift and grab both her wrists with one large hand and pinned her arms above her head. Kira's eyes widened with surprise.
And desire.
He let his eyes move slowly over her body. Every curve, every dip, every sexy inch of her. Then, with his free hand, he traced a finger slowly down her neck. Kira moaned and turned her head, giving him greater access. He followed his finger with his tongue, licking and tasting the smooth, sensitive skin down to the swell of her breast.