“It’s easy to let your emotions take over. I do it all the time and logic goes right out the window,” she said.
“I still have nightmares.”
“About the accident?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” he said.
“It’s not yours either.”
She tilted her head back to look up at him. His gaze fell to her lips. In that moment, a rush of exquisite longing coursed through his body. He wanted her, needed her. But he couldn’t kiss her without considering the consequences. She was too sweet, too gentle to ruin. He’d left a trail of shattered relationships in his wake and he knew she wouldn’t be any different.
“I’ll never stop in one place long enough to settle down,” he whispered. “That’s why I can’t—I just can’t do this with you. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Are you still running from your past?” she asked. “It that why you can’t stop?”
“I’m not running,” he said with more force than he’d intended. “I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life. Before the accident, I languished in a dead-end job. I had no goals and no future mapped out.”
“What are your goals now? What future do you have mapped out?” she asked. “It seems like you’re still drifting.”
He pulled back and stared at her. “I have goals.”
“Really? Like what?”
“You don’t get out of an accident like that unless God has a grand plan for you,” he said.
“Okay. So what’s your grand purpose?”
“I don’t know yet. That’s why I’m still searching.” His patience waned. Why was she challenging him like this? She’d gone from soft and sweet to a challenging interrogator.
“Have you ever considered that maybe your purpose in life is just to enjoy it?” she asked softly. “Maybe you’re supposed to find a place to put down roots. Maybe your destiny is to live a simple life with a family who loves you.”
“My family doesn’t love me anymore,” he snapped.
“I don’t mean them. They obviously have their own issues,” she said.
“It’s not in my nature to settle down. Besides, if getting married and having kids is so great, why haven’t you done it?” The minute the words left his mouth he knew he’d crossed a line. He regretted his hasty attack, but she’d backed him into a corner. She should have known better than to do that to another shifter.
“I dated,” she muttered.
The hurt in her tone cut through his gut. God, he was such an idiot.
“I was in a serious relationship for a while too,” she said. “But it didn’t work out.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t … I’m being an ass.”
“Do you always get like this when you talk about your family?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he admitted. “I hate talking about them, about the accident. I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this anyway.”
“Maybe you need to talk to someone.”
“Like a shrink?” he asked.
“No. A friend.”
“I don’t have any,” he said.
“Yes you do.” She reached for his hand.
“Why would you want to talk to me after tonight? This conversation definitely didn’t go the way I had planned.”
“Really?” She cocked her head to one side and flashed a smile. “And what was your plan?”
“I was going to sweet talk you until you couldn’t resist my charms and carry you off to my bed.”
“Really?” She arched a brow.
“No.” He chuckled. “But a guy can dream.”
“Yes, he can. It’s good to have dreams.” She held an innocent smile for a moment before she burst into laughter.
“You’re terrible,” he said with a grin.
“So are you. I’d say we make a good team.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“What?” she asked.
“What happened with that long-term relationship you mentioned?”
“There wasn’t enough passion,” she said.
“Ah, you have to have more than just a spark to keep the fire going.”
“It sounds like you know a bit about this.”
“If I ever were to settle down,” he said, “my mate would have to be a very passionate woman.”
“I want a man who can kiss me until I melt into a puddle,” she said.
As she tilted her head to one side, the last thread of restraint snapped. He captured her cheeks between his palms. And in a moment of pure insanity, he lowered his lips until they met hers in a kiss hot enough to start a wildfire.