Page 27 of Blood Moon Bound

“In time.”

I smiled, and he studied my mouth as I did. I couldn’t help but admire his in return. Constantine had very nice lips. What would it be like to be kissed by him? The way Lucinda and Ana described it, it sounded like something I’d enjoy.

“What did you talk to Ana and Lucinda about?” he asked, one of his thick fingers tapping against his knee. He seemed distracted.

Sticking with my agreement to share and not keep things from him, I told him. “Our hobbies and our new situations, and how happy we were that none of our mates have been cruel to us. I shared how nice everyone at your home has been to me, and I told them about the lovely rose gardens you have. Oh, and kissing. Stefan seems to like kissing Ana, and Rainer’s kissed Lucinda, a lot. He also said something about taking her, that’s the way he said it apparently, taking,” I said imitating the deep voice Lucinda had used. “And that he should just get the mating thing over with. What does that mean? I thought we were already mated, but obviously not. What does taking entail? And do you think you’ll kiss me? I think it sounds nice.”

He stared at me for a long moment.

“Constantine?”

“Christ,” he muttered and stared out the window. His fingers curled into a tight fist.

“Constantine?”

He said nothing.

My stomach sank. I wanted to be kissed so badly. “Do you not want to kiss me?” I bit my lip. “I shouldn’t have asked, should I? It’s probably not something everyone enjoys. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been kissed, but if you think we shouldn’t do that, then I won’t ask again.” He squeezed the bridge of his nose. “You probably have to find the other person’s mouth appealing to enjoy it? I like yours, but it’s…it’s okay if you don’t like mine. My lips are a bit big, my lower one especially. Douglas said I had a whore’s mouth, whatever that means. Do you think I have a whore’s mouth? Constantine?”

He grabbed me so fast, I didn’t see him move. One moment I was sitting beside him, the next I was on his lap. His fingers delved into my hair, cupping my head in one of his big hands, and he pulled my face down to his, our lips were barely an inch apart.

“No, you don’t have a whore’s mouth. You have a fucking gorgeous mouth, and I wanted to kiss you the moment I saw you. And yes, I’m going to kiss you, right now as a matter of fact, to stop you from talking, because if you keep talking, and saying the things you are, I will show you right here and now, what taking entails.”

Then he pulled my face closer and pressed his lips to mine.

They were firm and warm. Oh yes, this was nice, really nice, then he rubbed them against mine and I enjoyed it even more. Each brush of his lips sent tingles racing all over my flesh. His grip grew firmer, and he kissed me more fiercely. It was confusing and exciting, and when he nipped my lower lip, they parted on a surprised cry.

Constantine’s tongue darted out, licking at my lips, and I gasped. Did I like that? He did it again. Oh, I did. I did like it. He took my chin between his thumb and finger and opened my mouth, then swiped his tongue inside. My arms banded around his neck, holding him to me, and I touched my tongue to his experimentally. He growled and angled his mouth over mine, our tongues sliding against each other. I liked the way he tasted. Tingles started between my thighs, and I squirmed to get closer—

He suddenly pulled away with another growl.

I opened my mouth to protest, but he pressed his lips to mine again once, twice, without his tongue this time, then used his hand at the back of my head to press the side of my face to his chest.

“Well?” he asked after several seconds. “What did you think?”

He sounded strange. I tried to lift my head to look at him, but he held me firm where I was. “I really liked it. I hope we do it again.” Again, I tried to lift my head, and again he kept me where I was. “Constantine?”

“Go to sleep, you must be tired.”

“I’m not tired.” I tried to lift my head again and this time he let me. “Lucinda said Rainer is going to take her tonight. Can you show me what taking entails when we get home?”

He closed his eyes and cursed under his breath.

“What?”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

“Can we do what we did in the library later, then? I’m feeling all tingly and wet, like I do when I feed. I think it has something to do with the kissing.”

Constantine growled a third time but said nothing. His jaw was tight and his fingers were back to being curled into a fist.

Why wasn’t he answering me? “Constantine?”

“Yes, Delphine?” he said, his voice so deep and odd it made me shiver.