Page 16 of Hunter's Moon
“I... I was just checking your wounds,” I stammered.
He sat up, stretching languidly. “Sure you were. I thought you might be admiring the view.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the way my pulse quickened. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
Tharion chuckled, the sound making heat pool in my belly. “No need to be embarrassed, Lina. I’d be staring too if I woke up next to someone as captivating as myself.”
“You’re impossible,” I muttered.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low rumble. “Am I? We were getting along so well.”
My eyes flicked to his lips, wondering what they’d feel like against mine.
As if reading my thoughts, Tharion dipped his head to mine. His lips brushed mine, feather-light and tentative. I froze, shocked by the gentleness of the gesture. Then, almost against my will, I leaned into the kiss.
Tharion’s hand came up to cup my face, his thumb tracing my cheekbone. The kiss deepened, growing more passionate as I parted my lips. His tongue swept into my mouth, tasting of spice and danger.
My fingers traced up Tharion’s neck, finding the small horns at his temples. Curiosity overtook me, and I gently caressed them, marveling at their smooth texture.
A low growl rumbled in Tharion’s chest as he caught my wrist. “Careful, Lina. Unless you’re prepared for what comes next.”
I froze, suddenly very aware of the dangerous line I was walking. Meeting his eyes, I licked my lips.
Once. Twice. And that was enough.
His powerful arms encircled my waist and I fell back into his kiss.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily. I stared at him, wide-eyed and flushed.
“That was...” I trailed off, at a loss for words.
“Unexpected?” Tharion supplied.
I nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. “But not unwelcome.”
A slow smile spread across his face, revealing those sharp canines. “Good to know.”
Before we could say anything else, a muffled voice drifted through the vent, making us both tense.
“...still no sign of them. The boss is getting impatient.”
“Keep looking,” another voice replied. “They couldn’t have gotten far.”
Tharion and I exchanged alarmed glances. The Trefter Syndicate? I’d never heard of them before, but judging by Tharion’s reaction, they were bad news.
“We need to move,” he whispered, already getting to his feet.
I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding as the voices grew closer. Tharion was already moving, his keen eyes scanning the dark maintenance room. The air felt heavy, charged with tension and the lingering heat of our kiss.
“There has to be another way out,” I whispered. My fingers brushed against the cold metal of a nearby console, searching for any hidden compartments or escape routes.
Tharion’s nostrils flared. “Wait. Do you feel that?”
I paused, holding my breath. At first, I felt nothing but the oppressive stillness of the room. Then, a faint whisper of air brushed against my skin, cool and slightly damp.
“A breeze?” I asked, confusion coloring my voice. “But how?”
Tharion moved with predatory grace, following the elusive current of air. His fingers traced the edge of a disused computer panel, probing for weaknesses. With a grunt of effort, he pried it away from the wall, revealing a small, dark opening behind it.