Page 46 of Half Wolf Mate
She dashed away tears that I hoped were happy ones. “This is…incredible. I can’t wait to read them. I don’t know what to say.”
I shrugged. “They were your mothers, so you should have them.”
Sydney launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. I froze because I wasn’t expecting the embrace or how my body reacted to her nearness. When I had myself under control, I cautiously hugged her back.
“I love my gifts. No one has ever given anything so…thoughtful.”
Relief swamped me. I wasn’t an expert at gift-giving, and I had worried she’d hate them.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She pulled away, leaving me feeling bereft. As she gazed up at me, something shifted between us. The sexual tension that crackled couldn’t be ignored. Sydney’s teeth sank into her lower lip, drawing my attention to her mouth.
“I should get to my room,” she said.
She took two steps before I snagged her wrist and pulled her back. I couldn’t fight the pull between us any longer. Whether or not Sydney despised me, I suspected she couldn’t either. Eyes locked with mine, she dropped her things onto the nearest sofa and tipped on her toes until our lips were almost touching. I lowered my head just a bit, capturing her mouth.
Chapter 20 Sydney
My first kiss was in the third grade with a boy who was as curious as I was about lip-locking. We saw adults doing it all the time and wondered what all the fuss was about. So, we decided to find out. After a peck on the lips from my classmate, I was disappointed no fireworks erupted around us like I saw in a few cheesy romance movies. We’d both established that kissing was gross and overrated, and I never kissed a boy again after that.
This kiss with Cole might as well have come with fireworks because the first touch of his lips to mine almost made me combust. So, this was what all the fuss was about. When done properly and with the suitable someone, kissing was…magical. I swore I felt the earth tilt on its axis the moment Cole, and I made contact. He was an amazing kisser. His hand slid around my nape and held me in place so he could command my mouth with obvious experience. I melted against him, following his lead.
The kiss wasn’t wild and raw but on the sweeter, gentler side, almost experimental, as if he were getting a feel for me, taking the time to discover what I liked. I did the same and tried to get a feel for him. My eyes closed, and I savored the feeling of the slight pressure of his mouth on mine. He coaxed my lips apart for a slow, sensuous exploration that made me wet between the legs.
That constant chill I felt on the inside, caused by his rejection, vanished because a flame flickered to life in my core and spread through my veins. I wanted more. The other being inside me, my wolf, stirred. It felt as if she clawed to get out, wanting to get closer to her mate. It was the first time I’d ever felt her so prominently. Something moved beneath my skin, frightening me. I gasped and yanked my mouth away from Cole’s.
I was breathless, dazed, and scared. “Something is wrong,” I whispered, clutching my chest. “I feel…” I wasn’t sure how to explain what I felt. “Like something wants to get out.”
Cole hadn’t let me go. His fingers rubbed comforting circles on my nape, which helped to calm me a bit. He seemed to understand what was happening to me. “Stay calm, Sydney. Your wolf gets stronger when she’s this close to her mate. The more we connect, the stronger she gets.”
I stared at him in wonder. There was still so much for me to learn about my werewolf half. “Really?” It made sense now. Before I discovered what I was, I hadn’t felt my wolf at all. It was like she’s stayed completely hidden so as not to frighten me. She’d only come out to protect me when that hunter showed up. When I got to New Orleans and met Cole, however, she’d made her presence completely known, and she got stronger each day. “Does that mean I’ll be able to shift, eventually?”
Cole’s eyes bore into mine. “I don’t think so. Half-breeds aren’t typically capable.”
“Oh.” I sighed my disappointment. My wolf had felt so close to the surface it felt as if she’d emerge. I pushed my displeasure aside to process the rest of what Cole said. “We’re not… connected. I mean, not really…”
“You’re wrong,” he said, taking my chin between his fingers. “The chemistry between us is undeniable. Unavoidable.”
True. The only problem was, despite the raw sexual pull caused by our fated bond, he didn’t really want me. I knew he was disappointed in the mate he’d gotten. Either I or my wolf—I’m guessing both—have been dying for sexual release. But why think about that tonight? My mind needed rest, and my body needed relief. “Well, I’m up for us connecting tonight.”
Cole’s irises flickered amber, his wolf near the surface. “That sounds an awful lot like you’re interested in a one-time fling.” He didn’t sound pleased.
“What more is there?” I asked. He said it himself. He couldn’t claim me. The pack would never accept our union.
His nostrils flared, and he looked like he was about to protest, but I said, “No more talking, Cole,” and grabbed his lapels. Shock registered on his face before I crushed my lips to his. I didn’t want to talk anymore and dredge up the hopelessness of our situation.
Cole released a low growl that resonated with resignation. No more talking. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me closer. This time, our kiss was untamed and fueled with a passion that might cause an explosion in the living room. I gasped into his mouth when he lifted me. My legs instinctively wound around him as he marched toward his bedroom. He didn’t miss a beat, navigating his way while still devouring my mouth.
In his bedroom, my feet touched the floor, and in the same breath, my dress slipped off my shoulders. Cole moved so fast and so subtle I didn’t even realize he’d unzipped my dress. When I stepped out of the garment, a case of nerves momentarily overrode my arousal. I was standing in front of a man while I was wearing only a pair of barely-there panties and heels and… I was a virgin.
Holy hell.
Panic surfaced. What if Cole didn’t like inexperienced women? How did I even begin to please him? If I’d known we’d ended up here, I would have asked Macy for pointers—embarrassing though it would have been.
“What’s wrong?” Cole asked, his gaze fixed on my face.