Jonathan’s face turned redder. “Arrogant asshole. Why would I let anyone harm my own daughter? I’ve spent my entire life protecting her from them.”
Cross leaned back and waited for him to calm down. Jonathan Strohen was a man of reason, after all.
Finally, Jonathan spoke. “So, what do you want me to do? Pretend I don’t know she’s gone?”
“That would bring down more suspicion on you. You don’t have to do anything, except go about your usual routine.” Cross produced a small vial from his pocket. “And forget I came to see you.”
Jonathan’s lips pursed together, but took the vial from Cross’s outstretched hand anyway. “I’m supposed to have dinner with her tomorrow. Should I stick to that or visit her sooner?”
“No, tomorrow works,” he said.
“Fine.” He uncorked the glass vial. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”
He wasn’t, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that Sabrina stayed alive. That was one thing he and Sabrina’s father could agree on, at least. Besides, after he drank that potion, Jonathan would forget this conversation ever happened.
Three years ago …
Sabrina pulled away from the kiss abruptly. “I …”
“I’m sorry.” He stepped back and ran his hands through his hair. “I shouldn’t have … I didn’t mean to …” On the other hand, his wolf thought kissing her was a step in the right direction. No, I shouldn’t have done that. Gunnar—
“You didn’t mean it?” she asked breathlessly.
“I did,” he said quickly when he saw the crestfallen look on her face. “I mean, I wanted to kiss you.” He had wanted to do it the first moment he saw her.
Her cheeks bloomed with a pretty blush. “Me too. I mean, I didn’t think someone like you would ever … you know, want to kiss someone like me.”
“What are you talking about?” He took her hands into his and kissed each palm, making her shiver. “You’re beautiful.”
“But you’re perfect,” she said with a little laugh. “You belong on an underwear ad in Times Square. While I’m—” She glanced down at her body with a woeful expression.
His brows snapped together. His wolf didn’t like the self-deprecating tone of her voice either. “Stop talking like that, Sabrina.” Perhaps by society’s standards she didn’t have the “ideal” waif-like model’s body, but he loved that she was all curves and bumps. Society’s standards could go to hell for all he cared. “You’re lovely, and you take my breath away.” To show her what he meant, he pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“This is crazy,” she whispered. “We’ve only just met, but I feel like … this feels right.”
His chest tightened at her words, and his wolf agreed with her wholeheartedly. He inhaled her scent, and in this moment, he forgot about everything else—Gunnar’s predictions, the ring on her finger, the fate of the world. There was only them and now, in this space.
“I don’t want to rush things,” she said. “Can we please slow down?”
Reluctantly, he released her. “Do you want to … get to know each other?”
She nodded. “I do. How about we go out to dinner first?”
“Like a date?”
“Mm-hmm.”
He’d take her out on a thousand dates if that’s what she wanted. Anywhere in the world. “All right. Will you go out with me, Sabrina?”
She chuckled. “I would like that.”
And so, they did go out, three times over the next week. On their first date, they had breakfast at Wicked Brew. He had to leave right after, but he walked her back to the subway station on Eighth Avenue. A few days later, they had a late lunch at a cafe not far from her loft. Though the meal had ended, it started to rain and she made some excuse about not having an umbrella so she couldn’t leave and they decided to stay. They spent the entire afternoon just talking and teasing each other. It had pained him to leave her after that wonderful rainy afternoon, but before saying goodbye, they made plans for their next date.
Finally, they had their third date tonight, and Cross took her to dinner to a Peruvian restaurant on the Lower East Side. Since their first kiss, he hadn’t tried to get closer to her because he didn’t want to rush her. Tonight, though, he could definitely read the signals—from the way she arched her body toward him when he talked and the small touches she gave him. After dinner, he offered to share a cab with her. Though he didn’t live anywhere near her place, he wanted to make sure she got home okay.
“Do you want to come in?” Sabrina asked shyly as they stood outside her building. “Maybe, have some coffee? Or a drink?”
“Sure.”
He followed her inside the darkened loft apartment, anticipation humming in his veins. It was like he’d been waiting for this moment ever since that first kiss. His wolf, too, had grown impatient, wanting him to be with her all the time.
He was on tenterhooks, wondering when it would happen, and even plotting the different ways he would coax her into a kiss again. Tease her with a few touches here and there? Or maybe just push her up against the wall?
As he closed the door behind him, she said, “Did you really want that drink?”
“No. Not really.”
Her mouth parted in a small sigh. “Good.” She pushed him back against the door. “Because I’ve been waiting all night, and I’m not sure I have the patience to wait until you’ve finished your drink.”
A chuckle escaped his lips as he bent his head down. “I’ve been thinking about this for forever.” He captured her mouth, and she sank right into the kiss.
She moaned as her hands slid up his chest, fingers exploring his muscles. Her scent intensified, as did her arousal, and he deepened the kiss. His fingers thrust into her hair, digging into the soft locks, and pulled gently so her head bent back and her mouth opened. That taste … it
