He came closer, closer, his lips nearly brushing hers, a look so intense on his face she got the feeling he wanted to eat her up. She felt like Little Red Riding Hood, but she doubted Little Red craved being eaten by the Big Bad Wolf. Heat flushed through her body, and she could no longer resist the urge to taste him.
She breached the gap between them and brushed her lips against his.
How could a kiss, one that could barely be considered a kiss, but more a feathery light caress, be so intoxicating? A deep growl vibrated in his throat, and just when she thought he’d kiss her properly, his eyes cleared, and he sat back abruptly. She nearly cried out at the sudden withdrawal. She’d wanted him to kiss her even though she knew she shouldn’t. Her body didn’t seem to care one bit about any reasons as to why she shouldn’t. Her body simply wanted, and there was no logic to hormones.
56
Lycan Christmas
S. K. Yule
“I’m sorry, Melony.” He stood and scrubbed his fingers through his dark, tousled hair.
She followed him and laid a hand on his arm. “I’m not.”
“You should be. Damn it. We can’t do this again.”
“But—”
“Hey. How is the lesson going?” Rose stood in the doorway.
Melony hadn’t heard Rose’s approach and whipped around at the sound of her voice. “Hi, Aunt Rose.”
Rose looked from Melony to Lorent, then back, and raised one brow.“I thought I’d check in, maybe see if I could go ahead and steal you away to come and help with the details for Thanksgiving, but if you two are busy . .
.?” A sly smile played at Rose’s lips.
“We’re done,” Lorent said quietly before making his way to the door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon,” Melony called out to his retreating back.
“He’s a bit shy, Melony. I think maybe you will be good for him.” Rose put her arm around Melony’s shoulders and guided her toward the door.
“I don’t know, maybe.” She was getting the idea that he wasn’t all that shy, merely had some issues that he didn’t quite know how to deal with, issues he kept bottled up inside.
“He’s a good man. I’m glad Knox gave him a second chance. I wouldn’t have.”
“What do you mean?” Melony glanced in the direction Lorent had gone, but there was no trace of him.
“I mean, when he attacked me, if I had had the means, I would have gutted him.”
Melony stopped. “He attacked you? Uncle Knox told me he was a reformed rogue, but he never said he’d attacked you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I promise it wasn’t anything major. It mostly just pissed me off. I got my revenge when I broke his nose. I’m good with him now.”
“You broke his nose?” Melony cringed.
“Yep.”
57
Lycan Christmas
S. K. Yule
Good God. What else was she going to find out about Lorent? He was a complete mystery, and he wasn’t going to let anyone unravel him easily, but she was going to try. She smiled as she walked with Rose. She was sure he’d been about to kiss her back earlier. That meant he was attracted to her, at least a little. Still, it was somewhere she wasn’t sure they should go because of the possible ramifications to both of them.
She sighed. She liked Lorent, and decided she wouldn’t stress over her feelings for him. She, for one, did believe in fate—at least somewhat—and figured she’d let nature take its course. She wouldn’t encourage it down one path or another, but simply follow wherever it might lead. Maybe there was a reason for their attraction to one another. Maybe she had been sent here to help him heal from whatever had caused him to be so withdrawn.
Whatever the reasons, I’m here, Lorent is here, and I’ll help him any way I can.
58
Lycan Christmas
S. K. Yule
Chapter Eight
Lorent charged through the woods like a bull charging a matador’s bright red cape. Melony had kissed him, a brushing of the lips, really, but a kiss nonetheless. He could have never imagined the fire that simple touch would light in him. He burned. Every cell inside his body flamed in bright inferno, and he was positive that if he touched any of the trees, they would ignite, and the whole forest would go up like tinder to a match.
How would he stand to be around her now? He’d no longer be able to look at her longingly and wonder how she’d taste. He knew firsthand, and from this day on, every time they were near one another, he’d remember her sweetness, yearn to taste her again and again. Hell, he’d yearn for that while he was alone, but wondering how her lips would feel against his own and knowing were two entirely different things.
Now that he’d had her mouth against his, the wolf in him paced and howled for its mate, while the man fought to control the urges that had been imprinted on him since birth. The need to claim her, to make her his was like a cancer that would grow and eat away at him until he gave in. She was the one thing that could cure him. Without her, he’d slowly die. Maybe not in the physical sense, but his heart, his soul would shrivel into a black void of turmoil, anger, and pain if he refused the one thing it craved, the one thing that would sustain them . . . Melony.
If he’d never met her, never known his mate, he could have gone on intact. He would have always felt as if something was missing, but he’d have coped. Now that he knew her, that kind of blind luxury was no longer an option.
Maybe he should just throw caution to the wind and approach Knox, let him
