by Karen Swart
“I have made you something to eat.” He indicated the plate and turned around to the fridge.
It was a trap. I looked around waiting for the boogey man or something to jump up. Max closed the fridge door and had a bunch of stuff in his arms. When he noticed that I was still standing there, he stopped his progress and looked at me.
“Eat, Nanini. I still have to make breakfast for the others,” he said with a smile.
Okay, apparently he wasn’t mad at me anymore. I spent most of the night lying in bed remembering his face when Kas told him about our little adventure without them. And I felt like crap all through it. I sat down at the table and looked at the sandwich. It looked freaking amazing. I grabbed it and almost stuck half of it in my mouth. Chewing, I closed my eyes and enjoyed every molecule bursting inside my mouth.
“Do you know how beautiful you are when you do that?” Max’s declaration had my eyes flashing open.
He was leaning against the counter looking at me. I felt the blush that crept up from my neck towards my face. Oh no.
“Even more when you blush like that,” he went on.
I was the color of blood now. “Don’t do that.”
“What? Tell you how beautiful you are?” Max wasn’t going to back off.
“Yes, I don’t like it.” I was suddenly on ‘flee and save yourself’ mode. I looked at the door and decided to get the hell out of there.
“Ompf!” I smashed right into Max. He grabbed hold of me and didn’t let go. I struggled and even tried to bite him but he was just too powerful. His hand grabbed my chin and he forced me to look at him.
“You are beautiful,” he said again. His eyes captured mine and I couldn’t breathe.
“No… I a…m not.” I staggered with his hypnotic hold on me.
He smiled a devilish smile. “You are very beautiful. I can’t seem to keep my eyes of you,” he whispered, his lips inches from mine. I pulled my head back, dreading his intentions.
“Don’t, “ I all but croaked at him.
His eyes drifted down to my lips, and he actually licked his own lips. Oh no, no, no. I squirmed in his hold but just couldn’t get away.
His lips met mine and I froze. His lips were… soft. I wasn’t expecting that. I wasn’t expecting all of this. He lifted his lips from mine and looked at me, shocked. “Was this-? Have you never been kissed before?”
“I…I” Couldn’t get a freaking word out. My body flashed from red to pink to white. I was stunned, scared and just plain embarrassed. Of course I have never kissed anyone! I was too young at first, and then I was just…not what they were looking for. Tears formed in my eyes and his filled with concern. “Can you let me go now?” I croaked out, trying to push the tears back before they fell.
He didn’t let go. Instead he leaned in again and kissed me. At first it was as soft as a feather, and then he placed more pressure on my lips. I felt something warm again my lips and gasped. My mouth was suddenly engulfed in sweet, delicious heat. His tongue slightly touched mine. As the tears rolled down my face, my body yielded to what he was doing, and became his to control. My mouth moved with his and I dared to let my own tongue touch his. I must have done something wrong because he pressed me against the wall and released my lips to look at me. His eyes was piercing into me; he looked at me, and then slowly down to my lips. I pressed them closed and dreaded what he would do or say next.
“Utterly beautiful,” he whispered and kissed me again.
Aflame, I grabbed him around the neck and just freaking let go. It was so amazing, his scent, his taste. Ambrosia. I struggled to take breaths as we continued.
Someone cleared their throat and we instantly broke apart and away from each other.
“I am just getting some juice for Lada. Don’t mind me.” Lotan smiled as he grabbed a glass and a box of juice from the fridge. He walked out and wiggled his eyebrow at us.
I was utterly mortified. I looked at Max and then at those lips that just did something amazing with mine. They were puffy and red. My hand went to my own lips, and I could feel mine were in the same state.
He, of course, looked like he just won the lottery. “Come on, eat up and then we can make some breakfast for the others.” He smiled and went over to the stove.
Slowly, and half in a stupor, I went back to my plate. I watched him chop an onion. I wasn’t so hungry anymore, well, at least not for food. My hands were still touching my sensitive lips. Un-freaking-believable. I have always dreamed of this day. For how long did I watch the others and wondered when I would finally have my first kiss too. And now? I was just blown away. I never could get why Lada and all the others girls would melt down and just be a pile of jelly. Now I know why. It was amazing!
“Are you alright?” Max brought me back to reality.
“Yes,” was my only reply.
He frowned at me. “Are you mad at me?”
“No.” Why couldn’t I seem to form more than one word?
He walked over to me and took the chair opposite me. “Finish up and let’s get to work. We have a big day in front of us.”
I looked down at the sandwich and nodded. I heard him get up and go back to the counter. What if this might actually work out? What if we really become mated?
I didn’t hear him approach; I was too deep in thought. He pulled me up and lifted me so our faces met again. His lips descended on mine again, and we started kissing all over again. I enjoyed it. I actually craved it. Finally breaking apart, he let his head rest against mine. “It’s like a drug. I can’t seem to stop.” He breathed heavily.
Neither could I. It was a drug, a very great one.
“Thank you.” I just had to say it.
He lifted his head and looked at me. “No, Nanini, thank you. Never before has a kiss felt like this. If you give me the chance, I promise to make it even better each time,” he all but begged.
“Okay, but no funny stuff.” I tried to make a serious face like Chax.
He laughed and kissed me again, and he placed me back on the floor. “Come on, I just heard the first door open. They are going to storm this kitchen at any moment.” He pulled me over to the counter and placed some cheese in my hand.
Just then Ben came walking into the kitchen. “I hope that is food. I am starving.” He sat down at my plate and eyed my half eaten sandwich. I looked back at Max, who smiled at me.
I don’t know where Max and I would be in a week or two. We might die today trying to protect this world. We might die tomorrow. But for the first time in my life, I had something that I wanted. Not duty, not obligation. Just something for me. Something that I was going to give a chance, no matter what tomorrow might bring. Something I could always say was mine, and mine alone. I had a mate, and I was going to fight to have him.