Chapter 7

Colette gently lifted Sorin’s shirt, revealing his muscular chest and the bandages she’d applied a week ago.

Sorin watched her in silence as she carefully removed the medical tape. She was concerned about causing him pain, but his expression remained stoic.

Underneath the bandages, the wounds were still there, but they were no longer raw and inflamed. They were healing at an incredible rate.

“They’re almost healed,” she told him, her fingers lightly tracing his chest.

Sorin caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. “I never thanked you for taking care of me,” he said, his lips brushing against her knuckles. “So, thank you.” His voice was soft, his dark eyes captivating her.

“Of course,” she managed to say, her gaze dropping to his lips.

She couldn’t understand the feelings stirring within her. She’d had a boyfriend before, had even kissed him a few times, but she’d never experienced the desires she was feeling now. Sorin was awakening something in her that no one else had.

“Do you want me to kiss you, Colette?” Sorin asked gently, noticing her focus on his lips. “I won’t touch you again without your permission,” he promised, even though it went against his wolf’s instincts.

She bit her lower lip nervously.

“I won’t touch you without your permission, but don’t do that,” he warned, his eyes fixed on her lips.

She stopped, taking in a sharp breath. “You want to kiss me?” she asked, her voice shaky.

He nodded. “More than anything.”

“Just a kiss,” she clarified.

He groaned inwardly but nodded quickly. “Just a kiss. I won’t remove a single piece of clothing.” His shirt was already off, of course.

She swallowed hard and nodded.

“Say it,” he urged.

“I…I want you to kiss me, Sorin,” she said softly, bracing herself. She expected him to pounce, but he didn’t.

He gently lifted her chin, bringing her face closer to his. He didn’t kiss her, though. Instead, he just looked deeply into her eyes.

Maybe the pull of her wolf was slowly growing stronger in his presence. But he had to be gentle. He couldn’t let his wolf take over, or he’d scare her.

He just needed to give her a small kiss, enough to satisfy the beast within him but not so much that he’d crave more.

Colette’s eyebrows furrowed in anticipation. She held onto his wrist, her eyes pleading.

“Sorin,” she whispered.

It was just a kiss. She’d kissed her ex-boyfriend many times, and it had never led to anything more. She was sure that a consensual kiss between them would calm her mind and ease her intense desire for him.

Unable to wait any longer, Colette wrapped her arms around Sorin’s neck, pulling his mouth down to hers. He froze, surprised. Colette took the opportunity to explore his mouth, tasting a hint of citrus.

Sorin wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. His body responded immediately, preparing for the intimacy it wouldn’t be experiencing.

He tangled one hand in her hair, the other gripping her hip tightly. He tried not to press against her, but she tasted and felt so good. Kissing her was even better when she kissed back. Her nails dug into his scalp and the back of his neck.

Colette was wrong. She was so very wrong. She thought a simple kiss would ease the ache in her body and the burning desire in her core. She thought it would be a quick peck, but here they were, over thirty minutes later, still kissing.

She was sure she’d soaked through his sweatpants, and she could feel his arousal pressing against her. She’d never felt such a mix of love and frustration.

She was sure that if she were naked right then, she’d have welcomed him inside her. But she also knew she’d regret it later. She wasn’t going to lose her virginity to a stranger in a cabin.

And she ~was~ telling the truth; she wasn’t on birth control. Maybe if she could get Plan B or if he had a condom.

No, she couldn’t. She’d waited this long, she could wait until she found the right person.

Colette finally pulled away from him, her dark hair tousled from their passionate encounter, her lips swollen and even more enticing. He could smell her arousal and remembered the taste of her. He noticed the fabric of his sweatpants was damp from her arousal.

“Only kissing,” he agreed breathlessly, even though his body was craving more. “We’ll find something else to do,” he suggested.

“You could take a shower,” he offered, immediately regretting it. She’d be naked, just behind a door.

“Do you think I smell?” She laughed.

“Not at all,” he said, which was true. She smelled wonderful. But what could they do that wouldn’t lead to them being naked and out of breath?

“When are you going to give me my clothes back, Sorin?” she asked quietly.

He didn’t know what to say. She didn’t seem like she’d run away, but he didn’t know ~her~ that well. “What do you need your clothes for?” he asked cautiously.

“~We~ could go for a walk, cool down a bit,” she suggested hopefully. “It hasn’t snowed in a while,” she added.

He stood up and looked out the window. She was right. It hadn’t snowed in a while. He figured it wouldn’t snow for a few more days, which meant he’d need to report back to the compound.

He just needed a few more days with her. Then he could take her home and leave. He’d know where she lived and could visit again.

“Maybe tomorrow,” he suggested.