Page 53 of Love Bomb

“Bain?” Rona asked again, her soft voice bringing him back to the woman in front of him.

He drank her in. Astounded at the sight. Feeling as though he was seeing her for the first time, and wondering how he hadn’t seen her before.

“I know you aren’t the girl I once looked out for,” he said earnestly. “I know you don’t need me looking out for you now.”

“No,” she said with a mysterious smile. “I don’t.”

“But I find that I still like doing it,” he said, rubbing a lock of her hair between his forefinger and thumb. “I’m not sure I can stop.”

“They say acknowledgment is the first step toward change.”

“Smart arse,” he said, as his eyes memorized every detail of her beautiful face. “You’re not a girl at all, are you?”

The awkward preteen was long gone, and all that remained was a sensual woman with a kind smile and intelligent eyes.

“Haven’t been for a long time.” She took a deep breath, as though fortifying herself for what she was about to say next. “I was never your sister either,” she said.

Bain had to smile. “I never thought you were. Although sometimes it felt like that’s what you were trying to be…until you suddenly decided I was your fated mate. Then I was just confused.”

She let out an irritated huff. “Could you please let that go?”

Man, she was adorable. “I don’t know, Rona. I’m beginning to think there might be something in it.” He bent to press a kiss to the crook of her neck, right on the spot that’d been teasing him since she’d arrived back in Invertary.

Her fingers curled into his sweater.

“After all,” he said, “destiny seems to have brought you back to me.” He kissed the corner of her jaw.

“What are you doing?” She sounded breathless. It suited her.

He smiled, his cheek against hers. “I thought I might get to know this new adult Rona.”

“How are you going to do that?” It was barely a whisper.

“It seems words aren’t working too great for us, so I thought I’d try touch.” He leaned back to look at her.

At the sight of her intense green gaze, he felt the world fade away.

“Would you like to be touched by me, Rona?” he asked softly.

She sucked in a breath. “Just a little.”

“How much is a little?” He ran his hands up her arms, feeling her shiver as he slowly made his way to her face. “How about kissing?”

“Maybe a wee one.” Her eyes darkened, and he knew she wanted him too.

He cupped her cheeks, feeling that soft, soft skin against his palms. “You’re no’ helping things here,” he told her. “Your guidelines are vague at best.”

“Guidelines?” She sounded confused, and her attention was firmly on his mouth.

He smiled. “I think I like this new adult Rona,” he said before brushing his lips against hers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

All it took was one simple kiss, and he was desperate for her all over again.

Only this time, he knew it wasn’t drugs or magic causing his reaction—it was entirely Rona. He suspected that, no matter how long he lived, he’d always have the same reaction when he touched her, tasted her, breathed her in.

She was his addiction.