The gleaming black sports car pulled into the pack house's driveway, and Kasia's heart raced. She had not looked at Ethan since they left the city, which concerned Ethan. The prolonged contact soothed him, but this was unlike her.
Ethan glanced at Kasia, her eyes wide with fear and confusion as she clung to the hand he held in hers. The adrenaline rush from their accident faded away, leaving her shaken and drained. He saved her life; there was no denying that. Something had snapped in her, and because of that, Kasia didn't want to leave his side.
Ethan released his seatbelt, but Kasia didn't let go of his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze to reassure her. His voice was low and soothing. "We need to go inside. You have to let go now."
Kasia didn't respond; her mind was still stuck on the events that had unfolded and the danger she'd faced. She held onto his hand tighter, unable or unwilling to move away from him.
"If you don't let go, I am going to think you like me after all." Ethan joked as he looked down at her, but Kasia still didn't respond. His free hand reached up to cradle her face gently, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. She flinched, but didn't pull away. She couldn't look him in the eye; she could only focus on the way his touch sent shivers down her spine.
"Kasia," he said again, his voice a rough rumble that vibrated against her skin. "We need to go inside."
She gave no indication of hearing him. Her hand remained clenched around his.
Ethan studied her face. She was lost in her trauma, disconnected from the present. He had to snap her out of it.
Making a decision, he reached over with his free hand and released her seatbelt. In one smooth motion, he slid his arm around her back and pulled her across the divide between their seats. She landed against his chest with a soft gasp, the contact jolting her back to awareness.
A fierce blush spread across her cheeks as she found herself pressed to the hard muscle of his torso. Her body tingled pleasantly where it met his, and she was surprised to realize she didn't want to pull away.
Ethan peered down at her, his piercing blue eyes filled with concern. "You weren't responding. I needed to get you out of the car."
Kasia's breath quickened, and her hands splayed across the solid width of his chest. She knew she should move and put some distance between them, but she couldn't make herself do it. The nearness of him was a drug, and she craved more.
Just a little longer, she told herself. In another minute, she'd pull away. But for now, she'd let herself have this.
Kasia tilted her chin up, meeting his gaze. "What are you doing?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan's eyes darkened, his arms tightening around her. "What I should have done a long time ago," he murmured.
Before she could react, he shifted, moving to lift her from the car. The sudden motion caused her to slip into his grasp. She teetered dangerously, about to tumble from the seat.
Ethan's reflexes were lightning-quick. He caught her up against him, yanking her back to safety. But the momentum brought her lips crashing into his, and then they were kissing.
It was like nothing Kasia had ever felt before. His mouth moved over hers, firm yet gentle, sending spikes of heat racing through her veins. Her hands curled into his shirt, pulling him closer as she returned the kiss hungrily.
In that moment, nothing else mattered but the feel of his body against hers, his fingers tangled in her hair, and his rapid heartbeat echoing her own. The world receded until there was only this: his lips, his touch, and his intoxicating scent surrounding her. She wanted more and needed more. She kissed him fiercely and passionately, losing herself in the exhilaration of the moment.
Ethan growled low in his throat, the sound sending a thrill of anticipation down Kasia's spine. His hands slid from her hair to her waist, gripping her tightly as he deepened the kiss. She gasped into his mouth, her fingers clenching in his shirt.
His tongue swept past her lips, tasting her with a hunger that matched her own. A rush of heat pooled low in her belly, and she arched against him instinctively.
With a moan, he slid his hand up her back, skimming over her shoulder blade before cupping the nape of her neck. His touch was possessive and demanding, and she reveled in it. A whimper escaped her throat as he nibbled on her bottom lip, his teeth scraping against her skin lightly. She couldn't help but pull him closer still, their bodies molding together like two halves of a whole.
But then he nipped her neck, and Kasia pulled back with a gasp. The sudden pain intensified the pleasure so much that she moaned loudly, jolting her back to reality.
The implication of what they had just done sank in, bringing Kasia abruptly back to her senses. 'Oh, why stop now? You loved it. It's not like anyone would care if you unbuckled his pants and slid your panties to the left,' the voice taunted her again, and Kasia tried to drown out its laughter.
Kasia pulled away from him, sliding off his lap to stand on shaky legs. Heat flooded her cheeks as she realized how far things had gone and how close they'd come to going further still.
"I - I should go," she stammered. Her heart was pounding, torn between embarrassment and the desire still burning inside her. She wanted nothing more than to melt into his arms again.
Ethan breathed hard and said, "Kasia, wait - "
And with that, Kasia bolted from the car, not waiting for his response. She hurried up to her room, her body still humming with desire and confusion. Why did he have such an effect on her? But she couldn't deny the heat between them or the way his touch set her aflame.
As she closed the door behind her, she leaned against it, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. Her mind spun with thoughts of Ethan and the betrayal she felt toward her own kind.
Yet even as she tried to forget him, images of Ethan's mouth on hers flashed through her mind like lightning strikes. The taste of him lingered on her tongue, sweet like honey and musky like freshly turned earth after a rainstorm. The feel of his strong arms around her waist lingered beneath her fingertips as she traced the outline of where he had held her so tightly just moments before.