Shadows (Book 2 of the Zara's Wolf Trilogy) BWWM

20. Speechless

Evan and I are curled up on our bed. He's holding me and drawing circles on my arm absentmindedly with his fingertip. I bury my face into his bare chest, if only to make him smile.

His hand leaves my arm and glides up to my dreadlocks, smoothing them back before sliding down along my face. As his finger traces my jawline, my eyes look up to meet his.

"I love you," he whispers.

It's the first time he's uttered those words to me. My heart skips a beat. I can't help but stare at him.

I know his feelings toward me, I know that he loves me, but to hear him finally say it catches me off guard.

His gaze flicks down as his thumb caresses my bottom lip.

My heart can't catch up now and it pounds fiercely in my chest. I'm suddenly aware of my breath coming in rapid gasps as my naked breasts press gently against his warm chest with each sharp intake of air.

His Adam's apple rises and falls in his throat. "Well?"

Snapping out of my daze, I realize he's waiting for me say something.

"Oh, uh..."

He groans, pulling back slightly. "Way to kill the moment."

My eyes fly open wide when I realize he was waiting for me to say it back. "I'm sorry!"

"No, I get it. You're not ready."

"No, no, it's not that," I say, stumbling over my words and feeling my cheeks flare. My racing heart hasn't let up a second, and I hope it doesn't ram through my ribcage. "I just-I wasn't expecting..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. We've only been together two months. Blah, blah, blah."

"Shut it," I say, covering his mouth with my hand. "You just caught me off guard. No one's ever said that to me before."

A grin plays on his lips as he kisses my palm and pulls my hand from his face. He leans in close to me again. "Glad I'm the first-and only one-to say those words to you."

I blush furiously as he presses his lips to my neck. He inhales deeply and I shiver as the air leaves his lungs and blows against my tender flesh. A low growl rumbles from his throat and makes my heart flutter again.

"Evan, I-" I begin to say, but he cuts me off.

"Don't say it. Not yet." He pulls back and gazes into my eyes. "I want to hear you say those words when the moment strikes you. Not now. 'Kay?"

I nod before his eyes drift down to my lips once more. Subconsciously, I purse them, as if to keep my mouth shut, while at the same time becoming aware of the need to feel his against mine.

His eyes linger on the fullness of my lips for another minute longer before he lowers his head to meet mine. I catch his eagerly as I arch my body against his, craving the touch of his tantalizing skin against mine. Needing to feel him, hold him, and mold him against me as I part my lips to deepen the kiss. My skin tingles as an internal fire starts to grow and spread throughout my body, wanting more of him.

He pulls away when I moan, breathing hard. Planting a chaste kiss on my lips as I groan in protest, he whispers, "You have no idea how much I'd rather stay in bed with you, but I told my parents I'd meet them."

I tighten my hold around him in protest, murmuring, "Now? Don't leave. It's so warm and cozy here. I want to hold you longer."

He kisses me quickly on the lips. "Me." Kiss. "Too." Kiss.

About to climb out of bed, he pauses and looks back at me as I lie there with the sheet covering the lower half of my body. His eyes gaze longingly at my exposed breasts.