chapter 30

Nita’s lungs burned for air, yet she felt breathless, her mind consumed by thoughts of sex. All logic had fled, replaced by raw instinct. Ky was the first man she’d connected with on every level—too many to count. Being with him felt effortless, like the most natural thing in the world.

Her hands slid down his waist, grazing the front of his jeans to grip his erection through the denim. A deep rumble vibrated from Ky, sending a thrill through her. She fumbled with his belt, desperate, when he broke the kiss.

“Nita…” he moaned her name.

His ragged breathing mirrored hers, proof he was as lost in the moment as she was. Mrs. Wilder had nailed it—their chemistry was explosive. Her lust-fogged brain screamed for sex *now*.

“I should go,” he said, the words like a splash of cold water.

What was she doing? He’d been injured, shifter or not. She shouldn’t be throwing herself at him like he was the last wing at a buffet. “I—”

“Don’t.” He pressed a warm, calloused finger to her lips. “This is more than sex.”

She swallowed hard. Damn right it was. The hunger in his eyes promised something far beyond ordinary, the kind of passion that would leave her mindless. His erection still pressed against her belly, teasing her, but he’d stopped. She should be thrilled—a man seeing her as more than a fling was new. Yet frustration gnawed at her, fueled by nearly a year without sex.

“Good night, beautiful Nita,” Ky said, stepping back into the dark woods. His warmth vanished, leaving her chilled.

“Good night,” she whispered.

God, she hadn’t even brought her vibrator. Sleep was going to be torture.

His broad frame melted into the darkness. She shut the door, exhaling shakily. “Well, shit!” This was new. Nita hadn’t struggled with dating since embracing her curves, but her relationships were always fleeting, never deep. She’d never let anyone into her heart—until now, it hadn’t mattered.

Her phone rang, jolting her. She darted to the chair where she’d left it. “Hello?”

“So how was the date?” Tally exclaimed. “Nita Islas! How dare you go on a date with some hot bear and not tell me? What did you think I’d do, judge you or something?”

Nita sank onto the chair with a thud, guilt creeping in. Time to come clean. “It wasn’t you. I was just worried this was going to be another dead-end in the relationship department. I didn’t want you to get your hopes up.”

“Nita…”

“Okay,” she groaned, tracing her still-tingling lips. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”

Tally sighed. “I understand. So how did it go?”

“Well…” Nita’s mind flashed to that kiss—pure fire. “Dinner was great. He’s a nice guy that’s genuinely sweet.”

“And?”

“He’s handsome.”

Tally snorted. “Just handsome?”

“Dammit! Okay, he’s hot as hell. Damn, Tally. He’s so hot my eyes watered.”

“Wow! He sounds like someone you should bring over for dinner or at very minimum tie to your bed,” Tally said with a sigh.

“Oh, that’s not the best part,” Nita said, recalling his words before the kiss. “He’s a romantic and he kisses like a sex god.”

Tally gasped. “Did you already have sex?”

“I just met him like three hours ago,” Nita exclaimed.

“Hey, it’s been known to happen,” Tally giggled.

She wasn’t wrong. If Ky hadn’t stopped, Nita would’ve stripped faster than on a sweltering day without AC. “He has these gorgeous hazel eyes. They turn this deep green or this golden color when he’s talking.” Or aroused—she’d seen that dark green during their kiss. She wondered what shade they’d be when he came.

“Oooh. Girl, you’ve never sounded so interested in a man’s eyes before,” Tally said.

They reminded her of her high school friend, Ky. But her friend’s eyes had never darkened with desire—she’d never seen him turned on. Her massive crush on him had been stifled by his shyness and her own insecurities. “He’s a nice guy,” she said, her hormones not clouding her judgment for once.

Tally laughed. “A nice hot guy. Just what the doctor ordered for you.”

“More like what Mrs. Wilder got me,” Nita said, smiling.

That woman was a matchmaking wizard. She’d worked magic for Tally, and if this kept up, Nita might owe her just as much. “All right, well I know this is a series of dates, so you know I will be calling you back tomorrow to find out how that went,” Tally said. “Don’t you dare ignore my calls or I swear I’ll come hunt you down.”

Nita grinned, hoping she’d have good news to share. “Take care. We’ll chat tomorrow.”

She hung up, plugged in her phone, and opted for a long bath. Her city apartment was too cramped for baths, and that, plus her tiny kitchen, fueled her desire to move. Ky’s sprawling cabin only deepened that longing. No noisy neighbors blaring music at midnight, no chaos after a day of screaming patients. Just peace.

Did she need to stay in the city? She wasn’t broke. A house outside midtown, with a backyard for a dog or cat, was within reach. Her parents, now living halfway across the globe, would visit wherever she settled. Why keep enduring the city’s madness?

Soaking in the quiet tub, her mind lingered on Ky’s kisses. For once, she wasn’t rushing anywhere. It felt good. Ky was different—he could’ve taken things further in that living room, door wide open, and she’d have urged him on. But he stopped, wanting more than a fling. Maybe, just maybe, she could have something deeper with him. His kindness made opening up easy, even when he was half-conscious with a possible concussion. She’d been a terrible nurse, drooling over his abs instead of helping. Good thing he was a shifter, or he might’ve been in trouble.

She snickered, stepping out of the bath to dry off. Behaving around Ky? Unlikely. Her mind kept conjuring him naked, and it wouldn’t stop until she saw the real thing. Then she’d just refine her fantasies.

Slipping into shorts and a tank top, she buzzed with restless energy from that kiss. A walk might calm her enough to sleep. She laced up her trainers and headed for the creek, the full moon lighting her way.

A low rumble came from the water. Peeking around a tree, she gasped and ducked back, heart racing. Had she been seen? She stole another glance. A massive black bear rubbed its back against a trunk, kicking up leaves before ambling to the creek and leaping in.