“Say my name again,” he murmured. I felt my eyebrows wrinkle in confusion.
“What, why?”
“Mara,” he said my name softly. My heart beat like it was trying to break out of my ribcage.
“How are you…?”
“Mara,” he said again, leaning in closer. Something about the shape of his lips when he said the second syllable was so enticing. I wasn’t sure why, but I also wanted to hear him say my name more.
“I should go.” My voice was unsure, weak. I didn’t actually want to leave, but I felt like that would have been the reasonable response.
“Mara,” he whispered my name one more time. Our lips were just inches from each other. I’d never be the type to kiss a stranger, nor one who was babbling on about lost kingdoms, but I wanted to kiss him.
“Simeth,” I let his name slip over my tongue.
He closed the space between us.
Lips pressed firmly against each other; my mind whited out the way it did only when I was coming. It was blissful, sweet, surprising, and I wished we weren’t in public. My hands cupped his face, feeling the sharp of his jawline and the slight stubble that covered it.
Simeth’s hands found my hips. His palms were hot and greedy, and I could feel his body heat through my shirt. Tilting my head, I deepened the kiss and was pleased when our tongues slid against each other. I wanted—needed—more, but the sound of a car driving past pulled me out of the moment.
“What is this?” I gasped as I pressed back away from him. Both of us were breathing heavily, and I was fighting the wish to take this further.
“You’re my fated mate.” His voice was unflinching at how bizarre of a sentence that was.
“Those don’t exist,” I said, trying to recall an article I’d read more than a year ago. “It was something made up to let shifters avoid arranged marriage.”
He chuckled. “Fated mates are real.”
The sound of his laugh shocked me; it was hot and charming.
He’d appeared so serious until then that I hadn’t been sure hecouldlaugh.
I was giving in.
“How can you prove the kingdom exists?”
“I can take you there.” His voice slipped back to its regular tone.
“How can I be sure you’re not going to kidnap me, or kill me, or something…” I let my voice trail off. If I left gran alone in the world because of my own selfish whims, I’d never forgive myself.
“You can tell people my name or take pictures of me,” he offered.
“I already have a picture of you from yesterday,” I reminded him. It was a little embarrassing, but I took the picture to protect myself. “I’ll send it to a friend, and this location since I don’t suppose your kingdom has an address I can send through.”
“It wouldn’t be hidden if it did.” He looked a little impatient. My lips were still buzzing with his kiss as I tried to focus and send through the message. I needed to know more, needed to understand why he affected me like this.
“Sent.” I slid my phone into my pocket. “How soon can we go?”