Page 14 of Vegas Baby!

He was quiet for a few moments before asking, “Really? No one else?”

I shrugged. “Luke moved away before anything could happen, and I decided to focus on school and friends after that.”

“You’re sure you wouldn’t rather him in here?”

“Very sure. It feels too complicated with him, like I’ve disappointed him.”

“I’m sure that’s not the case, but I won’t complain about getting to be here instead.”

I hated having the memory of Andrew’s touch on my skin, of knowing his was the only mouth that had been on mine. I wanted all of that gone.

“Andrew was my first kiss,” I said quietly, hoping Jesse would understand what I wanted. “Myonly. I hate that, too.”

“Not to be presumptuous, but I feel like I need to ask if you’re trying to work around to a specific outcome from this conversation.”

I buried my face into the blankets. “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. It seemed like a good idea in my head to bring it up.” I wriggled around until I was facing him, the pupils of his hazel-green eyes blown wide in the dim lighting.

“Do you think you’re in the right state of mind for this conversation?”

“I know what I’m asking for. It would happen sooner or later since we’re scent matched, wouldn’t it?”

“Ava, nothing is sooner or later unless you want that to be the case. I don’t have any expectations.” He traced his fingertips over my cheek. “I’ll give you anything you want, but I’ll only kissyou because you want me, not because you’re trying to replace what you had before.”

I saw his resolve weaken when I pouted. “What makes you think I don’t want you? The timing might not be ideal, but it doesn’t change that fact.”

“You are a dangerous little omega. I should say no and give you more time. I don’t want to do anything you’ll regret come morning.”

It was only a kiss. I might have recently had my heart ripped out, but there was no time like the present to start healing when I couldn’t change what had happened. I didn’t want to entertain any thoughts about the life I thought I would have.

Fate was giving me a second chance. I wasn’t hauling out an engagement ring; I just wanted to know if Jesse would taste as good as he looked.

“I won’t regret it. I can’t make any guarantees about not being awkward, though.”

Jesse laughed quietly. “That makes two of us. Ask me again so I know that you mean it.”

“Kiss me. Just once.”

“Take the lead, sweetness. I have excellent self-control, but you’re turning yourself into a temptation.”

The whispering desire turned to a scream, a shudder rolling through me as he acknowledged that he wanted me. I couldn’t fuck up my life any harder than I had already. One kiss wouldn’t change all my other terrible decisions up to this point. This felt like I might be choosing correctly for the first time in years.

I curled my fingers into the collar of his shirt and dragged him closer, crashing my mouth against his. All of my instincts burst to life, my perfume erupting, and slick pooling between my thighs. Roasted chestnut filled every breath and bathed my tongue as I swept it into his mouth. The simple kiss careenedinto more than I’d asked for, heat zipping up my spine, my vision darkening as I tried to get even closer.

Jesse’s low groan had goosebumps rising on my skin. “Fuck, Ava, your scent turned to syrup. It smells like you’re going into heat.”

“How?” The word broke free between kisses I couldn’t stop claiming.

It didn’t make any sense, but I couldn’t deny that the sensations were disturbingly reminiscent of my last heat. My heartbeat pulsed through my entire body, sweat prickling my skin, every inch of me begging to be touched.

“Ava, sweetness, you’re going to send me into a rut. I have to leave or a lot more than you asked for is going to happen.”

Every instinct rebelled against that statement. I clung on as hard as I could. The depth of my desperate omega whine surprised me, the sound making his body taut, his fingers digging into my back.

“Don’t go,” I begged.

A soft knock at the door grabbed what little attention I could spare. “Ava, are you all right?”

I half recognized the voice, but my brain only remembered the cranberries and rum associated with it, not the name. A rush of desire rocked through me when I caught that scent as the door creaked open, and I whined again.

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