Page 19 of Vows of Betrayal

That I was making him hard.

And that was doing strange things to my body. Like my nipples hardened and my lower belly grew achy.

“You have to accept that Giselle and Eve are in my life.” His voice was low and calm—laced with something very intense. I just had no idea what that intensity was.

“I really don't care,” I lied. Because even at this early moment—I knew I cared who Stefan kissed. And I cared a lot. “Kiss whoever you want, Stefan,” I said half-heartedly.

Said it.

Didn't mean it.

The smexy grin on his lips widened. “Oh, I intend to, Chesca. I fucking intend to.” His gaze trailed over my face and then he said, “Only one time I regretted not kissing someone. And that came back to bite me,” he spoke to me, but I obviously had no idea what he was talking about. His eyes landed on my lips. “Waited too long. Not going to make that mistake again, Chesca.”

And then—

He pulled my head closer and—

Kissed me.

It shocked me so much I immediately tried to pull back. But Stefan's hold was too strong. Just like his lips.

They were forceful. Just like his tongue. He instantly plunged into my mouth—and I had no clue how to deal with that. I'd never been kissed before, let alone plundered like this.

The kiss Stefan was giving me wasn't nice and sweet.

Nope.

He meant business.

Business that I knew nothing about.

I gasped and floundered, my hands gripping his shoulders. His tongue retreated and then re-entered. Calmer. Nicer.

I tried to copy what he was doing with his tongue until I kind of got the hang of it. This was all new to me. I really, really hoped I was doing it correctly.

Stefan didn't seem to mind.

Nope.

He appeared to be—very—into our kiss.

“Fuck, you taste so good. So sweet.” His tongue did a longer, deeper sweep of my mouth. “You're fuckin' sweet, aren't you, Chesca?”

He stopped kissing me for a moment and pulled back, gazing at me with half-lidded eyes. “You're sweet, right? Tell me you're fuckin' sweet.” His voice was all forceful and gravely.

I didn't understand what he meant by sweet. But he was definitely waiting for an answer from me. And I was definitely ready to start kissing him again.

“Yes, Stefan. I'm sweet,” I barely got out before his mouth was on mine again.

And I loved it.

I felt like I was contributing to the kiss now. Not like at first.

No, now our kiss was definitely a back and forth, equal opportunity interaction.

“Look what you're doing to me, Chesca.” He found my hand and dragged it down his stomach to his—

Holy crap.