Page 157 of Piece You Saved

Dariel peers over his shoulder. “All packs take time to grow together and learn to be together.” His eyes move to Harley. “Harley needs just you. Maybe things will change in the future, but for right now, this is the way it needs to be.”

I part my lips to argue.

And then I close my mouth without saying a word because he’s right. This thing between Harley and me is too new. Kade, Dariel, and Aden had time to grow together. I’m still learning how to be with them, and I think I need time to learn how to be with Harley too.

I nod. “I understand.”

A brief flare of amusement warms his emerald-green stare. “Aden was right. You’re a lot like Kade, but you definitely use your head more.”

Kade is snarling and Aden is laughing as Dariel pulls the door closed behind them. Their footsteps retreat away from my door and down the stairs.

As the seconds tick by, I feel Harley’s attention like a soft kiss on my cheek. My heart races and goosebumps prickle my skin as I wait for what comes next.

His fingers touch my chin, and he closes one large hand around my hip to turn me to face him. “So, Jane, do you still want to shove me out of the window?”

He’s not smiling anymore. Neither am I.

I swallow hard and shake my head. I never wanted to shove him out of the window. I didn’t want to hurt the Hounds who have given me so much already. Things I never believed I would ever have: a home, family, a fresh start.

Love.

I didn’t want to throw it all away by wanting Harley too.

I’ve had so many firsts. Not all of them have been good firsts. In fact, they’ve been bad because of Rylan and his packmates.

Harley is staring down at me in a way that’s making me think he’s about to give me something I’ve never had before. Something new. Something good.

He lowers his head, inch by inch, and slides his hand around the nape of my neck. The pads of his fingers are hot against my skin. I stop breathing. My belly tightens and clenches. My entire body holds still, caught in this moment, as I wait for him to touch his lips to mine.

He smells good. Better than good. Of man, clean sweat, and the woody and sweet orange cologne I love so much.

His mouth moves closer.

I lower my gaze and start breathing again as I lift both hands to grip the front of his shirt.

He pauses, maybe an inch away. “Jane?” he whispers. “You still with me, or do I need to boop you?”

I’d laugh if I didn’t want to grab him and never let him go.

I stroke my hand up his chest, curve it around his nape, and rise to my tiptoes so I can touch my lips to his.

For a beat, he does nothing else. Until he releases a soft, husky sound that could be a sigh, a groan, or mean a million different things.

For one, two, three seconds, our lips cling. I let my eyelids flutter closed as I absorb the firm press of his lips on mine.

He breaks away, his breathing unsteady as he rests his brow on mine. “I never realized two days could feel like two years.”

I know exactly how he feels.

I lift my head. He moves at the same time as if he knew. Our lips find each other again, cling a little longer as I angle mine and he angles his. We find the right angle. The perfect one. The one that makes me want this kiss to last forever.

He groans again. I think I do too, because I think—no, Iknow—I want more of this.

As he kisses me, he backs me up until my thighs hit the edge of the bed. When I sit down, he follows, and we work ourselves up the bed, moving in perfect harmony. Almost as if we’ve lived this moment before. Maybe we have? Who knows?

My head hits the pillow and we stop. Harley makes a soft sound in the back of his throat, breaks the kiss, and peers down at me.

I drag huge gulps of air into my parched lungs. “Harley?”

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