Chapter 24

24

J inx couldn’t help it; she burst into laughter, slumping against Mikhail’s perfectly muscled chest. “Yes,” she agreed. “We most certainly are.”

Mikhail wrapped his arms around her, rocking from side to side. “What are we going to do?”

She knew Mikhail was talking about them, but she gave him the answer he needed—not the answer he wanted. “Stop Z before it’s too late.”

She felt the rise and fall of his chest when he inhaled deeply, his cheek settling atop her head. Without thought, she made a chuffing sound deep in her throat. It was her tiger’s version of a purr. Big cats like lions, jaguars and tigers couldn’t actually purr. Roaring and purring were mutually exclusive. But her tiger was still well-equipped to let her satisfaction show.

Mikhail grumbled happily. “Your tiger likes me.”

“Of course she does,” Jinx acknowledged with a grin. She pulled back to look at his handsome face. “She wants me to shift now so she can make biscuits.”

Mikhail smiled, his green eyes sparkling. “I’d love to see her.”

Jinx realised he’d never seen her shifted form before. As tempting as it was, she pushed her tiger back down. She was currently in Mikhail’s bed, feeling all comfy. She did not need her primal side surfacing, so she shook her head. He didn’t press, and she found herself tracing the veins in his forearm and wrist. “I love these.”

Mikhail looked surprised. “My veins?”

She hadn’t meant to say that out loud but refused to take it back. “Yes. They’re sexy.”

Mikhail groaned, the sound coming from deep in his chest. “Jinx …”

It was a warning, and they both knew it. But she wasn’t sure she cared. “Kiss me,” she demanded, speaking what was in her heart.

“Jinx …” This time, it was a plea.

“I jumped off a cliff tonight,” she reminded him. “I think I’m entitled to a little request. I want to know what it’s like. Just once. Please, kiss me, Mikhail.”

Mikhail hesitated, and Jinx’s heart pounded. His eyes glimmered in the dim light of his bedroom, indecision swirling in their depths. He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away, but she remained still, her breath quickening.

Their lips met softly at first, a tentative brush that sent electricity coursing through them both. Jinx's eyes fluttered closed as Mikhail cupped her face gently, his calloused fingers caressing her cheek. The kiss deepened, and Jinx felt as though she were melting into him, her body alive with sensations she'd never experienced before. His lips were warm and surprisingly soft, tasting faintly of mint and something uniquely him.

Her hands slid up his chest and around his neck almost of their own accord. Her fingers weaved into his hair and twisted in the silky strands as she pulled him closer, desperate to prolong the moment. A small, involuntary sound escaped her as their kiss grew deeper, more passionate. Her heart hammered in her chest, each beat a deafening roar in her ears. She could feel Mikhail's breathing grow ragged and could sense the conflict within him even as he surrendered. Every touch, every movement was a revelation, a rush of new and confusing emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

Just when she thought she couldn't take any more, that she might actually burst from the intensity of it all, Mikhail pulled back. Their lips parted reluctantly, leaving her breathless and trembling. Her eyes fluttered open slowly as if waking from a dream, and she stared at him, dazed. She felt a tangled web of emotions: longing and fear, hope and despair, each fighting for dominance. She bit her lower lip, hoping the pain might help her make sense of what she truly wanted.

Him, she thought. I want Mikhail.

Mikhail studied her, saying nothing. He ran a hand through his hair, dishevelling the already messy locks, and stood up, creating a chasm between them. The silence was heavy, laden with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

Jinx's heart sank. She knew this was dangerous territory and that she was treading on thin ice. Yet, a part of her hoped he would seize her again, that the kiss would have unlocked something in him, something in them . She swallowed hard, her throat tight with unshed tears.

“Jinx,” Mikhail finally said, his voice rough and low. “We can’t.”

She nodded dully. “I know. You have responsibilities, and I’m fucked up emotionally.”

“Our initial reasons are still relevant, but that’s not what I meant. If I don’t stop now, I never will,” Mikhail said, his voice cracking with the weight of his confession. “I only have so much control, and you’re stripping it from me. If you want me to honour your decision, I need to leave. What’s it going to be?”

Jinx's mind raced, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions colliding violently. She wished she was brave enough to tell him to stay, to take the risk and see where it would lead them. A big part of her wanted that—wanted him and what they could have together. She imagined a future where they were more than just friends, where stolen moments like this were the norm and not the exception. But a bigger part of her was too scared. Scared of the changes, of the complications, and of the consequences.

The silence stretched, each second an eternity as she battled with herself. His eyes never left her, pleading, waiting, hoping. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and then tried again. “Go,” she whispered.

Mikhail lingered for a moment as if giving her one last chance to change her mind, then turned and walked out. The door closed softly behind him, and Jinx collapsed onto Mikhail’s bed, her body wracked with silent sobs.