9. Chapter Nine

Rip

It"s as if the universe conspired to get Rose and me to this exact moment in time and space. The rushing water of the falls, the call of the birds, the sunlight dappling down on us through the canopy of leaves. And Rose, my Rose, looking up at me with raw emotion on her face.

I can"t hold back anymore. Stepping closer, I cup her face in my hands and wait. She"s like a shy forest animal. The last thing I want is to rush this moment after having waited over a hundred years for it.

She doesn"t pull away, doesn"t break our gaze. I accept her tacit permission and reward her with a small smile.

Leaning closer, I press my lips to hers gently, savoring the feel of her softness against mine. Her lips part for me, allowing me access to her sweet mouth. She tastes like honey and wildflowers, and I"m filled with a warmth that radiates through my body.

The kiss is gentle yet passionate. We"re so connected, the moment is so profound. I hold her tighter, afraid I"ll lose my footing because I"m falling. Falling for Rose.

I just met her, yet it"s as though I"ve known her forever. What did I dream about for a century? Perhaps it was her—the one thing that could bring me back to life in all ways imaginable.

The moment crackles between us as our kiss deepens and I explore her mouth with my tongue, tasting a faint hint of sweetness on her lips. My hands slide to her waist and pull her close against me so she can feel how much she affects me as we kiss in this secluded paradise.

Her response is to stand her ground rather than shy away. She may not have been fully ready for this kiss when she agreed to it, but she"s an equal participant now.

Her hands lodge on my shoulders, her fingers gripping me tight, refusing to let me go. Her hardened nipples graze my chest through both our layers of clothes. The softest moan, barely more than a breath, escapes her lips. I swallow it down.

I coax her tongue to dance with mine. It feels so right, as if our bodies and tongues have been playing together for years in the wilds of space and time.

Her warmth radiates from her, washing over me. Her scent is like a sunny embrace, sweet and inviting, beckoning me closer still, though the only way for us to get closer is for one of us to crawl under the other's skin.

The kiss continues as our breathing becomes shorter and more labored. I'm intoxicated by the flowery scent of her skin, the feel of her body against mine. My senses are alive with pleasure.

We break away when our desire threatens to overwhelm us, our foreheads resting together while we catch our breath, inhaling each other's exhalations, each other's passion.

I look into Rose's eyes once again. They're filled with wonder and passion—the same emotions coursing through my veins right now. We share a small smile before she grips my hands, takes a pace back, pierces me with her emerald gaze, and says, "That was terrifying."

My heart slams in my chest, but not because I feel rejected. I simply nod, waiting for her to continue. Something more wonderful than the kiss is coming. My Rose is going to allow me a peek into her heart.

"This is crazy." She shakes her head, then spears me with her gaze, waiting for me to argue with her. How could I insist what's happening between us is sane when she's talking to a man who's over a hundred years old?

"Yes. Crazy." I can't let that statement stand, though. I add, "And wonderful."

She gives me a smile and a nod. "I'll agree." Her demeanor turns serious as she glances through the leaves overhead and says, "It will be getting dark soon. How about you hold my hand, walk me home, and I tell you a little about Rose Bennett?"