I’d never done for anyone else in my life, nor would I ever. Because as far as I was concerned, Pris was it.

Tense silence blanketed the room. And then, Pris pressed her cheek against my hand, closing her eyes.

Drained, I pulled her into my arms and held her.

With a sudden jerk, she pulled back — only to press her hot mouth against mine.

My legs almost gave way as she kissed me, kissed away the pain I’d just sliced open, kissed away the embarrassment at being so insecure about the man that I was —her kiss healed.

It didn’t take.

It gave.

Shaking, I lifted her into my arms and carried her to the couch, laying her flat on her back so I could lie next to her and just… kiss her, play with her hair, touch her — as long as it involved her I was all in.

Our mouths nipped and sucked, alternating between pushing and teasing. Every kiss was new, exciting, as if I’d never actually kissed a girl until this moment in my life.

My hands instinctively went to her hips, dragging her body closer to mine as I hovered over her.

“You’re not going to disappear on me again, are you?” Pris asked, briefly pulling her mouth from mine.

“Not a chance in hell,” I muttered, taking her lips between my teeth. “You’d have to kill me.”

“I almost did earlier.”

“All you had to do was ask and I would have jumped off a cliff for you.” I slid my tongue into her mouth then pulled it back out. “I would do anything for you.”

“Good.” Her back arched as my hand slid up her side. “Because I’ve been dying to get an autographed poster for months.”

Our teeth hit from both of us laughing. I gave the side of her ass a firm slap and shook my head. “I’ll sign every damn poster in your room if you promise to let me sleep on the left.”

“What is it with you and the left?” She tried to get up, but I pushed her down, nipping her lips with small kisses then doing the same to her cheeks, her eyelids. I tugged her shirt over her shoulders. My mouth met creamy smooth skin and I almost died.

“I just like the left. Besides you sleep on your right and I sleep on my left, meaning when I wake up…” I licked the spot I’d just kissed. “…I wake up to you.”

She let out a sigh as my mouth moved to her neck and then blew in her ear.

“I love waking up to you.”

“Funny, I thought whores couldn’t go out in the sunlight.”

“Vampires.” I tugged her ear with my teeth. “But I understand why you’d be confused since I’m a badass.”

“Werewovles,” she blurted. “More of a werewolf fan.”

“Remind me to take that werewolf script.” I laughed into her hair, breathing hard from exerting myself so much. I’d never carried on a conversation with a girl while kissing her.

I was in uncharted territory.

And I was so damn nervous I was shaking.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m nervous,” I said honestly, then pulled back to look into her eyes. “I’ve never done this before.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Isn’t that my line?”

“No.” I tilted her chin so I could kiss her mouth again. Her lips would be the death of me. “I’ve never kissed a girl without it leading anywhere. I’ve never, um…” Shit, my face felt red. “Made out.”

Her grin widened as she wrapped her arms around my neck and jerked me against her. My entire body went rigid with pent-up frustration — with want.

“Well, allow me to demonstrate.” Her voice was husky. “First you kiss me, and then…” her hands inched down my naked chest. “You may or may not touch me.”

“Touching.” I gripped her hips. “Right.”

“And there’s always tongue.” She licked my lips, the minx.

“God, I love your tongue.”

“And sometimes there’s more. Clothing may come off… Then again, you’re already in nothing but boxer briefs.”

I smirked. “Vulnerable, love. It’s called being vulnerable, not naked.”

“Is that what we‘re calling it?”

“Yes,” I said seriously. “With you, always.”

“With anyone else?” Her eyes searched mine.

I kissed her nose. “Never.”

Deep brown eyes met my gaze as her hands closed over mine and then slowly slid them underneath her shirt.

Cursing, I closed my eyes as my fingers memorized every damn curve, every goose bump they came into contact with.

When my thumbs grazed her bra. I stopped.

Pris smiled.

“You shouldn’t tempt the devil.”

“I don’t see a devil,” she whispered. “I see… you. Only you.”

My eyes blurred for a moment, as if they were struggling to take in her beauty — my body trembled — unable to accept the compliment for what it was.

Swallowing against the dryness in my throat, I gently pulled her against me — trembling as my mouth met hers more urgently than before, no longer asking permission but pouring my freaking soul into every touch, every caress.

She shivered.

When my tongue touched hers, I lost complete control of my senses. My body demanded that I prove to her what I felt words couldn’t express, but I was torn, because at the same time, I didn’t want a repeat of my past.

I wanted a new beginning.