Eventually, I broke the silence. Clearing my throat, I raised a brow. “Well, what did you want to say?”
“I want to apologize,” he started. “I shouldn’t have left things the way I did.”
I shook my head. My voice was hard as I replied, “No, you shouldn’t have.”
He sighed. “Aileana, I—”
“No.” I held up my hand. “I need to say this, Xander. Youhurtme. You can’t just go around handing out mind-blowing kisses to people and then tell them you changed your mind!”
He smirked, his eyes gleaming as he leaned in closer to me. “You thought the kiss was mind-blowing?”
I snarled at him, placing my hands on my hips. “That’s what you got out of what I said?”
“I can’t help it if you think I’m a good kisser.” He shrugged.
I leaned in close to him, tucking my legs underneath myself as I hovered within a foot from his mouth. He sucked in a deep breath, and I could smell him. The deep, smokey scent that he seemed to carry around with him wafted towards me, and I willed myself not to melt into his arms right then and there. My voice lowered, and I held his gaze as I whispered, “I don’t think you’re a good kisser.”
It was the truth. Mind-blowingly incredible at kissing? Yes. Fantastic? Yes. Experienced? Also yes.
When Xander kissed me, nothing else in the world mattered. I knew I was inexperienced. I was painfully aware of the fact. It pained me to think about Xander pressing his lips, his body against that of some other female. If anything, the past week had given me ample opportunity to bemoan my inexperience.
Xander tensed, his gaze lowering to my mouth. His voice was husky as he asked, “Is that so?”
I leaned in closer, my heart racing as our bodies practically touched. Gulping, I lied through my teeth as I said, “It is so.”
A half-strangled noise that was entirelymaleescaped him as he stared at me. I held his gaze, opening my mouth. A rumbling began in his chest as we remained there, inches from each other.
“Xander,” I whispered, hoping he couldn’t hear the way my heart was pounding in my chest.
“Aileana?”
I leaned in until we were all but touching. The air between us felt electrified. Heat was coming off him in waves and my stomach clenched in anticipation.
“Xander,” I whispered, “I need you…”
“Yes?”
I licked my lips, never breaking eye contact. “I need you to tell me why you said we couldn’t kiss. Tell me why you’ve been avoiding me.”
His eyes widened for a moment before his expression shuttered. He sucked in a deep breath. “Fine.”
I sat back, just enough to give him room to think. “Go ahead.” I waved a hand in the air, tucking my legs underneath myself. “I’m listening.”
Xander groaned, rubbing his hand over his eyes. “Goddess, you are so much. I was avoiding you because… because…”
His voice trailed off as his eyes grew soft.
“Go on,” I prodded. “Tell me why you avoided me, Elyx.”
I don’t know what prompted me to say his name, but when I did, it was like a barrier shattered between us.
Xander sucked in a deep breath, pushing himself to his feet. His face contorted and his eyes widened as though he was in physical pain as he ran his hands through his hair. He turned around, slamming his fist into a tree, before returning to glare at me.
“You want to know why I’ve been avoiding you?” he snarled.
“Yes!” I yelled. “I need to know.”
Xander’s voice rang out through the clearing. “I’ve been avoiding you because you’re my goddess-damnedmate, Aileana. Do you even understand what that means?” He snarled, baring his canines and widening his eyes as a flash of green went across his pupils. “You. Are. My. Mate.”