Chapter Thirty Seven - He Kissed Me and I Liked It - Maya's POV

My mind screams for me to stop this, that I still have time to protect myself. But when his lips part against mine, deepening the kiss, all my resistance crumbles once more. I'm fighting a losing battle and I know it. Another soft sound escapes me, and I feel his growl answering me, reverberating in his chest. His fingers slowly trail up, threading in my hair and tilting my head back as he takes full control. It's almost as if he has been waiting forever for this moment to happen. Maybe it's just like he said. I was born to be his. And maybe he really has been waiting for me all this time. What is even scarier is I think I might have been waiting too. His grip tightens on his other hand as he kisses me deeper, his warmth sinking into me fully again. My heart beats so loudly that I can hear it in my ears, drowning out everything with a thunderous roar. His free hand roams up my side, claiming me in the most possessive way I know. But then there's a throat clearing in the hallway and I'm reminded the door was never shut. We both freeze, our lips a mere inch apart. Slowly, he pulls back, heaving himself off me. His golden eyes darken with frustration. We both sit up and he grabs my hand in his, tracing circles with his thumb. I'm breathless and dazed, still caught in the fire of the kiss we shared. 'So, I'm still here, alpha," Ethan's voice drifts into the room, sounding somewhat amused. The reality of the situation crashes down on me like a roaring tidal wave crashing against the shore. My head slowly turns toward his voice, and sure enough, he's standing there with his arms crossed over his chest with a grin. His face is way too smug for my liking. He heard everything. Heat floods my face out of embarrassment as I shove at Damian, forcing space between us now that I know eyes are on us and have been. 'You left the door open?" I ask, almost hissing. He laughs as his fingers twitch against my hand. 'Get. Out." Ethan's grin grows wider. 'Hey, don't blame me. I was just making sure she wasn't trying to escape again. Didn't realize she'd be running right into your arms and that I'd find her beneath you as you almost -" 'Oh, no," I whisper as I pull my hand free from Damian's and reach up to cover my face. 'I was going to intervene sooner, but you seemed to be enjoying yourself with all the moaning I heard," he says, chuckling. Damian gets off the bed in one swift motion and I can see Ethan backing up as I look out between my fingers. 'Hey, I'm going. I'm leaving. You know we just like to have a little fun. It's not like we don't all nag each other for being too loud with our hearing. Come on, it's just a joke." Once he's completely out in the hallway, I hear him laughing even more. 'Maybe you need to lock the door next time, alpha." Damian slams the door shut between them with a heavy sigh. Silence fills the room,, and I slowly lower my hands from my face to meet his gaze. His expression isn't like it was. 'Forget that happened," I whisper. His lips pull into a smirk. 'Not a chance, my sweet." I groan as I turn away from him and press my hands against my burning face again. 'Well, I can never leave this room again. You don't have to worry about me escaping anymore." He only laughs as he comes back toward the bed, his steps lighter than a moment ago. 'Tempting, but you have to let me in to see you. I'm only next door, so we can use the door between our rooms to see each other without others noticing." When I turn to look at him, he's trying so hard to fight back his laughter. 'This isn't funny." He takes a slow, deliberate step toward me, closing the distance between us. His golden eyes focus on me again. 'It is a little funny, especially when it's all wolf shifters here. Anyone could hear us across the estate. We all hear each other." I cross my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling exposed though I'm fully clothed. 'You're enjoying this way too much. And what do you mean, you all hear each other?" Damian shrugs, but the smirk never leaves. 'I find it amusing how frustrated you get about stuff like this. We have all learned to let go of embarrassment. It's hard when we have such great hearing, so there is nothing we miss." 'Once again, I'm going to ask you, what do you mean by that?" His gaze narrows on my face. 'What do you think it means? If we all have great hearing and can hear across the estate, don't you think we hear what goes on in everyone's private bedrooms?" My face goes pale. 'You can't be serious?" 'Well, when the moon is high and everyone is in the mood, no one really cares." 'So, they can hear when we -" He just grins. 'You kissed me back, you know?" I stiffen, my mouth opening to protest, but nothing comes out because he's right. I kissed him back and enjoyed every minute of him, just like he did. Even now, I can feel the ghost of his lips on mine, begging for more. 'I wouldn't have if I knew the door was wide open, which probably made it easier for everyone to hear." He leans down, one hand resting on each side of me on the bed. 'This tells me that if the door wasn't open, you would have continued, right? If Ethan hadn't interrupted us, you would have wanted more?" My breath barely comes out because of the squeezing I feel in my chest. 'That's what I thought." 'You are too cocky, especially for someone who forgot to lock the door and at least give me a false sense of security." Damian looks unbothered, and it drives me insane. 'I was a little distracted," he says, smiling. 'I hate you," I whisper." 'No, you don't," he counters and leans forward to gently peck a kiss to my lips. When he pulls back, I just stare at him. He's right. I don't hate him. Finally, he straightens and rubs one hand over his face. 'Get some rest, Maya. Tomorrow, you're not leaving my sight. I hope you know that." 'And what does that mean?" I ask as I move up on the bed toward the side. 'Wherever I go, you go. You won't be leaving my side." He walks to the door and pulls it open. I stare at him as my stomach twists. 'That doesn't sound good." He only smiles when he glances back at me. 'No, little mate. It's protection, and it's time you learn what it's like to live among wolf shifters." And then, without another word, he steps out and closes the door between us. I collapse onto the bed and roll over to bury my face in the pillow. What just happened and why did I like it?