Phei's shock lasted exactly half a second. Then something older, hungrier, and infinitely darker woke up inside him.
He kissed her back like he'd been starving for it—fierce and messy and human, nothing polished about it.
Their mouths crashed together hard enough that her lower lip caught against his tooth for a second, a sharp little sting that made her gasp into him. He didn't pull away; instead he softened just enough to soothe the spot with his tongue, then took her mouth again deeper, hungrier, like he couldn't decide whether to hurt her or heal her and settled for both.
His tongue slid against hers—hot, slick, a little desperate—pushing in, retreating, chasing. She gave it back just as messy,licking into his mouth, tasting the faint bite of a sweet beverage still on him, moaning softly when he sucked on her tongue like he wanted to keep it.
Her lips felt swollen already, tender and pulsing, but she pressed closer anyway, needing more.
