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Ignoring my inhibitions, I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and drag his mouth to mine.

Noah growls, his hands on me in an instant. Softly possessive, he clutches my waist, his fingers digging into the thin cotton of my T-shirt.

I gasp as he backs me into the counter, yanking him closer.

The kiss is hot and reckless. I run my fingers through his hair, weaving them through the short strands, enjoying the way his hands move over my back in response.

He breaks away, feathering kisses along my jaw.

“I missed you,” he murmurs against my skin.

I swallow, emotions claiming me. “I missed you, too.”

When our mouths meet again, the spark between us fans into a flame. I gasp when Noah draws my bottom lip between his teeth. In response, he makes a deep, dark noise, and his hands tighten on my back, dragging me against him.

We’ve lost control and are racing toward dangerous territory.

Suddenly, Noah pulls back, hanging his head between us and breathing hard, holding me like he doesn’t want me to move. “Fangs, sorry,” he manages. “Just a minute.”

I hold my breath and then slowly exhale. I’m two bites away from being a final-stage creature of the night, and Noah carries the key to the darkness.

This is such a bad idea.

And I don’t care.

When he looks up, his eyes are cautious. More, they’re worried.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, bringing my hand to his jaw and running my thumb over his cheek.

He sighs, leaning into my touch. “It bothers you, though.”

“Does it seem like it bothers me?” I raise my eyebrows, needing to make a point.

Laughing softly, he backs up to look at me better. “It used to. Vampires are ‘gross,’ remember?”

“I had a limited pool from which to draw my conclusion,” I laugh. “Besides, you can sense my heartbeat. You know it’s not bothering me right now.”

Noah runs a hand through his already disheveled hair. “Maybe it’s racing because you’re terrified.”

“Not of you.”

“Of something, though?”

“Me, mostly. I’m worried I might make a bad decision.”

His eyes darken. “What kind of decision?”

“The kind where I beg you to bite me.”

His hand tightens against me, but he gives me a lazy grin like he’s unaffected. “This conversation just got a little scandalous.”

“It’s only weird if you make it weird,” I joke softly, stealing Olivia’s line.

“I’m not going to bite you, Piper,” he swears, suddenly solemn.

“What if I ask you to?”

“I won’t.”