Excerpt of Juniper's Princess by Chelsea O'Neal

"I would like to be with you as you learn to trust me again,”” he says after a moment of silence and I frown, wondering what exactly he means.

"What do you mean?”” I finally sputter out, after trying to find the right way to phrase my question.

"I would like to be with you, by your side, as your potential bond,”” he says, sounding confident though his eyes give away his nerves.

Is he asking me out?

"Are you asking me out, I mean like as my boyfriend?”” I ask slowly.

He frowns at me this time then looks as if he is searching for a word. “

“For humans, is a boyfriend the same as a lover?”” he asks and I feel my cheeks flame with his direct question.

I clear my throat. "Ah, yes, that would be correct.””

He grins then nods. "Then yes, I would like to be your boyfriend.”

"What would you call us then, if Zoku doesn’’t use the term boyfriend?”” I wonder out loud, still feeling heat in my cheeks.

"What do you mean call us?”” he asks, looking confused.

"Well, are we dating? Are we a couple?”” I ask, just throwing phrases out. "If another guy so much as looks at me, are you going to flip out?”” I ask, grinning now because he looks so cute with the confusion written all over his face.

He frowns down at me for a moment then shrugs. "I would say we are lovers,”” he answers bluntly and my mouth drops open again.

He reaches over and gently closes my mouth for me, but promptly presses his lips against mine. I sink into his kiss and am amazed at the depth of emotion I have. I wrap my arms around his neck and feel the length of his body against mine.