Page 69 of Soul Fated

“Callista—”

“And it’s not because I haven’t thought about it. I have. The moment I felt a pull toward you, I listed every reason why it would be a terrible idea. But then I walked back into this empty room and envisioned stepping back into my old life…”

I ran my hands over her healed skin. “It would be different. You wouldn’t be in pain.”

She shook her head. “Yes I would.” Callista pushed up on her tip toes and kissed the underside of my jaw. “You’re right. We’ve seen each other at our worst. Maybe that’s a gift.”

My head was thick, the scent of her hijacking my rational mind. “How could it be a gift?”

She pressed her hand against the base of my throat. “We have nothing to hide from each other.”

I worked to catch my breath. “I can’t give you promises. I don’t know what my life will look like—who I’ll be.”

Callista nodded, but she didn’t back away. "I don't need promises, Kael. I only need one."

Chapter

Thirty-Four

Callista

Blake’s truck sounded in the drive and we stood there silent, staring at each other. My wolf paced, ready to leap out of my skin. She needed him the way plants needed water. It was primal. Carnal. Spiritual. The thrill of it sent shivers down my spine.

The front door opened. “Callista?”

“Yeah!” I called out, never breaking my gaze.

Blake tromped down the hall. “Are you okay?”

“Mmhmm. Just going to bed.”

Blake shuffled his weight, and the floorboards creaked. “There’s an extra set of boots at the front door. I?—”

“They’re mine, Blake.”

He was silent a moment. “They’re huge.”

Kael raised an eyebrow, and I stifled a laugh. “Yep. A friend of mine left them in Lana’s truck.”

“Got it.” Blake sighed. “Do you need anything?”

“Go to sleep, Blake.”

He walked back down the hall. “Goodnight.”

“‘Night.”

Kael waited until he heard dishes clattering in the sink before lifting me off the floor and throwing me on the bed.

“Shh!” I laughed, but Kael’s hand was already at the waistband of my jeans.

“Off,” he whispered. He flicked open the button, and I yanked them over my hips. He pulled them off and threw them on the floor.

Kael stripped off his shirt and lay down next to me, pulling me against him. My body responded like a magnet, pressing against the hard planes of his chest. I wanted to drown in his scent as he lowered his head and pressed his lips against the nape of my neck.

His lips were everywhere. Dragging over my collarbone, my jaw, then finally over my mouth. He tasted of mint as his tongue teased mine, and I moaned. His grip on my hips tightened as he rolled his hips against mine.

The urge to tear off his clothes, to feel his bare skin against mine warred with my desire to savor every second. I let my hands wander, exploring the muscles of his back as he moved against me.

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