Page 29 of The Fate of Eternity

“Don’t say my dick and ruin my wholesome speech, Alpha,” he interjects with a knowing glint in his eyes, and I grin.

He knows me better than I can bring myself to admit.

Inching in closer so our breaths mingle between us, he continues. “I fucking love your humor, your secret smiles, your mind, your body… everything, but more than that, I’m obsessed with learning everything possible. And the excitement of exploring you will forever leave me at your mercy. I want to know every part of you, inside and out. With my mind, my body, my everything.”

Holy fuck.

“Cass—” I croak, emotions clogging in my throat as I blink up at him, but he presses a finger to my lips, halting me from breathing another word.

“Not yet.” A softness settles in his eyes as he presses a kiss to my forehead. But just as quickly as he does it, he retreats, fixating on my eyes once again. “I left my compound before I even knew you existed, but I know it was for you. I know we’re nowhere near done on this crazy spiral that is apparently called life, but I know I’m on the right path with you.”

How am I even supposed to consider an appropriate response to that? How am I ever supposed to express a single thing after that?

“You sound smitten,” I mutter, at a loss for anything else, and the grin that spreads across his face is like nothing I’ve ever seen from him before.

“I fucking am, but don’t use that humor of yours to mask the beauty that rests between us.”

Well, damn. Apparently, he’s more than a grumpy face and hot body after all. He’s everything and more and I don’t know how to comprehend it. What I know for sure is he’s here with me, for me, and I know I couldn’t do this without him.

Words betray me once again as I lift my hand to cup his cheek. “You’re a handful.”

“Maybe, but as long as I’m yours and you’re mine, I don’t care.”

14

ADRIANNA

Morning sun peers through the window as contentment clings to me. I can’t believe I can openly admit that Cassian was right, but he was. I needed this. More than he’ll ever know. With Janie’s help, I’m at peace with my wolf while honing in on my fae abilities, too. To be around another wolf, a female one no less, who withholds judgment and any other bullshit, and instead purposely helps to make me comfortable in my own skin is a rare gift.

With my new abilities, I can hear the fluttering of Cassian’s heartbeat from where he lays beside me. His rich, woodsy scent lingers in my nose as my pulse quickens with every passing breath.

Last night was… weirdly special.

I couldn’t find a single word last night that compared to what he offered me, and eventually, I gave up trying. It was pointless. I’ll know the words when they’re there, and they will be, just not when I’m so swept away by him.

For the first time last night, he cupped my pussy and didn’t fuck me. Instead, he penetrated me with heartfelt words Iwasn’t expecting as opposed to his dick. Words that settled any concerns as his eyes bore into mine.

With a full stomach and a full heart, I showered before we slipped beneath the crisp sheets on his bed, and I got to witness the affection of a touchy-feely wolf while having the same need coursing through my veins.

I spent the night pinned along the length of him from head to toe, reveling in our connection as he draped me in his heat. If he moved, so did I. If I moved, he did the same. Instead of blustering under his warmth, I was enthralled by it.

I’m enthralled by him, just as I am with Kryll, Raiden, and Brody. Accepting it more and more every day is both a blessing and a distracting curse, but it’s worth it nonetheless.

“How long have you been awake?” His question catches me off-guard as I peer at him. His eyes are shut, but I can sense the slight change in the sound of his heartbeat confirming he’s awake.

“How do you know I am with your eyes shut?” I push back, a soft smile curling the corner of my mouth as I stare at him.

“Because I can hear the cogs turning in your head from over here.”Ass. His eyes open and he takes me in, cocking a brow a moment later. “What are you thinking about?”

I consider brushing him off, but really, it’s futile. Instead, I sigh. “I’ve just been thinking about the changes I feel.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He seems surprised at the truth sliding from my mouth so easily, but a hint of caution flashes in his eyes. “Good changes?”

I scoff. “They better be because I’m stuck with them whether I like it or not,” I retort, earning a half smile before a serious look washes over his features, and he shuffles us around until we’re lying side by side, face to face.

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