Page 35 of Called By Fate

Reed cuts off my panicked babbling with a searing kiss and I thread my fingers through his hair. His mouth is demanding on mine, like he's trying to prove to me how wrong my assumptions are. It feels like forever before he finally pulls back a little, both of us breathless. "I'm not going anywhere, Sadie Sinclair. Don't you ever doubt that for a second. I'm here and I'm yours."

"And I’m yours,” I respond, using the hand I put on the back of his head to bring his lips to mine once more. This kiss is still as steamy, but with a little sweetness mixed in and less dominating. But fuck, I find the demanding side to Reed extremely hot.

He must read that thought because he smiles against my lips and yanks my legs around him. I groan into his mouth and use my other hand to trail up his side while he explores my body with his own, dragging me even closer to him. Until recently, I didn’t realize that Reed could be anything other than sweet but having seen his confidence come out as he’s stepping into his new role has been nothing short of a turn-on.

When I drag his bottom lip through my teeth, he hisses and that's when I feel his length press against my core. Testing the water, I grind against him softly, but he pulls back, panting. "Sadie, we really should talk."

He eases my legs back to the floor while I pout. His hair is all ruffled and his glasses are crooked on his nose. As a punishment for pulling back, I send him a mental image of me riding his face, my head thrown back in wanton pleasure as he—

Reed growls, and it interrupts my thoughts. "Trust me, there's nothing I want more than to take you over this desk right now and let you ride my face while I plunge my tongue into your heat.” The outline of his erection thumps against his pants and he runs a hand through his hair. “Seriously, I've imagined what it would be like worshiping you in a room full of my favorite things—you and books if that wasn’t clear—so many times but there's something I need to tell you first."

“Fine,” I relent. “But we are resuming this afterwards. M'kay?”

He laughs and pushes his glasses up his nose, then his face turns serious once more, but he remains silent. He's quiet. Too quiet.

"You're starting to scare the shit out of me, Red. Spit it out."

"One thing we were always taught about true mates is when they meet their partner, or all of their partners, the Link then goes through what's called an Awakening, but usually by the time it starts, all of the mates are already well… mated."

"I'm not following, Red. What's an Awakening and what does it have to do with already being mated?"

"Well, your Awakening is coming on and since you haven't finished the bond completely with Elian and I, I think it's hitting you a little harder than usual, pushing you to complete the Circle."

"Huh?" Then it hits me. The desire lately, the increased emotions in any of my mates' presence, the constant ache I've been ignoring. "Fucking hell, is this why I've been so horny? Why didn't you tell me sooner! I thought I was losing my mind."

"I didn't want you to mate with me because you felt like you had to, but the bond will continue to amp up our desires until it's completed. Plus, I know you and Elian have issues. Rightfully so. Although, it seems like he's slowly pulling his head out of his ass. Anyway, I want you to want me for me."

"Oh, Red. Of course, I want you for you. What'snotto want about you? You're every girl's wet dream. A man who reads magic smut? A man so selfless and sweet he puts others first? A man who cares for my feelings and is willing to share me with four others? One who cares for his people? And who has been through so much but is still standing? I hit fate's fucking jackpot if you ask me." I can tell in his eyes he's still not truly convinced, and it hurts my heart. "Reed Soleil, I am falling hopelessly in love with you and it's not because of some bullshit magic. It's because of who you are as a person. Your heart is pure, Red. I just hopeI'mnot a stain on it.”

"You could never be a stain on me, Love. And I'm falling in love with you too." My heart soars with joy at his admission and I make sure to keep my thoughts completely open so he knows exactly how much I mean it.

"Then let's complete our bond," I say with honest conviction in my tone. “What are we waiting for anyway?”

"Right here? Right now? But I—" He looks around and back to me, an unreadable emotion in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Red?"

"This may sound stupid, but I have so many plans and ideas on where and how to do this because I want it to be special for you. You deserve the best, and I want to deliver."

“What’s a better place than here, surrounded by books?” I ask, sending him mental pictures of him laying me out on top of his ancestor’s journals, desecrating them with my naked body while he slams into me, pleasure etched on his face. He groans.

“Us surrounded by smut I wrote specifically for you,” he quips, and I laugh, but the thought of that severely turns me on. I need smut written by Reed in the future. Holy shit, what if he and Kaos co-wrote something? Might as well start picking out a headstone now because that might be my undoing.

Before either of us can overthink it anymore, I interlace my fingers with Reed’s and the moment our palms slide into place, we both freeze. I stare into his eyes while my body lights up like a fireworks display. There's nothing but love and admiration in his eyes.

The power flowing through me is strong, stronger than with Dante or Kaos, but this time I refuse to pass out. Reed and I have some unfinished business to settle.

And by that, I mean sex.

Mind over matter, Sadie. You can fucking do this.

I take a few deep breaths, in through my nose and out through my mouth to help get through the onslaught of power coursing through my veins. The feeling intensifies, pulling a grunt from my throat. Reed's eyes shine with concern, but there's nothing he can do for me. We’re still paralyzed, frozen in place.

I'm fine,I project to him and that seems to appease him slightly.

I'm here for you, my Love. Once the power evens out between us, it'll settle down. Just keep breathing.Reed coaches me through several more breathing exercises, calming me. Eventually, I feel the telltale burning of a mate mark appearing on my wrist, and our bodies unfreeze. Giddiness flows through me as I raise my arm to look at it. I can't wait to see what Reed's design is next to Kaos, Dante, and Vinson's.

A gasp escapes me when I find a beautiful symbol of the sun, with all its shining rays, now resting above Kaos and Dante's symbol. There's a small space on the right, the only gap in the design, which I'm guessing is where Elian's symbol will go.

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