Page 18 of My Karmic Destiny

I raise my eyebrows until they reach my hairline. He sounds like some werewolf boyfriend claiming his mate in front of the pack in a romance novel.

When I’m about to protest, he nuzzles my neck. “Please, babe. I know it’s weird, but I just need this right now.”

“Just this one time, but after dinner, you’re taking me to the showers and cleaning me up yourself.”

His brilliant grin lights up the darkening room. “You’re fucking perfect.”

“Perfect? Not really. Tolerant? Abso-fucking-lutely.” I shake my head and pull on my clothes to head down to eat the evening meal. Hopefully, this little display calms whatever is riling him up.

8

CONFESSIONS

EVAN

Dante swaggers into the kitchen with his big arm slung over Tessa’s shoulders. A clear claiming signal.

Her cheeks are flushed and her hair mussed, a clear sign she’s been freshly fucked.

My cock stirs but does even more when I catch the undiluted scent of sex wafting off them.

Tessa seems slightly uncomfortable, but Dante gives me a wink when she isn’t looking his way.

Smug bastard. He really needs to rub it in?

Today isn’t the day for this. I’m still raw from today’s session with Karma. All my horrid memories are floating like turds in my mind. Normally, I have my pain properly buried deep in my subconscious.

I glance over at Kurtis and see the same irritation. Though he seems closer to breaking.

At least I’m not alone in this storm.

“Hey, guys,” Tessa says with a note of awkwardness and sits down at her usual place at the table. A plate of food is waiting for her. She flicks her gaze at me. “You got this for me?”

“I hope you don’t mind.”

She shakes her head and glances at Dante’s empty plate and then at his frown.

I’ve pissed him off. Good.

He pushes away from the table and pouts his way over to the kitchen island to dish out his own serving. When he returns, he brings over a dessert for Tessa.

He smirks as she thanks him for the offering.

I’d snarl, but I’m not an animal. I was hoping to play it cool with Tessa. I briefly thought maybe we could eventually share, but now I want to steal her away. Show her I can be all she needs. More than what he can offer.

“How was your day with Death?” I ask.

Tessa uses her fork to move the food around on her plate but doesn’t eat. She’s preoccupied by her own demons, it seems. “Tomorrow will be my first real day as a reaper.”

“Are you nervous?” I ask before either of the other fools can.

Sighing, she admits, “Yeah. I hope I have the stomach for it. All the stories I’ve read… it can be hard, especially with kids and stuff.”

“That doesn’t sound easy,” I say, reaching across the table and patting her hand.

Dante wraps his arm around her again. “You’re strong. You can do anything.”

She hums. When we make eye contact, I can see her worry. She’s damn strong, but there are times when we don’t want to be anymore. Times when we want to give up. Or at least let go of a heavy responsibility.

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