Page 40 of Gifted Destiny

“I’ve wanted you to touch me like this for so long,” he murmurs.

“Same,” I reply in a whisper as I lean forward to place a tender kiss on his jaw, his cheek, and the tip of his nose.

With a strangled groan, he captures my mouth in a searing kiss and presses me against the pillows and headboard. I continue my bold exploration of his chest and back as he steals my breath with deep, consuming kisses. The rapid pace of his breath and tension in his muscles indicate he’s exercising fierce control.

When my fingertips skip over ridges of raised skin and invoke memories, I distract myself by attempting to tug his shirt off. His assistance results in the shirt tangling around his neck and covering his face before he manages to rip it off.

When his face is revealed again, I expect to see frustration. Instead, he wears a grin, and his cheeks are more crimson than coral. I derive an inordinate amount of pleasure from his blush; I’m not the only one whose skin betrays them.

“Being solid again is more difficult than I remembered,” he quips. “On my way to you, I collided head-on with the door to the stairwell. I’m so used to floating through doors. And don’t get me started on the stairs … I almost fell down a flight or two.” His grin combines amusement and self-deprecation.

I laugh with him as I imagine him walking into a door. Without the risk of serious injury, picturing him falling down the stairs is slightly amusing as well. “Silly boo,” I murmur lovingly.

“Oh! Do you realize that I’ve been wearing the same clothes for eight years?”

I laugh alongside his dramatic disgust until my attention moves downward. Avery had scars from being whipped. Kodi’s marks appear intentionally carved. They form a design that might be artistically beautiful if they weren’t painfully etched into human flesh. The old welts briefly distract me from the definition in his pecs and abs.

Following my gaze, he echoes my frown. “Huh. I’d forgotten about these.” His shrug and words are dismissive.

I can’t ignore them as easily, however. I trace the swirling lines and whorls. His skin shivers under my fingertips. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Kodi snorts. “Hell no. That life is over, Zo – literally. I don’t want to think about it or talk about it. Can you … ignore them? Or make them pretty like Avery’s?”

I catch my bottom lip in my teeth as I consider his request. “The design I showed Avery wasn’t real because I was manipulating his vision and essentially sending him a picture. And I didn’t actually do anything, although the magic took into account the image I created.”

Because he asked, though, I close my eyes and envision a tattoo for Kodi. An image appears in my mind, incorporating the swirling lines of his existing scars, but I can’t describe the symbol. It’s Celtic, Egyptian, and ancient. Regardless of what it means, I don’t seem to have much control over the image, and I have no idea if it will actually appear.

When Kodi dives in for a kiss again, I comply with his other request and ignore the scars for now. I’m not sure if I have a choice because his kisses erase everything else. My back arches toward him when he relinquishes my lips and lowers his attention to the neckline of my shirt.

“I took mine off,” he pouts as he tugs at the hem of my top.

“Do you demand equality?”

“Absolutely.” He nods several times in quick succession but never removes his gaze from my chest.

I pull the garment over my head before I can think the action through, but his rapt, awed expression triggers immediate anxiety. I start to cover myself again, but Kodi’s fingertips curl gently around my wrist.

“Please don’t. You never have to hide your body from me, Zo.” His voice breaks with hurt and desire, and I release my grip on my shirt. Awe shifts to hunger. He licks his lips, giving me the impression that I’m a ten-course meal and he’s a starving beast. My nipples tighten even further under his gaze.

He groans in a primal manner that makes me shiver. “Have mercy on this twenty-five-year-old virgin, princess. Please just let me look at you for a minute.” His eyes stay firmly on my chest as he speaks. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

“Are you talking to my boobs or me?” Sarcasm laces my tone, hiding the slight tremor of anxiety. I know it’s just Kodi. He’s seen me naked before, but it’s different now.

Kodi’s grin makes him appear boyish but also mischievous. “Both?” He shrugs. “Yeah, probably both.” His tongue flicks out to wet his lips again, and a surge of desire makes my thighs clamp together. The gesture is sexier than it should be.

“Can I see all of you? Like this morning or … yesterday morning?”

His eagerness is endearing, and I have no will or inclination to deny him. I felt more confident while still glowing from Avery’s worshipful lovemaking, but this is Kodi. He’s seen all of me and never judged me. My interaction with the shifter also lends me strength and boldness. Garrett had looked at my legs and touched them without disgust or pity.

Kodi helps me toss aside the blankets. I’m still wearing the soft cotton shorts with my underwear because I wasn’t awakeenough to remove them. The last few minutes with Garrett remain a sleepy blur.

Kodi’s hands tremble as he hovers an inch from my bare skin. It’s difficult to ignore the things I’ve always considered imperfections – like the way my stomach bulges over my waistband or that one breast is noticeably larger. My companion’s gaze and discernable emotions don’t indicate that he sees anything wrong, though. I only detect appreciation, desire, and raw hunger. The impressive muscles of his chest rise and fall with his labored breaths, and his jeans look uncomfortable. His thickness strains against the denim.

“Can I?” he whispers.

I think I know what he wants, but it’s too awkward to take my shorts off while I’m sitting. I nod absently while starting to scoot down, but Kodi grasps my hips and pulls me down the bed. I squeak in surprise, and the friction of my hair against the sheets makes it crackle with static electricity. With equal swiftness, he whisks away my shorts and underwear simultaneously. I’m naked before I realize what’s happening.

His motions slow once I’m displayed before him. My body heats and makes me question whether it’s possible to generate a full-body blush. Seeing the evidence of his desire makes this different from every other time he’s seen my body.

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