Page 137 of Celestial Combat

I pressed a kiss to her shin, below her knee, trying to show her I meant every word.

“I’m sorry. That was stupid of me. It won’t happen again.”

She sniffed but still didn’t speak. Still didn’t look at me. That silence was worse than shouting.

I shifted, reaching over her knees, and gently took her chin in my fingers. Her skin was slightly damp as I turned her face toward mine.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I said softly. “I didn’t want to scare you.”

Her muscles eased under my hand, tension melting away little by little. Her eyes, slightly red-rimmed and full of something raw, finally met mine.

And I couldn’t look away.

“Despite what I might’ve made it seem like before…” I leaned closer, voice no louder than a breath. “I would break every bone in my body before I ever let you get hurt again.”

We stayed like that – eyes locked, breath shared, the air between us dense with everything we hadn’t said.

I didn’t blink.

Neither did she.

Her cheeks turned a deep shade of red, blushing for the first time since we’d met. Like I’d just caught her off guard. It undid me in ways she’d never understand.

I leaned in – slow and deliberate, giving her the space to stop me.

And she did.

Turning her face away, my lips brushed her cheek instead.

“That still doesn’t make it okay,” She murmured, her voice soft and sweet in my ear.

Her voice wasn’t cold anymore. Not upset. Just smug.

Drawing it out like I deserved.

I let out a low hum, lips brushing the shell of her ear. “Guess that only leaves me one option.”

I shifted forward, letting my body settle between her knees, which parted instinctively. My hand slipped from her chin into the soft, thick waves of her hair, anchoring us. Her breath hitched.

My lips found her neck – warm and soft.

I kissed her slow, mouth open against her skin, dragging heat up her pulse with my tongue. “You gon’ let me make it up to you, mama?”

“Maybe…”

“I’m gonna need to hear a yes, baby.”

“Yes.”

I dipped lower, mouth brushing across her collarbone. Her breath grew heavier, and I felt it against my temple. Myhands moved beneath her oversized T-shirt, fingers splaying at her waist, pulling her closer until her knees pressed against my sides.

I smirked against her skin, voice dark and teasing, my nose grazing the delicate length of her neck. “Yeah?”

“Yeah…” Her breath shivered across my cheek.

My rough hands travelled higher under her shirt, palming her tits and squeezing. Kali exhaled in pleasure, before turning into a groan when I caught her hard nipples between two fingers and twisted. Turning to her other breast, I palmed the underside again, pushing it up so I could graze my teeth against it through the material.

Her hands went into my hair, tugging as I pulled away. “Zane…”

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