Page 144 of Celestial Combat

“Kali,” Trevor answered, relief flooding his voice. “You doing okay? I’m sorry crazy shit keeps happening to you.”

“It’s okay. I’m good.” I glanced over as Zane stepped closer, one hand barely holding his towel on, pretending to reach for something on the nightstand, but his fingers brushed lightly over my waist.

I shifted slightly, ignoring the flutter it caused.

“Zane treating you good? I know he can be a bit rough around the edges sometimes. He told me you had a fight after he found you at the hotel garden.”

“It was my fault I ran off. He was just trying to keep me safe. I see that now.”

My eyes stayed onZane’s as I spoke. He stood a few feet away, slipping into a fresh white T-shirt, the fabric stretching over his chest and arms. He’d already pulled on jeans, and was now putting on his watch.

My brother went on, “You did well yesterday. I’m proud of you. You’re tough. Brave. Maybe it’s time you got more involved in the family business. What do you think?”

My breath caught. I straightened up, still clutching the phone. Every argument me and my family had ever had had been about me not wanting any part in the Dynasty.

But this time…It felt different.

Zane crouched down in front of me, his arms wrapping around my thighs, the same way he had earlier when he’d kissed my most vulnerable and private place.

“I’d like that,” I said carefully, biting my cheek to stop from smiling as Zane bit the inside of my naked thigh.

“That’s… Amazing.” Trevor said, just as pleasantly surprised as me. “We’ll talk more soon.”

“Thanks, Trev. I’ll call you later.”

I hung up and dropped the phone onto the sheets, narrowing my eyes at Zane. “You were distracting me on purpose, weren’t you?”

His mouth twitched into a smug half-smile. “Maybe.”

“You’re lucky I like you.”

“I’m luckier than you think.” Zane leaned in, placing a deep and soft kiss to my lips.

Theair inside Whole Foods was crisp and fresh, smelling faintly of citrus and something leafy. I tucked the oversized sleeve of Zane’s hoodie over my hand and leaned lightly on the shopping cart as we strolled down the produce aisle. His palm brushed the small of my back every now and then, like a silent reminder –secure and possessive.

We’d only just started, but the cart was already filling fast. I dropped a couple papaya into the basket and smiled.

Zane leaned over my shoulder, voice low and teasing. “That gonna end up in a smoothie or just sit in the fridge looking exotic?”

I looked up at him, eyes twinkling. “Are you kidding? I eat these all the time.”

He smirked, plucked a bunch of dragon fruit from the shelf and added it beside the papaya. “Then you’ll need this too. Go big or go home, right?”

I nudged him gently with my shoulder. “You saw me eyeing those.”

He gave me a warm look. “Maybe.”

That made my chest glow. I pretended to be busy choosing passionfruit so he wouldn’t see the way I smiled at the ground.

Zane drifted ahead a bit, focused now on the wall of meats and fish like he was prepping for battle. His expression was focused, studying the shelves like the fate of the world depended on the right cut of steak.

“Protein, protein, and more protein,” I teased, watching him pile it all in. “You do know we’re only two people, right?”

He looked at me over his shoulder. “You say that like you didn’t just buy three kinds of cake.”

I held up a pint of cookies and cream ice cream. “Correction. Three cakes, two sorbets,andthis. Balance.”

He walked back to me, dropped a huge salmon and steak in the cart, then took the ice cream from my hands and examined the label. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

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