Page 162 of Celestial Combat

And I was hers.

Pulling away, her eyes opened, searching mine. “You meant that?”

I cupped her face and she shut her eyes, leaning into my palm.

“Every word.” I pressed a kiss to her lips again, resting my forehead against hers. “You?”

She breathed out in amusement at my heavy breathing and almost desperate tone. “Yeah.”

I smiled, something hopeful in my voice as I straightened. “So… You like the piano?”

Her lips curved in a small smile. She nodded, hand sliding to the first key. “I do. I love it.”

Later that night, in the bathroom, thesteam curled around us, blurring the edges of the low light and softening everything to a hazy glow. I leaned back against the curved tub, the warm rose water lapping at my skin, bubbles clinging to my thighs.

Zane sat opposite me, his arms resting on either side of the tub. Watching me like he always did – hungry and loving.

Patient. Like he had all the time in the world to just…behere with me.

I let my foot trace a slow path up his six-pack under the water, smiling.

“Kind of reminds you of the first time we made out at Python, don’t you think?” I said softly, tilting my head. “You stopped me back then.”

His eyes darkened, lips twitching at the memory. “Yeah. After you caught me fantasizing about you in the shower like a teenager.”

“Did you do that a lot?”

The reframed smirk he gave me was explanation enough.

I smiled, heart fluttering. “Will you stop me now?”

“No.”

No hesitation.

His answer was quiet.Certain.

I shifted toward him, letting the water slide around me as I climbed into his lap. My knees settled on either side of his hips, my palms bracing gently on his chest. His skin was hot and slick under my fingers, his heart thudding beneath the surface.

For a moment, we justlookedat each other. Nothing rushed. No demands. Just heat and something heavier building between us.

Then my eyes dropped, trailing lower.

I saw the piercings – subtle, silver, glinting just beneath the surface of the water.

“Will they hurt?” I asked quietly, reaching to brush a finger along the length of him.

His cock twitched at the touch, and he shook his head once.

“No,” he said, voice rough. “They make it feel better.”

I let my hand linger a moment longer, teasing the tip with my thumb before dragging it back up his chest. My breath trembled in my throat as I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t push me down, okay?” I whispered against his lips. “I want to be in control.”

His hands came up slowly, open and gentle, settling on my hips with a kind of worshipful restraint. “Of course, my love,” He murmured. “You own me.”

The words lit something deep inside me.

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