Page 76 of Celestial Combat

Slowly, his fingers traveled up, tracing the ridges of my spine through the ruined fabric.

Then they gripped the back of my collar.

The ripping sound was sharp, almost violent, cutting through the thick silence between us.

I sucked in a breath as the fabric split apart, peeling away from my back. The sudden rush of cold air kissed my skin, raising goosebumps in its wake.

Zane didn’t move.

The remains of my shirt clung to my shoulders, loose now, barely hanging on. Waiting.

He was waiting for permission.

I exhaled slowly, shifting just enough – my arms moving forward slightly, a silent invitation.

His fingers skimmed my shoulders as he caught the torn edges, his touch barely there but leaving a trail of heat in its wake. He dragged the ruined fabric down my arms, slow and unhurried, until it slipped free entirely.

The shirt hit the floor.

I stood there in nothing but my bra – white once, now stained with blood.

A part of me knew I should feel exposed. Vulnerable.

But I wasn’t afraid. Not of him.Never of him.

Zane’s gaze flickered down, tracing over the fresh expanse of bare dark skin. His eyes darkened as they traveled lower, to my waist, my hips. Then he met my gaze again, something unreadable passing through his expression.

“Do you need help with those too?” His voice was quieter now, deeper. A slow burn beneath his usual control. Though I didn’t miss the soft pink growing on his cheekbones.

When I nodded, he slowly lowered to one knee in front of me.

I froze, pulse hammering, watching the way his broad frame moved with power. His hands reached for one side of my hips, fingers curling around the waistband of my matching grey leggings.

“You can hold onto me.”

I placed my hands on his shoulders, my grip instinctive, steadying myself. His muscles tensed beneath my palms, solid and unmoving.

His fingers tightened on the waistband.

The tips of his knuckles skimmed my skin.

Lower.

Brushed against the thin material of my thong.

A shiver licked up my spine, but I didn’t pull away.

Zane stilled for a fraction of a second, like he felt it too. Then, with one sharp motion, he tore the leggings down my hip.

My breath hitched.

His gaze came back up, locking onto mine.

Testing.

Waiting.

I didn’t stop him.

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