Page 75 of Stars At Dusk

‘Good?’

‘Wonderful. As always.’

He took her plate, threw it in the sink, and cleared the surfaces while she watched.

‘Why are you doing this?’ she found herself asking.

Kage straightened from his task at the sink. ‘Doing what?’

‘Cooking for me. And everything else.’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘You mean taking care of you?’

‘Yes. Why?’

He nailed her with a soft look. ‘Cause, you’re under me.’

She blinked. ‘Under you?’

‘You’re under my skin,kara.’

He stepped forward with a gleam in his eye.

He wasn’t backward about being forward, and she wondered what she would do about it. She watched with a thumping heart as he reached her side. He swung the back of her chair, so she was facing him. Then he got around her, flooding her with his scent as he adjusted the chair. It smoothly ascended until they were face to face.

Then he moved his hands to either side of her face.

‘I long for you,kara,’ he murmured. ‘And I find myself doing whatever I need to keep me near you and in a high with you.’

They stared at each other for a long moment.

‘How much longer, Harlow?’ he eventually asked, his voice low and husky.

‘How much longer for what?’ she stammered.

‘How much longer does this anti-man timeline of yours run for?’

‘It’s not anti -.’

She paused mid-sentence when she saw the laugh playing across his face. ‘What do you want from me, Kage?’

‘What do you think?’ he said softly.

He leaned in and kissed her on her neck. His lips dragged to her ear, ear lobe, temple and back down to her cheeks in their familiar dance.

She moaned and then gasped as his lips settled over her own.

They grazed her own, slow and gentle.

She felt her body tingle and leaned into his heat, seeking his essence.

He smiled against her lips and explored her further.

Before long, his tongue slipped in and undid her with his masterful touch and caress of her mouth. He searched, probed and discovered with his lips, feeding on her beauty.

His hands ran over her blazing skin, on her arms, shoulders, and back.

‘Kage,’ she finally breathed.

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