Page 7 of Last Shot at Love

In his eyes, I saw the reflection of my soul—everything I never knew I needed—the missing piece I hadn’t known I was searching for until now.

His gaze held mine, unwavering, as he took a step closer. “Where have you been all my life?”

The world seemed to stand still as she stepped into the candlelight, her presence commanding the dusk like the moon goddess.

My breath hitched, my throat dry as an oven.

Her tall, muscular frame was a testament to strength and beauty, her emerald skin glimmering like precious stones under the warm hues of the setting sun.

Her long black hair, braided and tied high on her head, caught the light, revealing a violet sheen that added an ethereal quality to her striking appearance. But it was her eyes that truly captured me—piercing, black, and intense, they held a depth that seemed to see straight through to my very soul.

She was clad in a tight dark brown leather skirt and vest, both laced up with intricate leather laces that tantalized the imagination. The outfit hugged her curves, accentuating the valley of her breasts, a sight that sent a primal urge coursing through me.

Every sense I possessed homed in on her.

It was as if my soul had recognized its counterpart, and in that instant, she became my world—everything else faded into insignificance.

“By the moon, you’re gorgeous,” I found myself saying, the words slipping from my lips with reverence and awe.

A small, confident smile played on her lips. “You aren’t so bad yourself,” she retorted, her voice a melody that sang to the deepest parts of me. There was a twinkle in her eyes, a hint of the strong spirit that lay within.

Eager to bridge the space between us, I offered her my paw and cleared my throat, clicking my lips in a nervous gesture. “My name is Kael,” I said, hoping she felt even a fraction of the connection I was experiencing.

She let out a giggle that sounded like the most delightful music pleasing to my ears, and her hand slipped into mine and squeezed tightly, her strength evident even in this gentle touch. “Grishka,” she said, her voice rich with warmth. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Kael.”

Her touch sent a jolt through me, a spark that ignited my soul. I knew then, without a shadow of a doubt, that she was the one I was meant to spend eternity with.

“I’m glad to have finally met you,” I told her, sincerity lining my voice. “Where have you been all my life?”

She laughed softly, a sweet smile lighting up her face that made my chest tighten. “I could ask you the same.” There was a playful glint in her eyes as she posed the question on both our minds. “So, what do we do now?”

The purr that rumbled from deep within me was instinctual, a sound of contentment and desire. My tail swayed with barely contained excitement as thoughts of her, vivid and compelling, flooded my mind.

Images of her—holding her close, my body pressed against hers, marking her as mine in the most primal of ways—threatened to overwhelm my senses.

“Ultimately, that’s up to you,” I managed to say, trying to maintain a semblance of composure. “But I thought we could start by having dinner under the stars, getting to know each other.”

It was important to me that she felt comfortable, that she knew this night was about us figuring out our future before getting lost in our connection, giving into each other passionately.

“That sounds perfect.” She released my paw, and I had to suppress a frown at the loss of her touch, already missing the warmth of her hand, making me desire to feel it once again exploring my body.

As she sat down on the blanket, gracefully tucking her legs away, she smoothed her skirt in an attempt to appear presentable. The action, however, only served to draw my attention to her long, muscular legs, stirring a longing within me to feel them wrapped around me.

My tail twitched faster, betraying my thoughts

I wanted to be the gentle-cat I had intended to be, to respect the pace she was comfortable with, even as every fiber of my being yearned to close the distance between us.

We were fated mates, yes, but that didn’t give me license to rush her to fulfill my desires, while disregarding hers.

By the Moon, I realized I was falling for her—hard and fast.

The connection, the pull between us, it was undeniable, something beyond mere attraction. It was as if our souls had recognized each other, bound by a destiny written in the stars.

I knew what others had explained this would be, coming across your fated mate for the first time, but I didn’t think it would feel like this.

I shifted to adjust my loincloth discreetly, trying to conceal the physical evidence of my arousal. Sitting across from her, I found my gaze lingering on her, admiring the way the dying light played over her skin, on every line of her beautiful form.

Grishka leaned forward, her movements deft as she selected an assortment of hors d’oeuvres from the plate. I watched, captivated, as she skewered two meatballs onto a toothpick and chose a few crackers spread with an assortment of toppings.

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