His lips drag along my bare shoulder, lingering on the spot where my trio of freckles lives. “Cate…”
I turn my head, meeting his gaze. The blue of his eyes is bright in the morning sun, but emotion shadows them, darkens them.
His mouth drifts closer to mine, seeking silent permission. I give it to him, pressing my lips to his, sighing at the pleasure of it, the instant sense of peace his touch instills in me.
We shouldn’t be doing this—there is so much at stake today—but I can’t make myself care. I lose myself in the kiss, in the heat of his lips, the strength of his hands as they grip me tight and pull me closer.
If this is the last moment we have together, I will not let it go to waste.
He licks at the seam of my lips until I part for him, his tongue sweeping into my mouth. One of his hands curves around my neck before reaching down to brush gentle fingers over the swells of my breasts. The other delivers the same treatment to the bare skin of my belly, drifting slowly down to the patch of curls at the apex of my thighs.
His hardness thrusts against me as his fingers part me. I’m already slick with wanting and he makes quick work, stroking my clit exactly how I like it, exactly how I’ve taught him.
“You have ruined me, Caterine,” he mumbles into the curve of my neck, his teeth dragging along the exposed skin. “I will never be able to live without you.”
“Good,” I manage to choke out, breathless as the tension rises deep in my core, even though I don’t really mean it. Callum deserves to live a long and happy life, with or without me.
I fumble behind me, shoving the fabric of his undergarments out of the way, wrapping my hand around the thickness of his cock. He groans, thrusting into my hand as his fingers bring me to the brink of release.
“I need you inside me, Callum,” I pant, dizzy with wanting. Dizzy with needing this, needing him.
He obliges, pushing into me from behind with one smooth stroke that leaves us both gasping for air. Shifting my leg over his hip, he strokes into me, slow and long and so deep it takes my breath away.
He turns my head so our mouths can come together, the stroke of his tongue mirroring the delving thrusts of his cock. It’s somehow better and deeper and just…more…than anything I’ve ever experienced before. It makes sense now, knowing about the Bond, knowing why he fills me to completion. But I think even without the Bond uniting us, Callum Reid would still feel like home.
I don’t want the sensation to end.
Callum doesn’t seem to want it to either. He takes his time, moving slowly inside me, driving me to the edge of the cliff and pulling me back again.
We both know what happens after this and if this delicious coupling can delay the inevitable for even a minute, well, it’s a gift I plan to receive fully.
“Touch yourself for me, my lady.” The words rumble out of him, dancing along my lips.
I oblige, my fingers finding the swollen bud of my arousal. Callum’s mouth returns to mine and it doesn’t take long before a climax unlike anything I’ve ever felt is barreling through me. His mouth never moves from mine, even as we both cry out a release that leaves waves of pleasure rippling through me long after the orgasm passes.
The air in the cabin explodes in a shower of sunset, pinks and oranges and golds, the most beautiful colors I’ve ever seen. There’snothing there for me to twist or manipulate, no emotions I need to ease or amplify. It’s just a breathtaking cloud of pure bliss.
Callum holds me together until my breathing steadies and my heart calms. When we part, tears line both of our eyes.
We both know what the day might bring. We dress in silence.
—
“What’s the plan?”Callum asks as we push through the trees and make our way back to the stone fortress.
I look at him, searching for some sign of his joke. “What do you mean, what’s the plan? You’re the planner here, not me.”
“We have no hope of winning this if the Gifted remain with Lady M. You said yourself, you are the only one who can get through to them, Cate. Do you know what you’re going to say?”
“I think the Gifted from the club are already convinced.” Even if they wouldn’t leave with us, they helped me escape. They know Lady M has been lying to them, and I don’t think they will stand against us. “But I don’t know any of the others she has recruited to her sick little army. I don’t know if I there’s anything I can say to get through to them.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
His faith in me bolsters me, but I can’t help but feel it might be more than a little misplaced. Callum is the one with the leadership experience here, not me. Having our fate rest fully in my hands borders on terrifying.
Harold isn’t there waiting for us in the copse of trees, and I try not to linger on the bolt of fear his absence sends through me. Maybe his business at the club took longer than expected. Maybe he’s decided not to come after all.
Or maybe he’s already inside, the Bond between him and Lady M too strong to fully break.
