Page 112 of Celestial Combat

“So are you,” He said, voice all deep and sin.

I smiled, slow and reckless. “What are you gonna do about it?”

His jaw clenched, ebony eyes burning.

He didn’t answer.

But he didn’t look away.

It didn’t matter what I told myself.

That he was seven years older.

That he didn’t think of me like that.

That my family would kill him if he got too close.

That he wasn’t right for me.

Because now, he looked exactly like my next high.

Chapter 29

Present

Manhattan, New York City

THE CLUB PULSED WITH ENERGY, each beat of the bass vibrating through the floor and into my bones.

I moved with the rhythm, the hem of my tiny black dress riding up with each step. The fabric clung to my curves, the plunging neckline daring and unapologetic. My friends surrounded me, their laughter and cheers blending seamlessly with the music.

I couldn’t help but smile. There was a thrill in the secrecy, in slipping away while Zane was occupied. He had become too comfortable, too predictable. Everything between us had been going too smoothly, and I needed a reminder of who I was before him.

Still, I found myself glancing toward the entrance, heart fluttering with anticipation, a part of me hoping for when he’d come after me. The thought of his intense gaze finding me amidst the crowd sent a shiver down my spine.

The DJ transitioned to a sultry track, the tempo slowing, the bass deepening. The lights dimmed, casting the dance floorin a seductive glow. I closed my eyes, letting the music guide my movements, losing myself in the moment.

A dark presence – just the electricity of it, crawling up my spine like a current.

I didn’t have to turn to know. He didn’t need to say a word. The energy around us shifted instantly. People backed away, confirming what I already knew.

A smirk curled at the corner of my mouth as I leaned back into him, slow and taunting. My hips rolled against his, the beat guiding my every motion. I heard his breath deepen, barely audible beneath the music, and it only made me bite my lip.

He stepped closer, close enough for me to feel the tension humming in his muscles, close enough for his voice to find my ear.

“Kali,” He said – low, dangerous, grounding.

I twisted around, arms sliding around Zane’s neck like he was mine, fingers threading through the hair at his nape. My body pressed into him, every curve finding its place against every line of him. His body tensed, just like I knew it would.

I kept dancing.

My hips swayed to the rhythm, teasing, tempting, challenging. He didn’t move. But he stood there, letting it happen, and the tension between us was enough to fracture the air.

“Kali, I swear–” He growled, but I cut him off with movement.

I pressed in harder, enough to feel exactly how much I was affecting him. His rough hands found my waist, pressing into me. My breath hitched for a moment, but I covered it with a soft laugh.

I stilled, slow and deliberate, resting my hands back against his neck, thumbs brushing his pulse.