Page 119 of Celestial Combat

Kali stood near the stairwell, soft light catching the delicate shimmer of her dress. Midnight blue silk, thin straps, a slit up one side that defied logic. Her long hair fell around her shoulders in waves, framing a face that would’ve brought me to my knees, had I not frozen in place.

There was something devastating about the way she looked. Not just beautiful –undeniable.The kind of beauty that stole my logic and left instinct in its place. My pulse didn’t race. It settled. Heavy. Focused. Like my body already knew what it wanted and was just waiting for me to catch up.

And maybe that was the problem.

I felt the fire in my blood drip lower.

I cleared my throat. Not because I needed to. But because she needed me to. Her eyes snapped open and her sharp gaze zeroed in on me.

She descended the stairs, one at a time, and my pulse beat to her rhythm.

My jaw ticked with tension. Her hand moved faster.

Brushing a loose curl from her face she finally glanced up, meeting my eyes for the first time in a week, with disinterest and detachment.

My grip tightened around the steering wheel. She parted her lips; another moan that shot straight to my hard dick.

I raised a brow, my gaze falling down her body, and I had to fight the urge to drag my teeth across her skin.

I held her eyes. The entire time.

And when she came, she came looking at me.

Pouty lips. Messy hair. White lingerie. Bedroom eyes.

All for me.

Thirty-one years, I’d never felt temptation beyond revenge. Never understood addiction. Alcohol, money, sex, drugs – I enjoyed the first three just like anybody else,within reasonable limits. Believed myself to hold self-control.

She didn’t glance back as she walked toward the private elevator, the sway of her hips a silent challenge.

Desire was hard to experience when I could have anything – anybody – I wanted.

But in this moment, I actually considered losing everything I’d worked for – for a kiss… From her.

She advanced toward me, heels clicking softly against the dark hardwood.

I cleared my throat, feeling my cheekbones flush. “You’re late.”

“Fashionably.”

“You’ll need a jacket.”

Her eyes turned to daggers. “I didn’t ask for commentary from my security detail.”

She walked past me toward the door, leaving a trail of expensive perfume and sharper silence.

“Is this the part where you pretend last week didn’t happen?” I asked, following her.

She haltered. Turned slightly.

“Depends,” She said, fully turning towards me as I made my way over to her. “Is this the part whereyoupretend it meant nothing?”

The air thickened.

Her eyes held mine, steady.

“Let’s go.”