Page 80 of Celestial Combat

I clenched my jaw, forcing my shoulders to stay rigid.

I had never wanted someone like this before.

Never fought this hard to stay still.

Never lost so badly.

Kali moved past me, her body brushing just close enough that I caught the faint scent of her skin – clean, warm, with something else beneath it, something uniquely hers. I didn’t turn. Not immediately. I waited a beat, forcing myself to exhale slowly before pivoting on my heel.

She had settled at the edge of the bed, legs slightly apart, her arms resting loosely at her sides. My white shirt hung off her frame, the fabric oversized against her lean, muscled body. Her skin, smooth and soft and glowing, made me want to sink my teeth into it.

I forced my mind away from that thought as I moved toward her.

I grabbed the first-aid kit I had left on the nightstand earlier, flipping it open. The metal clasps clicked against the silence. I wasn’t a doctor, but I’d patched up enough injuries in my past.

Kali watched me, her expression unreadable. I knelt in front of her, rolling up the sleeves of my white shirt. The movement was slow, methodical, giving me a moment to gather myself before I reached for her.

My hands were steady as I worked. Patching some small cuts. Pressing my palms to her skin, searching for any sign of pain. The tension was evident in my jaw, but I kept my focus, made sure my touch was firm but careful.Respectful.

It was only when I reached her ribs that I hesitated.

Her breath hitched as I pressed my palm gently against her side, testing for any hidden breaks or fractures. Her body tensed beneath my touch, but she didn’t pull away.

“Does it hurt?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Not what I asked.”

She cleared her throat, shifting slightly. “Just a little…”

Parting her legs just enough for me to move between them, my palms settled on her waist.

I stilled.

It was instinctive, the way my eyes flicked up to hers.

And there it was.

The connection.

Raw. Unspoken.

Her gaze locked onto mine, dark as ink, deep enough to drown in. There was something needy in her expression. It made my blood hum, my pulse pound a little harder in my throat.

My fingers barely brushed her skin as I checked for bruising along her ribs, but the heat between us was enough to scorch.

Too close.

Too much.

I should move. Create distance.

I didn’t.

“Will I live, Doctor?” Kali’s voice broke through the thick, charged silence between us.

Her tone was light, teasing, but I could hear the underlying exhaustion beneath it. Still, she managed a smirk, her lips tilting up just enough to pull at the tension between us.