Page 5

If I die right now, at least it was beside him.

Kaos shifted his grip, fingers adjusting inside hers. The Rage inside him stilled. Not gone. Just…listening.

The helicopter pitched slightly. Her shoulder bumped his and she apologized inside her mind, then repeated it three times in three different languages.

He didn’t move. But he didn’t let go either.

The ride leveled, hum steady beneath them. Her grip didn’t ease. Kaos kept his hand still, his Rage a quiet coil, his mind holding distance.

He’d closed the wall. He didn’t trust what lived behind it.

She startled and the wall cracked open wide. The wind rocked them sideways, just enough lift to make her jolt, her body lean fully into him. A sharp gasp. Then a muffled laugh. She clutched his hand tighter.

“Oh God,” she breathed, voice shaking. “If we go down, tell my plants I tried.” She nodded to herself. “They’d want closure. Especially the cactus. Name’s Edgar. Very clingy.” Her words came fast. “You ever ride one of these before? Of course you have. You’ve probably jumped out of them. On fire. Holding a puppy.” Her eyes widened. “You look like the type.”

He held his tongue still.

She sighed. “Figures.”

The wall slipped open again, and in came her mind. A fucking carnival. Hot pink thoughts twisted around chartreuse daydreams. Purple dripped down memory frames of his mouth.Those lips. Good Lord, did they come with insurance? How is that even legal? Bet he doesn’t even try to be that hot. Probably wakes up glowing.

Her hand shifted. Her thumb brushed his. She felt it.Yup. Yup. That’s illegal. Entire hand feels like sex and apocalypse and something I’d ruin my life for.

She tilted her head, studying his jaw now.He probably tastes like dark roast and fury. I’d take that caffeine hit straight to the ovaries.

Kaos narrowed the crack when his Lust quirked an envious brow.

But her thoughts still streamed through like spilled ink.Kade is hot too. But like… lemonade and justice. This one?Her gaze shifted up.This one is whiskey and war.

His Lust watched closely. Felt her thighs tense through the seat.

If I had to die underneath one of them—wait, no. If I had to LIVE underneath one of them—

The Rage inside him growled and he slammed the wall shut.

Silence.

He stared ahead while his Lust prowled restless.

Her breath slowed. Her grip loosened half an inch.

Turbulence hit and she flinched so hard her shoulder slammed into his.

“Oh my God, oh my God,” she breathed, closing her eyes, back to strangling his hand. “Probably just the pilot doing that thing. What’s it called? Oh right.Attempted murder.” Her nervous laughter filled the space. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I babble when I’m panicking. Or happy. Or bored. Or alive.”

The wall cracked open again with a full color flood. Fear slammed through first. Not fear of death.Fear of dying before I get to know what that mouth tastes like.

Kaos exhaled carefully through his nose.

What’s wrong with me? Nothing. I’m fine. Just human. And doomed. Holy thighs, he’s probably a god. Or demon. Or both. Demon-god. Sex demon-god. Okay now you’re spiraling. Paint it out. Paint it out.

Kaos stood stone still inside himself as she mentally painted his hands in charcoal, his mouth in gold leaf, his shoulders in black oil smears. A mixed media shrine. A six-foot sculpture of his back muscles made from twisted rebar and melted crayons. A stop-motion claymation erotica starring his jawline.

Kaos clenched his hand when Lust pushed harder at his pores. She took it as comfort.

God I like him. I like him way too much. I’d let him rearrange my furniture. And my spine. Preferably at the same time.

The barrier bent under the weight of her need. This wasn’t just lust or awe. It was something richer. Deeper. A need to matter. To be seen. Toholdsomething impossible and call it hers. And there was a fluctuation of guilt and shame, and no hesitation where it should surely be.