Page 28 of A City of Hearts and Feathers (The Order of Anubis #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

" I think we need to consider moving Zoe to the Order," Arslan said as they pulled up outside of the bookstore. "This hunt for the Sais Codex is only going to get more dangerous. I don't like that Lydia's followers were going to try and kidnap us like that. They might attack the bookstore. Assaulting the Order would be harder for them."

"Can we worry about it tomorrow?" Zoe asked. She was done with conspiracies and magic for the night.

Arslan turned in the driver's seat. "Of course. I can send Kerem around tomorrow to help you collect your things if you wish."

"We'll text you. Thanks for coming tonight, Arslan," Zoe said, giving his shoulder a squeeze before getting out of the car.

"Kahil, stay close to her."

"As close as I can possibly be," he replied. Zoe didn't hear what Arslan said back but it was full of teasing humor.

Zoe waved him goodbye before opening the door to the bookstore. She placed the sphinx feather down on her father's desk and dropped her bag on the floor. Kahil was locking the shop's door when she closed in on him.

"Fucking finally," he said, colliding with her, pressing her up against the shop's wall and kissing her hard. "I almost killed that fucking bitch in the caves when she talked down to you. And to try and imprison us? She needs to be taken down a peg for that audacity. How dare she try and touch what belongs to me?"

Zoe's hand bunched into his shirt. "You're sounding very territorial there, sweetheart."

"I am territorial…and possessive," he replied, kissing her again. "It's one of the many things you like about me."

Zoe knew she probably shouldn't, but she really did. Still, she said, "And what makes you think that?"

Kahil slid a hand up the skirt of her dress and cupped her pussy. "I can smell how wet you are. It's soaking all this pretty lace."

Zoe pressed herself against his hand, the friction killing her. She grabbed Kahil's belt, undoing it, and the top of his jeans. Nothing in her life made any sense anymore, except this insatiable heat between them.

Kahil tore the lace of her panties and slid his fingers over her. "Soaked, just like I said."

Zoe wrapped a leg around him, giving him better access. She freed his hard dick and stroked him. Kahil growled softly in the back of his throat and unbuttoned the front of her dress so he could squeeze her breast with his free hand.

"Fuck me, Kahil, please," she begged against his mouth. He picked her up and pinned her against one of the shelves. Zoe's hands went up to hang onto the wood above her.

"That's it, hold on right there for me." Kahil used some of her wetness to slick his dick down before pressing inside of her. Zoe's legs tightened around his waist, desperate to pull him closer.

"Stop being careful and fuck me!" she demanded.

Kahil's eyes glowed, feral and delighted. "Fine. I won't be a gentleman." He thrust into her to her limit, and she cried out. The pleasurable pain of it was exactly what she wanted. She craved his dominance, needed it so she didn't have to think or make a decision for one fucking minute.

"Yes, more," she gasped, one of her hands burying into his thick hair. She pulled him close, kissing him hard, her tongue thrusting into his mouth. She had to have his taste and scent and heat to wipe out everything else.

"So needy, my Zoe," he said and nipped her bottom lip. "You still think you don't belong to me? This luscious body of yours knows the truth. It opens up for me every time I touch you like a goddamn flower. I don't care how long it takes. I won't stop until I have you and you admit you're mine with those pretty lips of yours."

"You. Wish," she gasped, knowing it would make him wild. His hand tightened on her hip, the other grabbed one of her hands and put it between them.

"Touch yourself for me. I want us to break you together," he commanded.

Zoe did as she was told, loving his bossiness. She grabbed one of her breasts, giving it a hard squeeze before moving to where they were joined. She stroked her clit, pressing harder every time he slammed into her. Stars began to dance in her vision, and Kahil bent down to kiss her. He sucked hard on her full bottom lip. "Come for me, Zoe. I want to feel you clench and cry out for me."

"God, you have a dirty mouth," she panted. She'd never been with anyone so vocal before, and it was just another thing that drove her wild.

Kahil smacked her on her ass and squeezed it hard. "Do as you're told."

Zoe lost it, her body fraying and exploding at the same time. Her hand grabbed him by the shoulder as she pressed up against him, coming hard enough to shatter every part of her.

Kahil fucked her through it, pushing her pleasure higher until he held her tight to him and came just as hard. Zoe kissed him and kissed him, unable to stop.

Kahil cradled her gently to him as they sank to the carpet in a tangle of arms and legs.

"Why do we always end up on the floor?" she asked, still struggling to catch her breath.

Kahil laughed softly and pulled her on top of him. "Better?"

"Much," she replied and laid her head on his chest. He stroked up and down her back, comforting her as her heart tried to get back to normal.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Zoe lifted her head. "I think we are both okay."

"That's not what I meant, balim ." Kahil's eyes softened with concern. "Tonight was a lot, and if you need time to process it, I'll give it to you."

"No," she said, her hands tightening around him. She put her head back down to listen to his heartbeat. "I want to keep you right here with me. You make me feel safe. Tonight was just another reminder that this whole situation with the codex is so fucked up, and I'm completely in over my head. You're the one thing... Never mind. I'm not going to say it right."

"I'm the one thing what?" Kahil rolled her onto her back, pinning her down with his big body. His long hair tickled against her face. "Explain it to me, Zoe."

"You are the one thing that makes sense to me right now," she replied, trying not to squirm. She had never been good at talking about her feelings. "And I know how crazy that sounds. I barely know you, but I can't help that I feel this connection to you. It's fine if you don't feel the same. I know it's happening too fast. Oh, god, stop smiling like that."

Kahil's grin only widened. He ran his nose against hers. "I feel it, Zoe. Don't be embarrassed by it. Time is relative when it comes to hearts. Time is especially relative when it comes to someone who is over five hundred years old. We view time differently as a rule, and I want every bit of it that I can get with you."

Zoe relaxed under him, her arms wrapping around him. "Thank god, otherwise I would've made a total twat of myself."

Kahil kissed her gently. "Believe me, I'm the one thing in Istanbul you don't need to worry about right now. You have to remember this whole business with the book is temporary."

"Is it? Tonight proved yet again how much I don't know or understand about this world. Maybe I'm not cut out to be the Kartal of Kartal Books. Baba had good relationships with everyone. I'm pretty sure I've pissed off both Akamos and Lydia. How is that a good way to start this career?"

Kahil brushed his fingers over her cheek. "You stood up to them and didn't let them push you around. That is the only way to deal with them, and it takes courage. Not everyone would walk past what they offer. You are the best Kartal for this place. Oman was friends with everyone, and it still got him killed. You don't need to be like him. Be the real Zoe because she is smart, amazing, and very, very sexy," he said, brushing his lips over hers.

Tears threatened at the back of Zoe's eyes. "No one ever wants the real Zoe. I don't even want the real Zoe most of the time."

"I do. I wanted her since I first saw her." Kahil nibbled down her neck before whispering in her ear. "And I have her right where I want her."

"Ah huh. For now." She flinched at how bitter she sounded.

"I'm not going anywhere, sweet Zoe. You just need to accept it." Kahil pulled back from her neck so he could look down at her. "If you don't want to believe me, remember what the sphinx said tonight. 'The wisdom you seek lies within you. You have everything you need already.'"

"No pressure," Zoe said, her hands stroking his sides.

Kahil kissed her. "You will figure it out. You have been smart enough to find the pieces of the codex. You will be smart enough to know what to do once you have it together."

Zoe pulled him closer still, letting his weight and heat press out all her remaining anxiety. Kahil believed in her, and that would be enough to carry her through even if she struggled to believe in herself.