Page 102 of Between Imminent Fates
His smirk was everything. Leaping to her feet, she skidded over to where he sat. She barely suppressed a gasp.
Instead of the lifelike colors she’d expected, he’d used only pinks, purples, and yellows. A deep violet so dark it resembled true black. Her face was cast in striking color, but the resemblance was uncanny.
“Derikles, this is amazing.” Breathless, her fingers gently curled around his forearm, noting the coiled strength she found beneath her touch.
“It’s yours.”
Eyes flaring, she exclaimed, “I can’t take this from you, Derikles! This is … unbelievable. It’s a work of art!”
“Generally, yes, painting acrylics on canvas does make something art. But in either case, it’s yours.”
She reached her fingers out as if to touch it, then quickly retracted them in fear of ruining his masterpiece. Celeste shook her head as she took in every angle, every glint of light. “This is so beautiful.”
“I had a beautiful subject.”
Celeste’s cheeks flamed. “Flirt.”
A deep chuckle made her blush deeper, and her eyes fixated on the painter’s pallet. On a wild hair, she ran a single finger through the royal purple and pivoted back. Striking out, Celeste swiped the paint over his cheekbone, celebrating his brief look of surprise.
“There.” Studying her work, she nodded happily. “Now I’ve painted you, too.”
Surprise turned into a sly smirk. But then, his attention dropped to her lips, half blinking while his parted. Slowly, deliberately, he refocused on her, a question in his gaze.
A deep need had begun drumming through her bones. When she inched forward, drawn by an invisible string, that was it.
Their mouths collided possessively. Done denying the connection they had, Derikles’ arms cinched around her with undeniable ownership. While his lips were soft, there was nothing gentle about his claim.
His confidence was like a drug. The kiss stormed through her defenses and left her demanding more, desperate for him. Celeste’s skin heated as he nipped at the line of her jaw. Shuddering, her hand dove into his hair, silk against the sensitive inner flesh of her fingers.
An array of sensations rioted through her, but there was a delay in recognizing the one fighting for dominance. It tore at her sudden joy as though it was a black hole content on consuming every scrap of happiness she’d found.
Guilt.
As soon as she stopped responding, he withdrew. “Celeste?”
Confusion and apology tugged his eyebrows together. Her sudden detachment went unexplained as she whispered, “I can’t.” A bitter shake of her head as tears pricked behind her eyes. “I have to go.”
And with no further explanation, she teleported back to Ontario.
Chapter Eleven
Celeste
Kaien was beaming.
The unexpected sight had Celeste stopping abruptly halfway down the hallway to Nina’s room. It had been ages since she’d seen any trace of true joy from him. Though she could guess the cause, she couldn’t give herself fully over to hope.
She’d spent all night feeling bereft. As soon as her feet had landed on solid ground in Ontario, guilt had plagued her.
Kissing Derikles—and having the audacity to enjoy it—mixed with guilt atlovingthe way he made her feel. She’d left the territory while her best friend was comatose. Derikles had made herfeelsomething other than despair and loneliness, and he’d done it all in the span of less than twenty-four hours.
She felt like she was betraying her clan and the friends that had treated her like family, and that the happiness his presence brought her was disloyal.
Celeste also felt like Derikles deserved an explanation. After thoroughly beating herself up the night before, she was feeling rather tender by the time she finally made it to Nina’s home.
“Good news?”
Kaien’s grin didn’t falter. When he was within reach, the Raeth’s arms circled around her waist, and he spun her around. It surprised a giggle out of her.
