Page 39 of Fated By Fire
“I have to take this,” I say, stepping away.
Elena stands, her movements sharp and angry. “Of course you do. Why answer my questions when you can just walk away?”
I round on her, my temper flaring. “You’re not the only one with problems, Elena. If you want to stay alive, you’ll stop poking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
She steps closer, her chin tilted up in defiance. “Or what? You’ll lock me in your vault, too? Turn me over to Malakai? Maybe turn into a monster and rip me apart?”
Her words hit like a slap. The irony of it—the truth she’s so close to uncovering—makes my chest tighten.
I grab her arm, my grip firm but not painful. “You’re playing with fire, Elena. Literally. You don’t know what’s at stake.”
“Then tell me!” she shouts, her voice breaking.
For a moment, we’re frozen like that, her face inches from mine, our breaths mingling. Her eyes are wide, her lips parted, and something surges between us—something raw and real.
I don’t know who moves first. Maybe we both do. But suddenly, my mouth is on hers, and nothing else matters.
The kiss is fierce, desperate, fueled by adrenaline and rage and what I can only describe as pure lust. Her hands clutch at my shirt, pulling me closer, and I press her against the wall, my body flush against hers. Her lips are soft, her breath warm, and for a moment, it’s all I can think of.
My hands, almost of their own accord, begin to move. They slide down her sides, feeling the curve of her waist, the warmth of her skin through the fabric of her shirt. My fingers grip her hips, pulling her tighter against me, and I can feel the heat of her body seeping into mine.
I’m shocked at the intensity of my own reaction, the way my pulse races, the way my breath catches in my chest. It’s as if I’ve lost control, as if the adrenaline coursing through me has stripped away any restraint.
Her hands aren’t still either. They roam my back, fingers digging into the muscles there, urging me closer. One hand slips under my shirt, her palm searing against my skin, and I can’t suppress the shudder that runs through me. The sensation is electric, overwhelming, and I know I should pull away, but I can’t. I’m powerless to resist her, to resist this.
My lips leave hers, trailing down her neck, and I feel her pulse racing beneath my mouth. Her hands move to my chest, fingers fumbling with the buttons of my shirt, and I don’t stop her. I don’t want to.
She pushes my shirt open, her palms flat against my chest, thumbs tracing circles, and I groan low in my throat. I reach for the hem of her shirt, tugging it up, my fingers brushing the soft skin of her stomach, the curve of her breasts soft againstmy knuckles. I feel her breathing deepen, her body pressing into mine, and I know I’m lost.
For a moment, I’m unsettled by the sheer intensity of it all—her heat, her taste, the way she feels beneath my hands. She’s like a drug I never knew of, yet suddenly, I’m addicted. I’m caught in a storm of emotion, of sensation, and I can’t find the will to pull myself out of it.
“Caleb…” Her voice is a whisper against my ear, breathless and urgent, and I can’t think, can’t reason. All I can do is feel, and right now, all I feel is her.
But reality crashes back in when my phone buzzes again. I pull away, my chest heaving, my mind a jumbled mess.
Elena’s eyes are dazed, her lips swollen. “Caleb…”
“Not now,” I say, my voice hoarse. I answer the phone, my gaze still locked on hers.
“Caleb,” Dorian’s voice crackles on the other end. “Where are you?”
“Home. I have Elena.”
“Good. Because Mara’s losing her shit. She’s threatening to go to the cops. If she does—”
“I’ll handle it.”
“You’d better. And Caleb… be careful. She’s not just some random PI. There’s something about her.”
I don’t respond. I don’t need to.
When I hang up, Elena’s arms are crossed again, her expression unreadable. “I need to get home.”
I shake my head. “Not a chance.” I don’t know why I say it. I hadn’t thought this far ahead, but suddenly, all of my instincts are telling me not to let her out of my sight. Demanding that I keep her safe.
Her jaw juts out because, of course, it does. “I’m not staying here.”
“You don’t have a choice,” I say, stepping closer.
