His one thumb crept under my shirt and touched the skin of my stomach. His hands tightened around the hem of my shirt and our lips broke apart long enough for him to lift it up over my head.
I shivered momentarily before he wrapped his strong arms around me. His warmth reminded me I was no longer alone. His strength reminded me he would always be there to protect me. The sound of his heart beating reminded me he would love me forever.
Every touch reminded me of what we shared. Destiny had chosen each for us. We were a perfect match to love each other until our last breath.
I couldn't shut out the guilt I felt when I thought about how he would react to my betrayal.
He stilled for a moment as he felt my emotions but I distracted him as I pushed forward, kissing him like it was our last time. If I only gave myself this one last time with him, I would make it last for as long as possible. It had to be enough.
"Don't stop," I moaned against his mouth, needing him to make me forget about everything for one last time.
He pulled away to give me a look that promised me everything I wanted and more.
We discarded our clothes in a flurry of need and want. He slid his mouth over my skin, bringing me into a frenzy. He pressed a kiss to my birthmark on my hip.
I wrapped my arms around him and held him like it was our last time. My breathed hitched as he loved me like I had begged for. Sweat intermingled and dripped from our bodies. Afterward, he dropped his head in the crevice of my neck and touched his lips to my collar bone.
I felt guilty that my mate would find out soon I had betrayed him.
Kyle moved off me and lay down beside me, pulling me into his arms. I lay beside him and trailed my fingers across his skin, wishing I could stop time so this moment would never end.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Kyle
For those few moments with my mate, I felt so peaceful. It was a feeling I didn't want to pass.
I looked at her, the person who had been chosen by destiny to walk the path of life with me. I never believed it was possible to love anyone as much as I did in that moment.
My fingers picked up a strand of her red hair and I admired the color. For a moment in time I allowed myself to think about the future that might be possible if we managed to defeat the Keepers. Would our kids inherit her beauty, her vibrant red hair and her shimmering green eyes, that were enough to bring me to my knees?
"What are you thinking?" she asked, seeing my slight smile.
I shrugged. "I want to believe that we will defeat the Keepers and have the chance at a future together."
She didn't look as hopeful. There was a sadness in her eyes that made me press my lips to her to give her reassurance.
"We have to hold on to the hope that we will survive this," I told her, wanting to ease the sadness she was feeling.
Her eyes glistened and I brushed the wetness with my fingers.
"Don't cry. I want you to believe that this won't be the end."
She swallowed, her eyes staring lovingly up to mine.
"Have you ever thought about having a family?" I asked. I had always wanted to be a father.
She shook her head. "I never allowed myself to think about those things, to believe those things were possible for me." She let out an emotional breath. "My only aim was to run far away so I wouldn't put anyone's life in danger. From the time I discovered what I was, my only aim has been to escape."
I reached out and brushed her cheek softly with my fingers. "Not anymore."
She nodded.
"The spray was successful," I told her, hoping that would help. "There are still a few kinks we need to work out but it works."
She brushed away the unshed tears and pressed her lips together.
"You tried it out on Flynn," she said, and I nodded.
