His breath caught. That quiet plea—he’d never heard her say it like that. Not cocky. Not shy. Just honest. Raw.
He didn’t stop.
She pulled him in like he was the only thing keeping her from unraveling. The moan she let out was muffled against his shoulder, and it sounded like relief and want and frustration all at once. Her hips rolled up to meet him, impatient, but Kael didn’t let go of control—not yet. His hand found her jaw, thumb brushing her lip, and she sucked it in without thinking.
He swore under his breath.
She always did that.
He buried his face against her throat, pressing kisses down to her chest, letting his hands relearn every scar, every softness, every memory etched into her. Carla was the one who stayed through it all. The one who saw him when he couldn’t even look at
