Page 137 of Revealing Fate

Rage. Instant, murderous rage.

Kal should have dropped his hands immediately, but hadn’t he already explained he was a selfish bastard when it came to her? “I’m keyed up here, Kitty,” he said. “And I’m trying to understand. You said you don’t want to play anymore. But if I can’t touch you, I need you to tell me exactly what you want from me.”

A horrified expression came over her. “Oh gods,” she said, covering her face with her hands. “I don’t know,” she mumbled between fingers. “I’m sorry.”

Kal would be damned if he lost her to embarrassment now. Or indecision. Or anything. He refused to cross a line she’d definitively drawn. The problem was, Kitty didn’t seem to know where that line lay, only that one existed. Solution? Kal was going to toe it until there was no question.

Without warning, Kal swept Kitty into his arms. She yelped in surprise.

“What are you doing!”

“Curing your confusion.”

Alarm shuddered through her frame, transferring to Kal’s as he cradled her against him, biceps bunching under her knees and back. He strode through the darkened hallway leading from his bedroom, past the living room, to the bookshelf hiding his basement stairwell, and down.

Kitty seemed to be searching for words. “Does this magical cure involve locking me in your basement?”

He grinned wolfishly down at her. “Does the prospect of that excite you?”

She gaped.

When he reached the spacious chaise lounge, he set her upon it and went about lighting all the lanterns and modified sconces until a flickering amber glow illuminated the room.

“If you plan to study ancient texts to distract me from,” she made a vague waving motion above her head, “whatever that was in your room, then I fear you’ve grievously miscalculated.”

Kal almost laughed. Whatever that was. “Why don’t you tell me what you think that was, and I’ll let you in on my plan. I can assure you it doesn’t involve consulting the godscripts.”

She clamped her mouth shut, and Kal did laugh.

He disappeared to the far side of the room, where his private armory and the bulk of his weapons collection were, and carefully rummaged through an old trunk. This chest of precious belongings had been a gift from Adder, taken from Brightsea Castle. The one place in Ilistaar to which Kal hadn’t been able to return. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d opened it. Without allowing himself to dwell on the other contents, he found what he was looking for and strode back to Kitty.

She eyed him warily.

He dropped to a crouch before her. Gods, look at all that creamy skin. He needed to be careful about this.

“What are you doing, Kal?” she whispered.

“Toeing the line.”

Her lovely dark brows wrinkled.

Kal braced his hands on either side of her, leaning his weight into the chaise. “Since you don’t seem to know how far is too far, we’re going to find out together.”

She gulped. “How?”

He grinned up at her. “I’m going to touch you. And you’re going to tell me when to stop.”

Kitty’s green-gold eyes, wide with surprise, nearly glowed in the dancing light. Her lips parted. “What do I do?”

That was simple. “Whatever you want.”

She took a shaky breath. “Okay.”

A wild, nervous energy worked its way through Kal’s innards, blitzing down his limbs, saturating the blood racing through his body. He felt fourteen again, gazing unbelieving at the girl of his dreams. Only this time, she wasn’t promised to someone else. Fuck reality. In this moment? She was his. And he was no longer a boy.

Kal reached out and dragged the back of his finger over the soft curve of Kitty’s cheek, along her jaw, and down her neck. He felt the pounding of her pulse beneath pale skin. “Remember. Tell me when to stop.”

Kitty’s fascinated attention locked on him. She nodded. It was all the permission he needed.