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A wicked grin spread across her face as she flicked her paintbrush at me, sending a splatter of color across my shirt. I retaliated with a quick swipe, leaving a streak of paint on her arm.
“Two can play at that game,” I said.
“Bring it on.”
Our laughter bounced off the walls as we continued our playful paint fight, each trying to outdo the other. Tori’s amusement, the vibrant colors, and the intoxicating scent of her mixed with the aroma of paint would forever be etched in my memories.
“Okay, okay, time out.” She raised her hands in surrender, her cheeks flushed. “I can’t afford to waste all this paint. I bought it for painting, and while I think you’re a masterpiece”—she winked at me—“I’d like to get some of it on a canvas eventually.”
“Is that so?” I grinned, admiring the colorful mess we had made of ourselves. “Well, don’t you worry about that. I’ll buy you any art supplies you want. Just say the word.”
“Really?” Her eyes lit up at my offer, and I couldn’t resist the urge to pull her close.
“Absolutely.” I leaned in and captured her lips with mine, savoring the taste of her and the lingering traces of paint. Our bodies fused together as we lost ourselves in each other.
The world around us faded away, and all that remained was Tori’s touch, her taste, and the undeniable connection that bound us together. In that moment, there was nothing more important than the woman in my arms and the love that burned between us.
As we reluctantly broke apart, breathless from our passionate embrace, I marveled at how far we’d come since we first met. From enemies to lovers, from strangers to fated mates, our journey had been nothing short of extraordinary.
“Thank you,” Tori said against my lips. “For everything.”
“Anything for you.” And it was the truth. I would do whatever it took to make her happy, to keep her safe, and to build a life together that was worthy of her incredible spirit and strength.
“Sometimes, I can’t believe any of this is real. It’s like a dream, and I’m afraid to wake up.” She twined her fingers into my hair, and I leaned into her touch.
“Believe it. You can open your eyes whenever you want. This is as real as it gets.” I had so much pride and love for this incredible woman who had come into my life and turned it upside down in the best possible way.
“Even the whole fated mates thing. It just seems so perfect. I’m almost afraid to trust that this feeling is real. It’s just too good to be true.” She stared up at me, her vulnerable gaze piercing the depths of my soul.
I knew she thought fated mates meant she’d have no control over herself or her life, and that scared her. “Fate might have brought us together, but we’ve made the choice to stay together, right?” I pointed out. “That’s what matters most.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I just…” She chewed the inside of her cheek and toyed with the collar of my t-shirt. “If I could pick one person in the world to be fated to, it would always be you, Ridge. I’ve fallen for you so incredibly hard.”
“Same here, Tori.” My heart thudded against my chest, and I pulled her tight against me, wanting to feel her heartbeat against mine. “You’ve become my everything.”
“Wow, that was intense.” She looked away, suddenly bashful, but the hint of a smile played on her lips.
“Good intense or bad intense?” I asked, teasing her.
“Good intense. Definitely good intense. Just a lot to process, you know?” Tori stepped back, then started straightening up the room. Despite my offer to buy her anything she needed, she still put the lids back on to save the paint. She even dipped the brushes into a liquid so they wouldn’t dry out.
“Take your time,” I said. “We’ve got our whole lives ahead of us to plan this out.”
Tori turned, her face carefully schooled to hide the vulnerability she’d just shown. “Speaking of, what are your plans for tomorrow? Any more business meetings or pack disputes todeal with?” I could see my mate’s energy levels were dwindling, and she gave a huge yawn.
“Always something going on, but my priority is making sure you’re safe and happy,” I said. “Everything else can wait. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up. You look like you’re about to fall asleep standing up.”
“Fine, but no funny business in the shower, mister.” She wagged her finger in my direction. “I know how your mind works.”
Feigning hurt, I clutched my chest. “I just want to be close to you. There’s such a thing as being intimate without involving sex, in case you hadn’t heard.”
“Right, like when you offered to ‘massage’ me that one time?” my mate pointed out, giving me a triumphant smile.
“If I recall,you’rethe one who initiated that night. But I promise, this time, it’s just about being close to each other. Okay?” I took her hand and led her to the master bedroom.
“Okay.” She yawned and rubbed her eyes. “But you better not try anything, or I will be forced to unleash my secret weapon.”
Tori shed her clothes, leaving a trail as we walked through the bedroom and into the bathroom.
