Chapter 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

BASH

As we climbed the stairs a silence fell over the house. We were about to walk into the final battle knowing our enemy was the strongest it’d ever been. There was an eerie calm to knowing this might be our last night together. Our lives, and the lives of the civilians in Third, were all in the hands of fate now. Some would survive, most wouldn’t. My mother would see as many of us dead as she could. Collins and I were on the top of that list.

I followed Collins into the bedroom given to us and when she turned to face me I saw my own thoughts reflected in those turquoise eyes of hers. This could be our last night together. Ever.

She took a step toward me. “Bash.”

I opened my hand and let my power flow until the room was covered in black smoke. No one would be able to hear or see anything between the two of us. She closed the distance between us and threw her arms around my neck pulling me down to her. Our lips crashed together. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her body flush against mine. I wanted to hold her in this moment and never let her go. Her lips parted for me and passion burst between us as our tongues wound together. She ran her hands over my stomach and I felt her little nails scratch at my skin.

She pulled back and looked up at me. Saying a million things with her bottomless eyes. “We only have tonight.”

I cupped her face in my hands. “We will survive this.”

“But what if?—”

“—shhh. No, there is no what if . Tomorrow we will end this. In my heart I know this.”

“But she’s so strong.” Her eyes glistened. “If anything happens to you, I just . . .”

Her words trailed off and I knew exactly what she was thinking. If anything happened to her I wouldn’t want to walk the earth for the rest of eternity without her. “I know.”

She went up on her tip toes and pressed a light kiss to my lips. “I want this night with you. Just in case . . .”

Her words trailed off but I knew it was just in case we die . I had a lifetime of love to give to Collins and I needed that time with her. I’d earned that time with her. I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. All of the anger and frustrations caused by Venus were gone, leaving a tsunami of emotions that unleashed upon us. This moment between us was our goodbye but also a celebration of what our future could possibly be. We stumbled toward the bed as we peeled our clothing off and tossed it aside.

It was a stollen moment in the quiet of my magic. The calm before the storm.

She was beautiful in the light off the only candle in the room. Her skin was smooth and soft to the touch as I allowed my fingers to drift over her body. She arched into my touch a I caressed her curves taking my time to feel every inch of her. I let my hand trail down her body to between her legs.

She curled into my touch with a delicate little moan. I let my fingers dip into her and she arched to my touch. Her hips moved with each little move I made, readying herself for me. Her fingers wrapped around me and started to move, my hips bucked of their own accord. Her touch ignited something in me that only she could unlock. We worked each other into a frenzy until I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Bash, I need you.” Her knees fell wide open, welcoming me. “ Please .”

I moved over her and let her knees fall on either side of my hips. I pressed forward, letting myself just rub over the most intimate part of her. When she gripped my back and her nails dug into my skin I pushed forward and felt her body give so sweetly for mine. She rolled her hips, taking me deeper and I groaned at the feel of her. My body fit perfectly with hers as we moved together. Her eyes locked on mine and in the moment I felt our soulmate connection sizzle between us. I felt every ounce of love she had for me.

I pressed my forehead to hers and our panting breaths mingled together as I whispered, “I love you, Collins. More than my own life.”

She wrapped her hand around the back of my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. Her lips slammed into mine and I took her gasp with my mouth. I needed to be closer, to hold every inch of her. I pulled away and Collins groaned but gasped when I flipped her onto her side. I pulled her flushed against me, her back to my chest. I lifted her leg and entered her once more. She arched her back into me with a moan. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her so tight to me I could feel her every breath. With one hand I cupped her breast with the other I reached down between her legs and rubbed delicate circles with that most sensitive part of her.

Her body quickened under my touch. Her breath shook as she arched back into me. I moved faster pushing her toward the end I knew we both needed. I pressed my lips to her neck, holding her close while I drove her higher and higher. Her pace grew hitched and wild and I knew she was close. I gritted my teeth and tried to hold out until I got her there. But the urge to let go and fall into the bliss was so strong.

A moan escaped her lips and I felt her body pulse around mine. She threw her head back against my chest and the strands of her hair brushed over my chest. I moved faster and harder. I felt my body begin to ride that wave of pleasure. It built higher and higher until I tumbled over the edge, following Collins into perfect ecstasy. It shot through my body and tingled from head to toe. I held her there as I came down from the closest thing to a perfect moment I’d ever had.

“Bash?” She whispered so low it was barely audible.

“Yes, love?” I let my lips brush over the tip of her ear.

“If we die tomorrow —”

“—we’re not going to die.”

She sighed. “If we die tomorrow I just need you to know I couldn’t ask for more in a soulmate and you will have my love for eternity. No matter what happens.”

I tightened my grip on her. “We will get our eternity.”

Because no matter what it took, I would give it to her.