Page 150 of Craving Carla

Amari smiles at that, the expression transforming his face, making him even more beautiful.

He pulls back and grabs my hand. “Let’s go home.”

I stop him, a smile spreading across my face as I remember Angie’s words. She was right—I can feel my magic almost as if it’s natural to me. I’ll need to go back to her for better training, but I know this much. I raise my palm and open a portal to the patrol cabin, the magic flowing from me effortlessly now.

Amari looks at me with so much pride that it almost brings fresh tears to my eyes.

“Don’t worry about a cloak,” I tell him, remembering how other supernaturals feel about teleportation. But since he has some of my magic now...

Amari doesn’t hesitate. He pulls me forward, stepping through the portal and drawing me through after him. The world shifts and blurs around us, and then we’re standing in front of the patrol cabin, the portal closing behind us with a soft whoosh of magic.

Amari pulls me close, his hands sliding up to frame my face as he draws me into a passionate kiss. His lips are cool against mine, but they warm quickly as our mouths move together. This kiss is different from all our others—deeper, more meaningful now that I can feel the mate bond humming between us.

My entire body responds to his touch, coming alive in ways I never thought possible. Where his fingers brush my skin, it’s like tiny sparks of electricity follow in their wake. The world around us fades away—the trees, the cabin, the distant sounds of the forest—until there’s nothing but Amari and me and this perfect moment suspended in time.

His tongue traces the seam of my lips, asking for entrance, and I open to him gladly. The taste of him—mint and something darker, richer, uniquely Amari—fills my senses. It’s intoxicating, addictive. I could drown in this kiss and die happy.

One of his hands slides into my hair, cradling the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my curls with a gentleness. Hisother hand moves to the small of my back, pressing me closer to him until there’s no space left between us. I can feel every hard plane of his body against mine, fitting together perfectly as if we were made for each other—which, according to Fate, we were.

The mate bond sings between us, amplifying every sensation. It’s like a golden thread connecting us, pulsing with energy and emotion. I can feel his heartbeat as if it’s my own, can sense his emotions—his relief, his joy, his love—washing over me in waves. There’s a depth to this connection that I never could have imagined, something sacred and profound that transcends physical attraction or even emotional attachment. This is a soul-deep recognition, a coming home.

Tears spring to my eyes again, and this time, they’re tears of happiness, of completion. They slide down my cheeks, mingling with our kiss, salt and sweetness together.

Amari breaks away for a moment, his forehead resting against mine. His eyes, so close to mine, are filled with an emotion so intense it takes my breath away. “Don’t cry, baby,” he whispers, his breath fanning across my face. “I know it’s intense, but hold on. Let me lead, guide you. You’re safe with me.”

His thumbs gently wipe away my tears, the gesture so tender it makes my heart ache. His gentleness, knowing the power he possesses—the same power that tore through enemies to protect me—makes me love him even more.

I’m panting, overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through me, rising and falling rapidly. My skin feels too tight, too sensitive, every nerve ending firing at once. The mate bond pulses between us, stronger with each passing moment, as if making up for lost time.

Amari just smiles—that slow, confident smile that never fails to make my heart skip a beat—and kisses me again. This time it’s slower, deeper, more controlled, but no less passionate. He takeshis time, exploring my mouth as if it’s the first time, yet with the familiarity of a lover who knows exactly what I need.

His hands grip my legs, lifting me into his arms without breaking the kiss. I wrap my legs around his waist instinctively, my arms encircling his neck, fingers threading through his short hair. He carries me up the steps and into the cabin with effortless strength, his lips never leaving mine.

The door shuts behind us in the quiet cabin. Amari presses me against the wall in the entryway, his body pinning mine in place as he deepens the kiss even further. I moan into his mouth, the sound swallowed by his kiss. My entire body is on fire, every inch of me hyper-aware of his touch, his taste, his scent.

“First a shower,” he says against my lips, his voice hoarse with restraint. “Then we relax and just process things.”

I start to pout—I want more, want everything now that I can finally feel him through our bond. The need is almost painful, a hunger that claws at me from the inside. “But I want?—”

Amari shakes his head, silencing me with a gentle kiss. His self-control is maddening, especially when I can feel through our bond how much he wants me too. “Rest first,” he says firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument despite its softness. “Then you can claim me as much as you want.” His golden eyes lock with mine, intense. “I already belong to you. You made sure of that when you told me that you loved me without feeling the mate bond.”

The reminder of that moment—when I chose him with my whole heart, without Fate’s guidance—brings fresh tears to my eyes. That was real love, not dictated by magic or destiny but by choice. And now, with the mate bond between us, that love is only magnified, not replaced.

My heart swells at his words, and I let my head fall on his shoulder, my body relaxing into his embrace. His arms tightenaround me, secure and protective. I press my face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent, letting it calm me.

50

Carla

Iwatch as Amari drops to his knees before me, his strong hands working lotion up and down my legs. I’m freshly showered, dressed in a thin tank top and sweatpants, my hair still damp against my shoulders. Part of me wishes we could have stayed naked in bed, but I understand why we’re here—why we need this moment of quiet care.

Today, we nearly lost each other.

Amari nearly gave his life to save Tofi, throwing himself in harm’s way and taking the blow from that giant man-made spider. The wound in his chest—is almost healed now.

Even now, hours later, my hands tremble slightly as I watch him. Not from fear, but from the aftershocks of nearly losing my other half. The mate bond feels stronger than ever, as if it knows how close we came to being severed forever.

Amari suffered an injury that would have killed any human, and though he’s nearly healed, the vampire healing process demands energy. He needs to rest and feed. I’m exhausted too, my stomach betraying me with a loud growl.

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