Page 64 of Unseen Eye
“Lead the way.” He gestures for me to go ahead.
We take a short walk through the forest, and soon, we’re by the river—the same one I came to that morning, just after my light first appeared. I find my way to the familiar pile of rocks and settle onto a flat one overlooking the water. The gentle murmur of the water has a way of calming my thoughts. I glance back at Callon, extending a hand toward him. “Come on, there’s room for you.”
He takes it, his touch warm and grounding as he joins me. “You know,” I begin softly, “this is where I came the morning after I met you. Something about the river… it’s steady, no matter what chaos is swirling around it. I made a promise to myself here—to find the strength to do what needed to be done.”
I pause, looking down, the weight of everything I’ve been through settling over me. “I don’t think I’ve kept that promise very well,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper.
For a moment, Callon says nothing. Then he places his hand beneath my chin, turning my face toward his. His usually sharp features have softened in the evening light, his gaze filled witha tenderness that catches me off guard. His other hand lingers near mine, as though he’s waiting for me to reach out first.
“Eva,” he begins softly, “you are the strongest person I know.”
I scoff, but he continues, “Look at everything you’ve faced—all the loss, the betrayals, the questions that never seem to end. You’ve taken every hit life has thrown at you that night we met, and you’re still standing. Not many people could do that. I’ve seen soldiers buckle under half of what you’ve been through.” He takes a steadying breath, his gaze locked on mine. “I’m sorry you had to wait so long for answers. I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into a world where everything feels so uncertain. And I’m sorry—truly—that it’s been so damn hard to figure out who you can trust, even… with me.”
There’s a deep sorrow in his eyes, as he reaches out slowly, his fingers brushing the hair out of my face with a warmth that’s almost painful in its gentleness. “Eva, it’s okay to not be okay,” he says quietly, his voice laced with empathy. “You don’t have to carry all this alone. You’ve been thrown into a mess that no one should have to bear on their own. I promise you, whatever this prophecy means, whatever it demands of us, we’ll figure it out—together.”
We lock eyes for longer than I care to admit. Finally, I look away, feeling vulnerable and exposed.
Shit, that means he is winning now.
My heart clenches, and for a moment, I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, toes curling over the edge as the weight of his words sink in. I don’t have to do this alone. I don’t have to be the one always fighting, always searching for strength I barely feel like I have. His promise fills a space in me I didn’t realize was empty, a space that has craved connection, certainty, someone willing to share the load. “Promise?” I whisper, my voice almost breaking.
“Yes,” Callon says, his gaze drifting down to my lips.
I don’t let myself overthink it. “Then prove it,” I murmur, my voice barely a breath.
And with that, he doesn’t hesitate. His lips press softly against mine, the kiss gentle. It’s as though he’s been waiting, holding back, afraid that crossing this line would mean no return. His hands slide into my tangled hair, cradling the back of my neck with a quiet tenderness. But then, something shifts—a spark ignites between us, sharp and undeniable. It’s like every nerve in my body comes alive at once as his warmth floods through me.
After a while, Callon begins to pull away, his voice tinged with regret. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
But I don’t let him finish. I pull him back to me, capturing his lips again, harder this time, unwilling to let go of what’s been building. He responds instantly, his hand pressing against the small of my back as he deepens the kiss, his tongue meeting mine with an urgency that sets every nerve in my body on fire. It’s as if the world falls away, leaving only the heat of his lips, the feel of his arms around me, and the wild rhythm of our hearts pounding in sync.
He tastes like leather and wine—dark, rich, and addictive. My fingers find their way into his hair, tugging him closer as if he might slip away if I let go.
All I can think is closer. I need him closer. Without breaking the kiss, I climb onto his lap, straddling him. His hands move down to my waist, and his lips trail down my jaw, leaving a scorching path along my skin. My breath catches as he finds a sensitive spot on my neck, and I tilt my head back, surrendering to the sensation. His voice is a low, gravelly murmur against my skin. “Eva, if we don’t slow down…” His hands grip my waist as if he’s barely holding himself back. “I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.”
Instead of pulling away, I draw him closer, pressing my lips to his once more, pouring every unspoken feeling into the kiss.This time, he doesn’t hesitate, his hands roaming over me as he kisses me deeper, as if he’s determined to make up for all the lost moments. “Such an evil little thing,” he breathes against my lips, his words tinged with a teasing warmth that only stokes the fire between us.
He’s just as hungry for me as I am for him, exploring and devouring. I grind my hips against his, needing the friction, urging him to keep going. I want him to touch me everywhere, to kiss me everywhere. I can’t get enough of him, and everything he does feels like perfection.
Then the realization hits—like a moment from a storybook, one I’ve read about a hundred times but never believed could be real. My heart races, not with the flutter of infatuation, but with something deeper, heavier. This is it, isn’t it? The feeling I’ve only imagined through the words of others.
And it terrifies me. The intensity, the vulnerability, the way he’s unraveled me so completely. But then his lips find mine again, his kiss tender and unyielding, and for a moment, the fear dissolves.
Eventually, we pull back, both of us breathing heavily. Callon rests his forehead against mine as he catches his breath. I can see the raw emotion he’s trying to contain. “That was—” he starts, struggling to find the right words.
“Mind-blowing? Utter madness? Hot?” I offer, grinning despite the blush rising to my cheeks.
“All the above,” he replies with a smile, his thumb brushing my cheek.
I rest my hand in the crook of his neck, intertwining my fingers with his. We stay like that for a while, letting the moment sink in. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the lake, he helps me down from the rocks, his hand lingering in mine.
“Ready to head back?” he asks, his voice soft, a question that feels heavier than it sounds.
I nod, squeezing his hand and savoring the last moments with him. I want this moment to stretch into eternity, but my affinity doesn’t grant me the luxury of stopping time.
“Ready.”
Chapter Twenty
