Page 119 of Sight of Fate

She stares at me for a long minute, then reluctantly reaches for them. When she peels back the tissue paper and sees the delicate items, she runs a finger along the silk and lace. “They’re gorgeous.”

Macklin walks over and peeks into the bag. “Hmm, I approve, but if you want to keep wearing my shirts or nothing at all, that’s okay too.”

She opens the next box with the pajamas, and her smile widens. “I’ve been wanting some new ones.” She pales when she pulls out a silk camisole with matching shorts. “I don’t like to bare my shoulders. Can you return these?”

Macklin folds his arms across his chest. “Keep them. You never know when you might change your mind. Look at me. Walking around half naked, cooking you dinner. Scars out. Guns out.”

Charli snorts and shakes her head, but I can see her considering it. “Thank you, Andros. Everything is beautiful.” She reaches for me, and I automatically evade her touch. “Does it bother you when I touch you?”

“It bothers me when anyone touches me,” I calmly state, though I’m nervous as hell. “Mostly on my upper body.” Where that bastard liked to mark me the most. “I can hold you in my arms, but having yours around me and not reacting means I’m probably dying.”

“Okay, but I’m going to need a little more info,” she says, and I stiffen, waiting for her to ask what happened. “Holding your hand. Yes or no.”

I blink and think about it. “Yes, with the glove. Okay, in the dark without the glove.”

Her light green eyes twinkle. “Upper half of your body is off limits. But I can kiss you, so…what about sitting on your face? Yes or no?”

“I’ll stick to watching. I love tasting you, but I prefer more control of the situation.”

She purses her lips. “What about the lower half of your body? Holding your cock seems to be fine. Is that in the light or dark?”

My voice is husky when I answer. “Anywhere. Everywhere.”

“Legs? Butt? All the rest?”

I chuckle. “Fine.”

She leans in and whispers, “Okay, but here’s the most important question. Can I run my fingers through your hair?”

The memory of lying on the hard pavement, staring up into her worried green eyes as my body started to fail and feeling her slim fingers stroking my hair was one of the most soothing things I’ve ever felt. And I realize she’s done it several times since, and it never triggered me.

“Definitely.”

She takes a deep breath. “I don’t like my bare shoulders or back touched. Through clothing is fine, though. So I can live with your rules if you can live with mine.”

I expel a relieved breath and nod, but I can’t help but yearn for more. A night in my bed. Her arms wrapped around me as I sink into her.

Chapter Forty-Seven

CHARLI

Macklin’s phone rings in the early hours of the morning, and he immediately sits up and grabs it. Worried it might be Teague, I push myself up and wait.

“Any idea on when?” Macklin asks quietly, getting up to grab his jeans and put them on.

Teague?

Raine.

I’m relieved it’s not Teague, but Raine calling Macklin in the middle of the night isn’t a good sign either. A shadow appears in the doorway, and I see Andros tugging on his gloves. I slip out of bed and move closer to him.

“Raine,” I whisper.

Macklin hangs up and turns toward us. “Raine had a vision of a small force attacking Greystone. Maybe forty to fifty. In three days. We need to mobilize.”

“While you alert the town, I’ll call Teague,” Andros states, running a hand through his hair. “Does she know if they’re human or supes?”

“She saw both, but isn’t sure how many of each. Humans were well-armed. With unusual bullets that looked like small darts,” Macklin says, pulling on a dark henley and boots.