As we plunged into the gateway, Caleb tightened his grip around me, his lips finding mine in the shadow, tender and reassuring, offering a welcome escape from my fear of the in-between, and for a moment, the oppressive darkness that haunted me was at least bearable, thanks to the soothing cadence of Caleb's heartbeat against my chest. His rhythmic lullaby coaxed my own heart to sync with his. For a moment, I felt I could beat the demons that chased me in the darkness of Caleb’s strange and unusual gift.

Breaking away from his kiss, I gripped my arms tighter around his neck as I gasped for air. The acrid tang of the void's stale atmosphere caught in my throat, and I had to stifle a cough. The tingle of despair and soft cries came out of the darkness, and I had to seek refuge in the crook of his neck, drawing in the comforting essence of his scent to stifle the stale-repugnant smell of death and decay around me. I clenched my legs tighter around his waist until my thighs protested from the strain, a sensation only amplified by my arm's instinctive grip as the engulfing darkness licked at the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. He must have sensed my growing panic because he stroked my back and his soft lips tickled my ear. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” Caleb whispered soothingly.

The Void, an expanse where existence was both nowhere and everywhere all at the same time, and was only colored by one's perception of Caleb's extraordinary gift. Everyone’s experience was different, and I was the only one who ever experienced terror and voices while riding the wave. But I refused to give in this time. I didn’t want to be that scared little girl any longer that teetered on the human and paranormal threshold. I needed to find the real me.

I shoved aside the nagging voice of caution, dismissing the potential perils that awaited us, and focused on the captivating desire to feel Caleb's lips on mine once more, to immerse myself in his embrace, and to wash away the years of accumulated sorrow I have had to live with since our last encounter. To hell with the darkness and The Void they couldn’t have me. I refused to be weak and let it overwhelm me.

I relaxed, and he adjusted for the shift in my weight, sliding his hands to my bottom to hold me balanced. I kept my eyes closed, not wanting to chance a glimpse of the silver silhouettes of the scattered world around me and work myself up again. The voices were no longer creeping up on me, and they seemed to retreat at my will. Besides, I didn’t have to see him to kiss him, his lips found mine as if he had read my mind. I opened to allow the warm softness of his skilled tongue to distract me. It was wondrous to feel that his longing mirrored my own, I could taste his desire tantalizing my taste buds.

But just as I settled in and let go of the rest of my resolve, we materialized at the bottom step of my family home. The journey went way smoother than it had in the past, but the abrupt exit from the wave's left me disoriented, my equilibrium faltering as if I had just stepped off the Tilt a Whirl at the county fair. He held me close, knowing that I needed a moment to stop the world from spinning. At least he didn't drop me abruptly like he did the last time.

Caleb's ability to navigate the wave in my world was an unexpected marvel, suggesting to me that there had to be an unseen magical balance woven into the fabric of our two realities. Because magic has mostly gone unnoticed by my world's inhabitants, was it possible that our worlds once coexisted on the same plane? Perhaps those who identified themselves as modern-day witches just have not figured out how to tap into their lineal ancestral magic but felt the pull of the magic around them.

It was only a theory I had. There might be a potential, deeper connection between our two worlds. And that there might not be as big of an ancestor gap between my humans and the extraordinary creatures of Ella. I yearned to discuss these thoughts with Caleb, but our recent tensions had made even a simple question like, “What do you want for breakfast?” words that could entice a potential fight.

As my head cleared and the dancing spots in front of my eyes subsided, Caleb placed me on the ground so I could find my center and stand on my own two feet to ground myself with the living world again. I may not possess any real magic, but I do have a deep connection to the world around me, and feeling the earth on my bare feet always made me feel better.

He gave me a moment, and when I lifted my arms up and put them around his shoulders once more and flashed him an “all better” smile, he didn’t hesitate to hoist me up again and carry me up the steps to the front door.

At the threshold, he turned the handle and knocked the door open with the palm of his hand. Caleb drew me into another impassioned kiss as we ascended the final step and stumbled in through the doorway. His foot got caught on the red runner carpet my mother put down to save the wear and tear of the main hall’s grand entrance after my great-grandmother's original was destroyed by a burst pipe in the small hall half bath.

We both giggled as he steadied us with a hand on the nearby banister, and he kissed me quickly before giving me a quick squeeze on the bottom as he adjusted our stance. I loved the playful banter in his eyes and the inhuman strength he possessed to maneuver me with ease, it was such a turn-on.

"I love your mouth." Caleb said, pulling gently at my bottom lip before pulling me in to kiss me fully.

Caleb spun me back toward the door. I only came up for air for a moment so I could swat at the heavy wooden door to close. I was not particularly concerned about whether it latched or not. The heavy wood of the door would provide the seclusion and solitude I desired, yet I remained nonchalant about leaving it ajar throughout the night if it happened to blow open, it would be no big deal. The likelihood of a coyote stumbling upon us and wreaking havoc seemed more plausible than that of a stranger or a deranged murderer discovering our remote location. Nevertheless, with Caleb by my side, neither of the scenario’s frightened me at all.

The living room emanated a gentle warmth, courtesy of the soft glow from the lamp stationed under the left window of the foyer. The bulb's delicate radiance cast enchanting shadows that danced gracefully around the large entrance of the main entrance. The outline of the plums that sat atop the long hall table danced across the ivory and gold wall paper my mother had installed before my birth, giving the illusion of waves rippling down the hall. The breeze that was created from the kitchen window I had left open earlier this morning and the closing of the front door added to the ethereal ambiance of motion throughout the room.

As a precautionary measure, my mother always kept the hallway light on, anticipating my father's late-night snack attacks. He had a bad habit of sneaking downstairs to raid the pantry, long before the sun or the rest of us would awaken for the day.

My mother worried that my father’s early morning antics could cause him to accidentally take a tumble down the stairs as he tried to sneak around in the dark so he didn't wake us. So to alleviate her stress, she moved one of the side tables and lamps from the living room and positioned it beside the front door. This strategic placement allowed the light to permeate both the dining and living areas, as well as illuminating the grand stairwell and part of the hall that led down to the kitchen and half bath without having to leave a light on in every room.

The light itself spoke volumes about how much my mother loved my father. Even after my father's passing, she kept the light burning, replacing the bulb as needed. It was as if she believed that by keeping it lit, she could somehow keep his spirit alive within our home. Perhaps she held onto the hope that if she maintained this beacon in the darkness, he would find his way back to her someday. The lamp held both great sadness and beautiful memories for me; it symbolized the epitome of the love they once shared.

As we entered the dimly lit room of the parlor, I felt the wall rush up against my back. I liked the aggressiveness of it and the stability it gave me. The smooth, hard surface of the drywall allowed me to adjust to our new position and relieved myself of the need to hold on to his neck for balance so I could touch him.

He pushed his body flush against mine. The hardness of him against my inner thigh sent a surge of excitement through me. With closed eyes, he playfully nibbled at my lower lip, gently tugging at it as I embraced him tightly with my legs, positioning myself against him. A soft, breathy moan escaped my lips when I felt him flex against me, causing his upper lip to curl into a mischievous half-smile. The pleasure derived from his touch impassioned me, prompting me to squeeze again to feel the sensation of him against my threshold once more as he kissed my neck. This time, he too let out a raspy, pleasurable breath as he abandoned my neck to look at me, his eyes lifting up as he slowly closed them as he enjoyed the softness of me as he made small circular motions as if we were part of the cast of dirty dancing.

He clasped my hands tightly, intertwining his fingers with mine, and raised my arms seductively above my head. When he reached the top, he held both of my wrists within his one hand as his other hand roamed freely in exploration of my body.

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His fingers danced downward until his palm reached my breast. The thin, lacy fabric barrier only heightened the sensation of his caress as he ran the pad of his thumb over my nipple, sending a surge of pleasure through me that warmed my folds that he was still pushed against, making me slick with anticipation.

It felt as though we were discovering each other for the very first time. Our first kisses and touches were filled with a sense of innocence and wonder, and it was beautiful. I would never want to taint our past by saying it was lacking. But perhaps in our previous encounters, we had been too young and too shy to truly delve into the depths of our desires for one another.

But now, with the passage of time and experience on our side, I yearned for his touch, his taste, and to feel his presence within me. I longed to venture into uncharted territories of his body, daring to explore it in ways I had never thought to before. I craved the ecstasy that his fingers and his mouth were promising me. I would gladly face the consequences of our actions tenfold tomorrow, just to have a night where we would allow ourselves to be completely liberated from our past and the obligations of our future.

His lips departed from mine, leaving a trail of tender kisses along my neck, each one sending delightful shivers down my spine. He had let my arms go as he pushed me upward so he could explore me with his mouth, and I entwined my fingers in his still damp hair, pulling him close and guiding him to the places that ignited my internal fire.

His teeth grazed against my collarbone, his lips and tongue teasing the sensitive hollow of my neck. That was my sweet spot, the place that set my body ablaze with an insatiable longing for more than just kisses and exploring fingers. I shifted again, yearning to feel his firmness against me once more, and he moved back to my mouth, allowing me to slide back down to feel him, my rhythmic motion brushing against his desires as he had done to me moments ago.

Oh, how I wish our clothes were no longer an obstacle. I was so ready for him to be inside me.

But he denied me once more, leaving me groaning with frustration. As he pulled my hands away from his shoulders and guided them back up above my head, he snickered and brushed his lips playfully across mine. I turned my head to let him know I was mad, but it didn’t last long. His lips touched my neck as he nuzzled my earlobe with his nose. He desired foreplay, while all I wanted to do was tear off the last of our remaining clothing and surrender myself to him. But apparently, he had other plans.

His hands relinquished their hold on my hips, gradually ascending the space between us. With skilled precision, his fingers unfastened my bra, liberating my breasts. The sensation of his skin against mine sent a delightful shiver throughout my entire being, causing my nipples to stand erect and tingle with anticipation.

My rosy, rounded mounds yearned to be caressed, to be savored, and as I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine the fantasy of his mouth on them. The vision was almost as satisfying as the real thing as I closed my eyes and arched my back to absorb the fullness of his presence pressing against me, igniting a desire that compelled me to voice my pleasure.

The sound of my moans seemed to further excite him, as he pressed into the arch of my back while using his other arm for support against the wall. His lips enveloped my sensitive peak.

With a gentle suck and the warm strokes of his tongue, he unleashed a wave of intoxicating pleasure that surged through my entire body. The warm sensation of readiness once again surged between my legs, intensifying the ache of my carnal desires. My body craved him with an insatiable appetite that I never knew existed within me.

We had engaged in numerous sexual encounters during our brief summer romance, and they were enjoyable, but this was different. These feelings were so primal that I didn't know how much longer I could endure the teasing. It was becoming unbearable. If we didn't proceed soon, I knew I would succumb to an orgasm without needing him to enter me.

"Mmmm."

"Yes," I whispered, struggling to form the words. “Yes, there, harder." Caleb glanced up at me with a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he took another taste, this time pulling back at the end for a little added sensation. I eagerly grasped his face, urging him to bring his attention to my other breast, craving the balance of pleasure on both sides of my body. “Please," I whined, my desire breathy and urgent.

He obliged.

He could no longer resist my demands; even his breaths were showing signs of passions. He pulled me from the wall and carried me towards the sofa. Apparently, the upstairs rooms felt too distant, even for him.

I had no interest in romance or tenderness right now. My impatience to be intimate with him compelled me to escape from his embrace and wriggle out of his arms so that my feet could touch the floor. The carpet would suffice. Besides, the sofa seemed inadequate to fully experience him, and I planned on spending the next several hours doing just that.

He seemed momentarily confused but allowed me to stand on my own two feet. I grasped his hands and pulled him down to his knees as I spread myself out on the carpet in front of him, feeling somewhat vulnerable in just my lace panty's as I offered myself to him.

For a moment, he hesitated.

The thought of him changing his mind now made my heart race, so I sat up quickly to intertwine my fingers with his. When he didn't pull away, I guided him towards me, and he complied. My head sank into the plush piles of the carpet, and I took a deep breath, inhaling the refreshing scent of the pristine wool mixed with his earthy arousal. The loops of the carpet tickled my back as his weight settled on top of me. He felt incredible between my legs, even with the last remaining articles of clothing in our way.

His lips pressed against my neck, leaving a trail of gentle kisses as he slowly moved towards my breast. Each kiss and touch felt deliberate, as if he wanted to savor every inch of my skin that he had missed before. With a teasing graze of his teeth, he playfully nipped at the peaks before tenderly kissing each tip, coaxing them out of their hiding place.

Once he was satisfied with their response, he continued his exploration downward, his tongue and lips tracing the contours of my stomach, mapping out every valley and curve along the way. A shiver ran through my body as his lips and lashes grazed the delicate skin of my inner thigh, so close to where my pleasure resided. With skilled hands, he effortlessly removed the last of my barriers, a gesture I hadn't even noticed until I felt his fingers slowly moving between my folds. He dipped a finger in and out before touching the sensitive peak of my sex. By now, I was so wet that his gentle strokes happened effortlessly and were filled with electric pulses of pleasure.

It was an unexpected appetizer that ignited a fire in my belly, making me feel bold and uninhibited. I placed my hand over his, feeling his movements and urging him to delve deeper into me with each stroke. I leaned up slightly as his lips brushed against my thigh, marveling at how intensely he watched his finger disappear into me, his awe only heightening my vocal sexual awareness.

"Ahh, yes, mhmm."

As I had anticipated, it didn't take long for me to climb that mountain. The moment he added another finger to the dance, I arched my back and spread my legs, inviting him to push me over the edge. But instead of granting me my sweet release, he abruptly withdrew his fingers and sat up, his gaze fixed on me.

I hung on the precipice of my first partner-induced orgasm, and he had denied me. My stomach and inner walls contracted in frustration, crying silently for him to finish what he started. My heart pulsed with a mixture of dissatisfaction, yearning, and intrigue. His chilled blue eyes drank me in, reveling in my torment, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.

My racing heartbeat gradually returned to a more steady rhythm, and his smile widened, leaving me feeling cheated yet not so disappointed that I’d get up and walk away. If anything, it made me want to pay him back. So I allowed him to commit my contours to memory as I drank in his reaction to my nakedness'.

His face was flushed from his own excitement, which was a rarity for him. God, he was beautiful, especially when he was in a good mood. He licked his lips as if he couldn't decide what and where he wanted to explore next. It enticed me to indulge in my own self-exploration while he watched me lay back onto the carpet as my fingertips sought out my sensitive peaks that he had so tenderly savored moments ago. He licked his lips again in response.

They stood erect, still tingling from the sensation he had left on them with his mouth. I turned my head and closed my eyes, and I imagined my finger was his tongue. It was delightful, but not the same. I looked him over to see if he was enjoying the show; the bulge in his shorts was very well defined at this distance.

He was.

I let one hand linger to caress the soft yet firm apex in circular patterns that reignited my arousal. He followed my other hand as I danced my fingers leisurely downward, seeking the place where he had left me so unsatisfied. Caleb seemed enthralled in the spectacle I was creating, yet he only permitted me a single, tantalizing touch before he seized both of my hands and drew me up to him.

For a moment, he held my wrists, a silent battle for dominance passing between us. I could sense his primal instincts urging him to assert control, like an Alpha demanding submission from a female Beta. But I am not a Shifter, and though I found certain aspects of the power dynamics within his breed enticing, as I grew older, I desired to be an active participant in the seduction and not just the mere recipient of the pleasure he could provide me. I longed to drive him to the brink of madness, just as he was doing to me.

I pulled my hands free, and he willingly let go without a fuss, but he looked a bit sad that I hadn't complied. So I reached up and liberated him from his shorts. A flicker of surprise danced in his eyes, but he didn't seem to hate the balance of power the way I thought he might. I took him into my hand, applying a gentle squeeze before allowing my hand to glide along his length, tracing a path from tip to base and back again. When I reached the apex, my thumb caressed the sensitive head, and I felt him flex within my palm. The blood rushed to the surface of his skin from my touch, giving him a beautiful human-like quality as I enchanted his chameleon-like gifts.

He shut his eyes, surrendering to the sensation, and I repeated the movement once more. However, this time, instead of using my thumb to intensify the feeling, I took him into my mouth, gliding my lips down until I could taste him at the back of my throat as I looked up at him.

In an instant, his eyes burst open, the serenity of his blue irises transforming into blazing white orbs, ignited with desire. The beast within him surged forward, simmering just beneath the surface and begging to be released. The low rumble of his chest told me he had a handle on it for now.

I swirled my tongue around the tip, relishing the saltiness of his essence, before releasing him from my mouth. His lips parted, and I observed in awe as his canines elongated, accompanied by a primal growl of pleasure.

"Elizabeth." Caleb growled.

God, I loved the way he said my name.