Present day, Seattle

Sariel

Selah stirs as I carry her through the entrance of my home. Looking around, I’m glad I took Galen’s offer to live here. During my time with him as my host, I became quite familiar with this place, and have always been fond of the open floor plan and neutral decor. What Galen thought of as simple and easy to maintain, I find calming and comfortable. Now, with Selah curled up against my chest, all I can think of is getting her upstairs and safely in my bed.

“Sariel,” she moans.

My heart stutters at the sound of my name on her lips. It is pure perfection to hear it after so long. I wonder idly what she’s dreaming, but then it becomes all too clear when she arches her back and squirms as I place her on the mattress.

“Oh God. Yes.” The sound of her moans send desire racing through my veins.

As much as I try to control myself, I’m a man. I harden in an instant, wanting to truly make her cry out under me. She sighs and whimpers as her dream takes her to heights I can only wish for at the moment. Taking a shuddering breath, I force myself to step back and control the raging need to sink inside her. I have to get away before I give in and touch my lips to hers.

Tearing my gaze from her, I head for the door, knowing if I don’t leave soon, I’ll do something she’s not ready for.

“Sam?” Her husky voice catches me off guard. “Where am I?”

I stand in the doorway, trying to stay relaxed, as if this were totally normal. “Your friend abandoned you outside McCoy’s. You’d had too much to drink and I don’t know where you live, so I brought you to my place so you could sleep it off.”

A frown furrows her brow. “That’s…kind of weird.”

“What was I supposed to do? Frisk you and find your address? You were basically comatose on the sidewalk.”

That’s not technically true, but she doesn’t need to know.

“Ugh, my head hurts.”

“You should go back to sleep. I’ll call a car for you in a few hours.”

An ache shoots through my chest at the look she gives me.

“Will you stay?”

“What?”

“The whole reason I went out with Erica was so I wouldn’t be alone. Now, here I am, in a bed, alone. God, I’m so stupid.” A tear slips down her cheek, causing me to rush across the room without concern for what she really needs right now.

Sliding my fingers between hers, I run my thumb over the soft skin at the top of her hand. “What’s made you so upset?”

“Adam.”

His name sends a wave of jealousy through me, and I grip her hand just a little tighter. “What about him?”

“We… I think we broke up. It’s fine, though. He’s a jerk. You were right. He wasn’t the one for me.”

She’s damn right about that. But the wobble in her voice betrays her. She’s trying to hold it together, but she’s more vulnerable than she’d have me believe.

“I don’t know the man, but anyone who makes you feel this way can’t be good for you.”

It’s as true as I can make it. I’m the only one who is right for her.

“So, do you want to tell me why you think you broke up?”

Her cheeks turn pink, bright spots in their centers. “He thought I was cheating on him.”

My eyebrows raise. “Were you?”

“No. Of course not.”

“So, what would make him think that?”

Scooting to the edge of the bed, she stands and lets out a soft curse while wincing.

“Selah, sit down.” I tug on her hand until she does as I ask.

“I said another man’s name while we were…” The thought of him inside her, touching her, taking what’s mine sends red hot rage through me. “Fooling around.”

“That is pretty serious.”

“The weird thing is, I’ve only heard this name once. I met the man by chance months ago and haven’t seen him since.”

My chest tightens. “What was his name?”

“Sariel.”

I want to scream from the rooftops that I am the man she called out for. But I’m sure if I did that, she’d run. “Well, any man would be angry about his woman calling out another name during sex.”

Her cheeks go even redder. “We weren’t having sex.”

Relief floods me. “Either way. I know if you were with me, I’d want to make sure mine was the only name that left your lips.”

“You talk to me as though we’re old friends, Sam, but we barely know each other. I don’t understand why I’m so comfortable around you.”

Shrugging, I try to play it calm and collected. “Sometimes things are just meant to be.”

With a slight shake of her head, she stands again and I follow. “I don’t believe in fate.”

“You should. Your destiny could be standing right in front of you.”

A flare of awareness passes between us, tethering us and tightening as I cup the back of her neck and run my thumb across her jaw. She sucks in a sharp breath when I dip my head to gently brush my lips over hers.

At the last second, she turns her face, blocking my access to what I want the most. My mouth lands on her cheek, but even that contact is cherished.

“Can you call a car for me? I should go.”

Releasing her, I nod and clear my throat.

The taxi is at my door all too soon. As the car drives away, I will her to look back at me. She doesn’t.