Celeste stirred, warmth cocooning her like a dream she never wanted to wake from.
The soft glow of morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks over the tangled sheets, illuminating the quiet intimacy of the room. The scent of salt and sea breeze lingered faintly in the air, mixing with something entirely Jase which was warm and intoxicating.
Her body felt deliciously sore, every inch of her marked by the depth of the night before.
She barely had time to process the feeling before she became aware of him.
Jase.
His arm was draped around her waist, possessive even in sleep, the heat of his bare chest pressed firmly against her back. His breathing was deep, steady, warm against the nape of her neck.
She smiled sleepily, sinking further into him.
Then his grip tightened, pulling her flush against him, as if he could sense her wakefulness even before his own.
A deep, husky chuckle rumbled against her spine.
"Morning, sweetheart."
His voice was thick with sleep, raspy and deliciously deep, sending a shiver down her spine.
Celeste hummed, nuzzling into his warmth.
"Morning."
Jase pressed a slow kiss against her shoulder, his lips warm and lingering.
His hand slid lazily over the bare curve of her hip, his fingers tracing gentle, aimless patterns over her skin.
"Are you sore?" he murmured, voice low and teasing, though there was a thread of genuine concern beneath it.
Celeste flushed, her heart fluttering at the intimacy of the question.
"A little."
Jase let out a low chuckle, the vibration melting into her skin as he pressed another kiss—this time lower, just beneath the curve of her neck.
"You should've told me to slow down."
Celeste turned in his arms, her fingers skimming over the hard planes of his chest, warm and solid beneath her touch.
"You wouldn't have listened," she whispered, mischief flickering in her golden-silver eyes.
Jase grinned, his golden gaze darkening as he tilted his head slightly, watching her like he was ready to devour her all over again.
"You're right. I wouldn't have."
Their laughter mingled, soft and lazy, dissolving into slow, teasing kisses—ones that didn't demand but lingered, as if they had all the time in the world.
Jase's hand slid lower, fingers grazing the sensitive dip of her waist, over the curve of her hip, exploring her as if he was memorizing her all over again.
His touch was unhurried, reverent, his gaze softer than she had ever seen it before.
"Last night…" he murmured against her lips, pressing a kiss between each word, "I meant every moment of it."
Celeste smiled, her fingers weaving through his tousled hair, loving the way it fell messily over his forehead, the way his golden eyes softened at her touch.
"Me too."
And as they lay there, wrapped in each other, hearts still racing in sync, something unexpected happened.
A soft, golden light began to glow on Celeste's left hand.
Jase stilled, his breath catching.
"Celeste—"
She blinked, pulling back slightly, confused at his tone.
Then she saw it.
A mark.
Golden, softly pulsating, as if responding to her heartbeat.
The crest of the Luminaries.
Her breath hitched, her pulse hammering as she slowly traced her fingertips over the shimmering emblem now embedded into her skin.
"What… What does this mean?" she whispered, awe coloring her voice.
Jase sat up, his gaze locked onto her hand, his thumb running over the crest, tracing the lines as if he couldn't believe it was real.
His golden eyes burned with something raw, powerful, uncontainable.
"It means you're one of us."
Celeste's heart pounded.
"But I thought—"
Jase exhaled, his fingers lifting to cup her face, his touch warm and grounding.
"You're the half blood and the Eclipse Child, Celeste," he murmured. "You were never just Mortalis." His gaze flickered back to the mark, pride and something deeper flickering in his eyes.
"But now, your Luminary blood has fully awakened."
Celeste swallowed, her fingers trembling as she touched the glowing crest again, feeling its warmth hum beneath her fingertips.
"So this means…?"
Jase smirked, catching her wrist, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to the center of her palm.
"It means you're stuck with me forever."
Celeste laughed softly, her cheeks still flushed, but her eyes shone with something deeper and something unchanging.
She tilted her head, studying him, before reaching up to brush her thumb across his cheekbone, feeling the slight stubble there.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Jase's expression softened, something unreadable flashing in his gaze before his arms wound around her waist, pulling her back down into the sheets.
"Good," he murmured, kissing her like he would never get enough, slow and lingering, stealing her breath all over again.
*****
The sun had risen higher, Jase lay beside Celeste, watching her, his fingers tracing absentminded patterns over her bare back. She was still half-asleep, her face buried into the pillow, her body pressed against his as if she never wanted to move.
And honestly?
Jase wasn't in a hurry to let her go either.
Still, the mischief in his golden eyes sparked as he leaned in, brushing a kiss against her temple.
"Come on, sweetheart. We need to get cleaned up."
Celeste groaned in protest, burrowing deeper beneath the covers, her voice muffled.
"I can't move."
Jase chuckled, shaking his head.
"I told you I'd wear you out."
A flushed Celeste immediately peeked out from under the blanket, glaring at him, her face redder than sunrise.
"Jase!"
She swung her hand to swat at him, but he caught her wrist effortlessly, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the inside of it, his lips brushing against her pulse point.
Celeste stilled, her heartbeat betraying her.
Jase smirked. He felt it.
"Come on," he murmured, his voice low, coaxing. "I'll help you."
And before she could protest, Jase lifted her effortlessly, wrapping her in his arms as if she weighed nothing.
"Jase—!" Celeste gasped, clutching onto his shoulders as he carried her toward the bathroom.
He nudged the door open with his foot, walking them inside with far too much ease, and Celeste could feel every firm muscle against her body.
This was unfair.
Jase knew exactly what he was doing.
The bathroom was already warm, steam curling in the air as he reached in to turn on the water, setting it to the perfect temperature.
Celeste shivered as he finally set her down, his golden gaze locked onto her with something undeniably heated.
The warm water cascaded down, droplets sliding over her flushed skin, tracing paths over every curve, every inch of her.
Jase watched.
His eyes darkened, a sharp inhale barely disguised as he leaned against the tiled wall, arms crossed over his bare, sculpted chest.
Celeste could feel it.
The weight of his stare.
"You're staring," she said, raising an eyebrow, though her voice wasn't nearly as steady as she hoped.
Jase's smirk was slow, teasing, and completely unrepentant.
"Can you blame me?"
Celeste rolled her eyes, but she couldn't fight the blush creeping down her neck.
Then Jase stepped forward.
Water trickled down his skin, following the hard lines of his abs, the defined muscle of his chest, pooling against his collarbone before sliding lower.
Celeste forgot how to breathe.
He reached for her, fingers grazing her damp skin, his touch featherlight yet searing, trailing over her shoulders, down her arms, slow and deliberate.
"Every time I look at you," Jase murmured, his voice deep, reverent, "I still can't believe you're mine."
Celeste felt her breath catch, heat curling low in her stomach.
His hands slid down, his fingers brushing over her waist, tracing small circles just to feel her shiver beneath him.
Jase reached for the soap, his movements painfully slow, trailing his hands along her back, down her arms, over every inch of her, his touch lingering just a second too long.
Celeste bit her lip, trying to focus.
But how could she?
Jase was so close, the heat of his body radiating against her, his touch too gentle yet too dangerous all at once.
Her fingers twitched at her sides, tempted to drag him closer, to press herself against him until there was nothing between them.
"Jase—" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the running water.
"Hmm?" His smirk was pure sin, his hands still moving, pretending to be innocent even though they both knew he was anything but.
Celeste flushed, heat rushing to her face.
"You're not helping."
Jase grinned, his lips ghosting against her shoulder, soft, teasing kisses that made her breath hitch.
"I'm helping in my own way," he murmured, his fingers tracing lower, skimming just above the curve of her hip.
Celeste let out a soft gasp, her nails digging into his shoulders in retaliation.
Jase laughed, his golden eyes dark with amusement, before he tilted her chin up, capturing her lips in a slow, deep kiss.
It was languid, full of lazy passion, as if he had no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Celeste sighed against his lips, her hands sliding up to tangle in his damp hair, her entire body melting into him.
God, how did he do this to her?
Jase pressed her against the cool tiles, his grip firm, his fingers skimming up her sides, his touch leaving a trail of heat in its wake.
She shivered, and Jase felt it, his smirk returning against her lips.
"You're sensitive today," he murmured.
Celeste huffed, trying to glare, but it was impossible when Jase was looking at her like this—like she was something he could never get enough of.
"I wonder whose fault that is?" she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Jase laughed, low and deep, before he wrapped his arms fully around her, pulling her flush against him.
The feel of his bare, slick skin against hers made Celeste's heart stutter.
She buried her face in his neck, suddenly shy despite everything.
Jase groaned, pressing a kiss just below her ear.
"Don't hide from me, sweetheart." His voice was pure sin, his breath hot against her skin.
Celeste bit her lip, reluctantly tilting her head up to meet his gaze.
The intensity in his golden eyes made her stomach flip. His fingers brushed her cheek, his thumb tracing her bottom lip, his expression softening into something deeper.
"I love you," Celeste whispered, her voice unsteady but certain.
Jase's smirk faded, his golden eyes flickering with something raw, something reverent.
"I love you more," he murmured, his lips ghosting over hers, barely touching.
Celeste breathed him in, heart racing.
Then he kissed her again, slower this time, deeper, sealing the words between them, sealing the promise of forever.
And as the water cascaded around them, steam rising, bodies pressed together—