The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Wade says, scrunching his face.

Slowly, I shift myself to a seated position. “No, I mean it. You didn’t have to come back to the house. You don’t owe me anything. Especially after—”

Wade sits up, too, taking my hands in his and holding them in the space between us. “Autumn, I will never abandon you. I don’t know why you haven’t gotten that through your thick head yet.”

“Gee—thanks,” I say, dropping my gaze to the crumpled blanket between us.

“No, I mean it. I know you’re just running scared. I get it. You’ve been through a lot in a short span of time. Finding out about your gifts, not to mention my lineage and all that goes with it. Then Cat and Colton. The Fetch. Besides, my dad can be damn scary… But I’ve given things a lot of thought over the past few weeks. I love you and I’m not going anywhere. I will always be here for you. Even if I have to do it from a distance,” he says, his eyes pleading with me to understand.

Something inside of me softens and I’m consumed with the desire to let go.

I don’t know what’s changed. Maybe it’s the extreme haunting and very real possibility of facing my own mortality… Or the fact that even though I’ve tried to keep him away and keep him safe, Wade is still always nearby. Even when I try to keep my distance, he’s thrust right back into the middle of things. In essence, it renders my decision to stay apart completely inert.

My eyes fall to his lips, which tug slightly downward. I hadn’t noticed until now just how worn his eyes look. He’s tired and just as scared as I am.

Bending forward, I lift my right hand, placing it along his jawline. Rubbing my thumb across his lower lip, I can’t help but be drawn to him. After all the chaos in my life, all the insanity with my gifts, he’s been the one constant. The one person I turn to and the one I know without a doubt that I can trust with my life.

Wade closes his eyes, sighing contently into my hand. “I’ve missed that,” he whispers.

Before I have the sense to question myself, I close the distance between us, pressing my lips to his. Instantly, my body sparks with an intensity I didn’t know was hiding under the surface. I’ve missed him, too. More than I could ever put into words.

Wade sighs into the kiss, but within microseconds, it triggers something in him as well. He wraps his arms around my torso, pulling me on top of him. With a quick twist of his hip, he rolls us over, so I’m pressed beneath his weight. The movement unleashes so much pent-up energy between the two of us, it almost catches me off guard a second time.

With his hands on either side of my face, he presses his lips and body against mine. It stirs every nerve ending to life, and for the first time in weeks, I want nothing more than to feel alive. To be fully and one hundred percent in my body—before it’s too late.

There’s an impending air of doom that presses against my chest, but I ignore its heaviness and give in to the pleasure of Wade’s touch. Sliding my hands underneath his t-shirt, I lift it upward. For a moment, he breaks our kiss to tug it completely over his head. It drops unceremoniously to the floor as he lowers himself back to me. His lips crush down on mine, making my lips buzz and my heartbeat sputter out of control.

My hands slide up and down his back, feeling the contours of his muscles beneath my palms. As they drop to his waist, I tug at his belt, unlatching it. He breaks our kiss, trailing his lips to my jawline and down my neck, sending a fresh wave of shivers coursing through my body.

As I get his belt unbuckled, he grabs hold of my hands. Excitement and passion flush his face, but he peers at me with caution hidden in his eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t—”

His words trigger an internal check, but I realize I’ve never been more certain of anything before.

Holding myself very still, I smile. “I’m sure, Angel.”

The lines of loneliness and weariness practically vanish as the most beautiful smile graces his lips and brightens his face. It’s the invitation he must have been waiting for as he bends forward again, kissing me with dizzying effect. His hands slowly trail downward. A soft moan escapes my lips and involuntarily, I arch my back.

He takes it for the invitation it is, dropping his hands to my jeans, and unbuttoning them. He shifts to the side and in a couple of swift movements, my jeans slide off. Tossing them over the edge, he bends forward again, lifting my shirt and exposing my belly to his kisses. His lips graze the side of my ribcage, my belly button, and trails to my hipbone.

I sit up, tugging my shirt off completely and unhooking my bra. His breath hitches as he kneels back, watching me.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispers. His pupils are wide, covering up any hint of silver he may have hidden in his irises.

Smiling, I reach out for him, urging him forward. He kicks off his shoes and socks, and shimmies out of his jeans, letting them tumble off the edge of the bed. Lowering himself down on top of me, the heat between our bodies builds with the skin-on-skin contact. Once again, his lips find mine as he tips his hips forward. I open my legs, wrapping them around his waist, and wishing I’d taken off the last shred of clothing I have on. I want to be consumed by him. All of him.

I need to escape reality and be completely absorbed in him.

As if reading my mind,