Awake My Soul

A small, needy sound escaped Mariah's throat as Caedes claimed her mouth, the kiss searing through her like wildfire. She arched into his touch, the firm pressure of his paw on her chest anchoring her, steadying the frantic beat of her heart. Her own paws slid up Caedes' broad chest and over his shoulders, clinging to him as if he were the only solid thing in a world turned to quicksand.

Caedes' grip on her hip sent tendrils of heat unfurling through Mariah's core. She hooked a leg over his, eliminating any remaining space between their bodies, craving the grounding weight of him. A whimper built in the back of her throat when she finally broke the kiss, panting in absence. Mariah gazed up at him through lidded eyes, her need laid bare.

"It’s not only my heart that craves," she breathed, her words heavy with unspoken pleas. Make me feel. Chase the numbness away. Remind me I'm alive.

"Mariah Mendacium"