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“So, you’ll give up? I expected better from you.”

I shoved my hands against his chest. When he didn’t move, I attempted to kick him in the shin. He waited me out, until I glowered at him. “You’ve always been like this. Always pushed me until I wanted to break.”

He let out a low growl. “You think I didn’t want to be soft with you? Didn’t want to guide you gently with sweet, encouraging words? Perhaps I could have done such a thing if you weren’t a queen. If you weren’t going to be in danger over and over again. If I didn’t know you’d eventually see me for who I was andleave, and my only hope was that I’d taught you enough to survive without me.” He eyed me. “Now, why don’t you tellmesomething, wildcat. Give me one thing to hold on to.”

I hesitated. Moments passed, until the life began to eke from his eyes, his expression becoming blank. Cold.

I dropped my gaze. He caught my chin in his hand. “Look at me,” he demanded.

I lifted my gaze to his face. I’d expected to see triumph. But…it was tenderness in his eyes now. Tenderness and stubborn expectation.

I sucked in a deep breath, and the words came out in a rush.

“I’ve gone my whole life feeling like I’m holding my breath. Like my lungs are burning. Like I’m desperately fighting for each gasp of air. But when you’re around, I can…breathe. And I’m furious at you, because when that ends…when we’re forced apart, I don’t know how I’ll take a full breath without you.”

I caught the dazed pleasure that flickered across his face before he could hide it. My eyes stung.

He slid his hand into my hair, right as his lips caressed the side of my throat. I angled my head to give him more room. Gods, he was good at that.

“So, wildcat,” he murmured against my ear. “Just how much did you miss me?” The question was a low taunt. Heat pooled in my lower belly.

“A little,” I said. “Hardly at all, really. If anything, I barely noticed you weren’t here.”

He nipped my earlobe, and I laughed. His lips caught my laugh, his mouth hot and possessive against mine. His hand slipped to my lower back, urging me closer, and I breathed him in.

My hands ripped at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine. He groaned, and then he was stripping me with methodical precision, his gaze hot as he watched me. I shivered at the promise in those green eyes.

My head spun as he lifted me into his arms, stumbling toward a fallen log. He sat, and I slid my hand into his leathers, stroking the hard length of him.

Moments later, he was sliding inside me. I gasped against his mouth, and he nipped my lower lip, his hands cupping my ass.

“You feel so fucking good.” He took my mouth, swallowing my moans, and I tightened around him. “There are so many things I want to do to you. With you.”

I rode him slowly, getting used to his size in this position, groaning at the feel of him inside me.

“That’s it,” he urged me on, and I threw my head back as he kissed his way across my breasts. The feel of him angled right where I wanted him most…

I needed more.

His hands moved to my thighs, easily lifting me up and down, and I ground against him as he hit the spot inside me that made me tremble.

“Yes,” he hissed, pulling me down harder, going deeper. Even in this position, I was at his mercy, and I clutched at his shoulders, my nails digging in as he brushed his thumb over my clit.

He growled when I clamped down around him. “There you go,” he said. “Give me your pleasure.”

I shuddered, panting as my climax poured through me, unfurling slow and long. Lorian watched me, his eyes burning into mine, before following me over with a low groan.

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

Two days later, we stopped to water the horses just a few hours from the largest fae village on this side of the lake. Traveling suited Prisca. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright, and she constantly swept her gaze over the landscape, as if drinking in everything she could.

Was it any wonder I’d felt the first stirring of reluctant interest when we’d been forced to travel together all those weeks ago?

“What are you thinking?” Prisca asked, and my lips twitched. I told her, and she scowled at me. “You didnotbehave like a man who was finding it difficult to keep his hands off me.”

“Believe me, wildcat, I’ve always found it difficult to keep my hands off you.”

She sent me an unimpressed look that made me want to haul her into my arms. “Tell me about where we’re going.”