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“Waiting for you. The better question is, why are you so distracted? I could have been anyone.”

I glowered at him. “There’s only one man who would dare wait in my tent, knowing I could pause time and castrate him.”

He gave a low, taunting laugh. The sound seemed to caress my skin. Skin that was suddenly too sensitive.

“I missed you.” He said it simply, unashamed. As if it were simply a fact. “Have you missed me, wildcat? Have you thought about the feel of my hands on you? My mouth on you?”

I sucked in an unsteady breath.

His eyes darkened. “I thought so.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. It meanseverything.”

“Lorian…” My voice cracked.

His jaw tightened. “Do you think I want to be here? I’d stay away from you if I could.”

“So do it,” I choked out. Perhaps if we just avoided each other for long enough, I’d stop longing for him constantly. I’d stop imagining his hands on me. Stop dreaming of him every night.

He stepped closer, and I watched him, fisting my hands so I wouldn’t reach for him.

“You’re still angry.”

“I’m…” I didn’t know what I was. Furious that we couldn’t turn back time to the way we’d been in the castle. Devastated that I’d found a man I wanted more than anything, only to learn we could never be together. Hurt that he hadn’t told me. And he’d let me fall.

His mouth slammed down on mine, and I breathed him in, a sob hiccupping in my chest. This was what I’d wanted, even while I was attempting to hate him with everything in me. And ithurtwanting the man who’d betrayed my trust. The man I still couldn’t trust.

Wouldn’tletmyself trust.

He was loyal to his brother first. He’d made that clear.

“Turn it off,” he muttered against my mouth. “Just fucking turn off that busy mind andfeelme.”

Icouldfeel him. He was currently nestled against my belly, thick and hard. I breathed in the scent of him and wished I could freeze time just like this. Wished we could stay here forever. He tore his mouth away from mine and kissed his way up my throat.

Heat pooled in my stomach. Too many clothes. I was wearing too many clothes.

“I know, wildcat.”

Had I been speaking those words?

Lorian leaned back and stripped my shirt over my head. The flexible material around my breasts was gone next, and I shivered at the air on my bare skin.

He groaned, his gaze dropping, but I was already pulling off my boots. “One time,” I got out. “Only once.”

“Hmm.” One of his hands had found my breast, and he gently brushed my nipple with his thumb. I let out a strangled groan, my stomach tumbling.

“I’m serious, Lorian.”

“I know you are.”

His mouth brushed mine, and the rest of the world disappeared. A moment later, his lips were gone as he pulled off his shirt, and I instantly caressed his chest. His busy hands were working on the fastenings of my leggings, and I slid my own hand down, finding his hard length.

Lorian sucked in a sharp breath that made my thighs clench. His gaze met mine as he pried my hand off him long enough to push my leggings and underclothes down my thighs. My legs were trapped and I wiggled, but he shook his head, turning me until my back met his chest. He slid one of his big hands to my stomach, holding me still.

“Did you miss me?”