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There is that.

“—and that you happen to be my mate.”

There is also that.

He takes my hand and leads me back inside his rooms.

“But, as far as where we go from here, I’d say for starters that we get you a bath.”

I crack my first smile of the evening. “Look who’s talking.” I swear man sweat is at least twice as stinky as woman sweat. I’m pretty sure it’s a scientific fact.

Des releases my hand. “Is that an invitation?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re the Lord of Secrets—I think you can figure that out for yourself,” I say.

His eyes brighten with mischief.

While he looks at me like I’m the most delicious macaron he’s ever laid eyes on, I reach around my back and paw uselessly at the training leathers I wear. For what feels like forever, I’ve been trying to unfasten the ties that crisscross my back and hold the leather bodice in place, but I can’t quite reach them—

Des’s warm hands brush mine away before turning me around and unlacing the ties. Each graze of fingers feels like a kiss. Suddenly, my heart’s thundering all over again, and the humorous moment we were having is replaced by something that smolders like embers.

My bodice loosens then falls to the floor in front of me, the air caressing my exposed torso.

Des rotates me back around and places his hand over my pounding heart, as though he’s trying to capture the beat of it for himself.

His gaze moves to mine. “Cherub, we have a lot of catching up to do.”

I feel his words all the way in the pit of my stomach. Love, romance—the whole thing feels like a rabbit hole, and I’m Alice, about to plunge into it.

His hand slides to my wrist, and I tense as his fingers roll over my bracelet. What will he ask of me now? More training? Some kinky sex act? Not going to lie, I’m pretty sure I could get behind the latter.

And I do meanget behind.

“Tell me something about your past, something I don’t know.”

Of course, the moment I’m eager to participate in one of Des’s dares, he blows my mind by asking me a simple question.

A second later I realize the Bargainer’s magic doesn’t grip me as it usually does. He didn’t take a bead. He just wants to know a bit more about me…as I stand topless in his chambers.

“Ummm, what do you want to know?”

I bring my hands up, hiding my breasts from him. I aspire one day to shamelessly have topless conversations with Des…but that day isn’t today.

“How did you and Temper meet?” he asks.

That’s what he wants to know? Right now?

He reads me like a book. “You think I’m concerned about losing an opportunity to make love to you?”

Those words go straight to my core.

His eyes dip to where I cover my breasts, and he lowers his voice. “I’m not.”

I narrow my eyes at his arrogance.

He steps forward, into my space, and it’s all I can do not to edge backward. Des is still overwhelming, still a force to be reckoned with. “I knew who you were the night I left you, Callie, and I’m learning who you are now, but I want to know about everything that came during those seven years I lost you.”

That has my breath catching as I stare up at him. We are lovers and old friends and strangers all at once.