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“You see what happens when you let yourself be distracted?” he asks.

My body goes molten and melts around him. “Thenyouneed to stop distracting me. Or maybe you can’t keep your hands off me.”

He squeezes tighter, simply because of who he is, and then releases me. “I thought you’d be happy for the change. Or maybe you like it when we're at each other’s throats. Does it make you wet when you hate me?”

“It’s…definitely a turn-on,” I admit. Then chuckle when his beard bristles. “Did you want me to lie to you?”

I hurl myself at him, hoping for the element of surprise. But of course Soren anticipates my movements. He’s always a step ahead. He throws me down on the grass and flattens his body over me. He grinds his hips in a stark display of what this does to him.

“Itisa change,” I admit, searching his face and making no move to push him off of me. “To have you act this way instead of…”

His expression softens. He balances most of his weight on his palms, on either side of my head, but allows just enough of his body to touch mine and set me on fire.

“Instead of trying to run you out of town,” he clarifies.

“Yeah, because you hated me.”

He drops his forehead to mine and my arms automatically go around his waist, claiming him.Mine.

“I never hated you, Gilli. I was serious when I said it the first time. I hope you know there’s…more…going on than I let you see. One day maybe I’ll explain it better.”

Soren clears his throat and steals a quick, searing kiss before he switches positions and digs his elbow against my ribs.

“You’re terrible at defending yourself, but if all else fails, use your elbow. And knee them in the fucking balls.”

He rears up, surging to his feet in a single graceful maneuver and holding out a hand for me. My skin is tight. My insides have gone soft and the rest of me is lit up like a sparkler in the dead of night.

There’s fire in my veins.

I’ve never understood the expression until now, until these three turned my way. And maybe Soren is right and the dislike, the prickly interactions, are an aphrodisiac to me.

I’m in way over my head and I’m not sure I want to surface again. Not when the tension is fantastically hot and there is something about this moment that feels poignant.

“Aiden should be back soon,” Soren says. “Who’s hungry?”

My gaze lingers on Tase, on the way the light plays across the strong planes of his face, the way his eyes meet mine.

And a warm reassurance bubbles up when he whispers, “We’ll get our chance.”

Chapter 31

Gilli

We’ll get our chance.

“What about now?” I blurt out.

Soren stops in his tracks at my voice but Tase just stares at me. He blinks once.

“Now?” he repeats, assured and calm. Something in him has gone still.

“Yeah, now.” My hands itch to touch him. “But not here.”

Even though it's not smart to leave, I want to get out of here. I want to put myself in Tase’s hands and see where life takes us.

Is this crazy? And am I out of my mind with no way back?

“You’re not serious.” Soren’s voice sounds from a distance. “Of all the stupid fucking things?—”