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I licked my kiss-swollen lips. “Ashur, stop.”

He crowded me against the granite. He gripped my hips and pulled me against him, letting his thick hot cock burn me through the back of my dress. Leaning down, he grazed his stubble against the side of my neck, and without thought, I closed my eyes and tilted my head.

His hand crept up my abdomen, sending butterflies into my stomach, and then stopped under the swell of my breasts. A finger traced my puckered nipple through my dress, and a moan escaped my lips.

“Do you really want me to stop, Tara?” He pinched the sensitive bud. “Or do you want me to pull your dress up and fuck you for a second time?”

“I… I can’t think.”

“That’s the point.”

The air conditioner kicked on, filling the room with cool air and breaking the spell he had me under.

“I have to change.” I shifted, slipping from his hold, and walked into the closet.

I stared at racks of clothes, but my mind felt so unfocused that I couldn’t figure out what I had to do. This man had me all turned upside down.

Bracing my hand against a wall, I closed my eyes. After a few moments, my brain cells began to fire and I was no longer in a desire-drowned daze. As I turned, I found Ashur watching me with a look that had me taking a step back.

He didn’t move, just leaned against the doorframe in his naked glory.

“It’s only going to get worse.”

“What is?”

“The need. I know it will for me.”

“You’ll just have to resist.”

“Why would I do that? Know this, Tara. Now that I’ve had you, I’m going to want you every chance I get. If you aren’t pregnant by the end of the year, it will be a miracle. And even then, when you’re swollen with our child, I’ll want to fuck you. I’ve waited years to have you. You’re mine and I’m never letting you go.”

* * *

Ten minutes later,Ashur and I walked out of the master suite. He held my hand in his, running his thumb back and forth over mine.

We’d dressed in silence after he’d made his statement. I wasn’t expecting how intense it felt to be with him again. Now I craved more. More than I should ever want. And instead of being annoyed by his possessiveness, I longed to belong to him.

I knew it could never truly happen with all my secrets between us, not to mention the contract.

I should have known better than to enter into a business agreement with a man I’d loved. Now it was too late.

All of a sudden, Ashur stopped, cupped my face, and said, “Breathe, baby.”

I stared at him in confusion.

“You’re trying to make sense of what you’re feeling. Believe me, I get it.”

“I…”

He kissed me, silencing my words. “We have a lifetime to figure this out. Let’s focus on our friends and family. They’re waiting for us.”

I nodded my agreement. We weren’t going to solve this emotional roller coaster anytime soon.

“Plus, I have a bet with Veer to see who will be the first person to leave the room when they can’t handle Papa’s antics.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “My money is on Samina or me.”

He tilted my face up so I could gaze in his amber depths. “No, love, you have more tolerance than you should with the man. You got that trait from your mom. All my money is on Samina. I think Papa’s presence incites violence in her.”