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His chest caved, but he didn’t let it show. It wasn’t the enthusiastic, overjoyedyes, yes, a thousand times yesthat he’d been hoping for—preferably while falling into his arms. But at this point, either of them could have broken the bond. As easy as snapping a string. She hadn’t.

So, there was that, at least.

He leaned in to kiss her. He meant it as a quick brush of their mouths—a reassurance. A question.Are we okay? Do you still want this?

Her answer was clear. She met him, pressing closer and deepening the kiss.

His breath caught. He angled toward her instinctively, one hand bracing in the grass behind her as he leaned in, chasing the heat of her mouth. Her hands slid into his hair, fingerstightening—and for a second, he didn’t want to stop. Even though he knew he had to.

He pulled away, breathless. “So, uh…” He cleared his throat. “If crossing that finish line is still off the table, I think we need to end here for tonight.”

Taly’s lips brushed his jaw, warm and maddening. He shuddered. “Oh, yeah. I guess I did say that.”

He exhaled sharply. “Taly, I’m serious.”

“Oh, believe me, I know,” she murmured, a smile in her voice. “But what if I said the finish line was yours for the taking?”

“Are you? Saying that… I mean…” It was hard to think with her this close.

She pressed a slow, teasing kiss to his throat, trailing higher. “You said all the right things.”

“I did?” When had thateverhappened?

“I’m not worried anymore.” Warm breath brushed his ear as she whispered, “You’re right. We’re permanent. The rest is just details.”

So, she didn’t want the bond—but “permanent” was fine? He didn’t get this woman.

“Please just say it, Taly,” he rasped, his restraint unraveling with every electric skim of her lips against his neck. “Small words. Beveryclear.”

There was too much blood flow below the belt and not enough above it. He needed to be sure.

Taly pulled back and looked him dead in the eye. “Yes, Skye,” she said, mouth quirking. “Since my blatant attempts tonight to jump your bones haven’t gotten the point across, sex is back on the ta—”

He cut her off with his mouth.

Message received. Permission granted.

She was his now—to take, to savor, to ruin.

And he would. Shards help him, hewouldruin her for every other man.

She moaned into him, and this time, there was no reason to hold back—except the obvious.

“Not here,” he said roughly. Anyone could walk in. And as far gone as he was, he wasn’t going to take Taly’s first time on a rooftop like some Shards-damned back-alley fumble.

He stood with her in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. She held onto his shoulders, lips teasing along his throat, each press and scrape of her teeth a silent demand: hurry. Move now.

Back down the stairs. Through her bedroom window. Straight to the bed.

He dropped her onto the mattress and tugged off her boots, tossing them somewhere behind him. His coat hit the floor next. Then his shirt. Taly was already shoving off her pants, tangled in a mess of fabric and bare skin. He helped, dragging them the rest of the way off.

Only in her sweater now, she went to her knees and attacked his belt. But he had other priorities.

Gripping the hem, he ripped the sweater over her head, grabbed her around the waist, and pushed her back down.

No red lace this time. Just the heavy curve of her breasts spilling over tight stays, flushed and far too tempting. He hadn’t given them the attention they deserved last time. He intended to correct that.

Soft. Full. Fucking perfect. Tits like that should’ve been illegal. Or under armed guard. Or his. Definitely his.