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“Yes, because the sex was too good, and you justlooovea bad girl.” She flicked her eyes to the ceiling.

He ground his molars together, forcing the words past his lips. “That’s right. I didn’t leave because I was in love with a bad girl.”

She exhaled a breath as though he’d punched her and pressed her hand to her stomach. For a moment, it seemed he’d knocked the sass right out of her. Then she clenched her fists at her sides, chin quivering. “Don’t. Don’t toy with me, Liam.”

“My cards are face up here, Viv. No bluffing. I’m yours, and you’re mine. Past time we stopped dicking around and accepted it. You might leave me here, tied to this post, but know this. Once I’m free, I’m coming for you. Nothing. Not a horde of fire demons, psychotic ex, or an army of religious zealots will take you from me.”

Tears tracked down her cheeks. Gods save him. If she turned on the waterworks, she’d carve out his heart.

Fire glinted in her eyes, she smacked her hands on his chest, and he grunted at the sting. “Say it again. Tell me you love me.”

Figures his controlling Bride would make it an order. An order he was all too happy to obey. His throat tightened. “I love you, Vivian, Black Widow, Queen of Hearts, Keeper of my Soul. More than you know.”

She pressed her forehead to his chest as though she was taking it all in. Grasping every word he’d said and holding them inside of her. When she lifted her head again, the softness in her eyes took his breath away. Then she opened her mouth. “You foolish, wretched bastard.” She spat venomous words at him while the elation on her face told a different story. “I love you too.” She grabbed hold of the ropes on his chest, wrenched him closer, and planted one on him.

She ground her mouth against his, the pressure punishing. His Bride was a hurricane of raw emotions. Those walls of hers were down, and she wasn’t holding anything back. Her aggression shot heat through his veins.

He kissed her back with equal fervor, tongued her lips, and when she opened for him, plundered her depths. Her taste exquisite, delicious. The finest of whiskeys.

Fuck, why did he let her tie him up? He wanted to hold her, rip her clothes off, and take her hard against the wall.

Over the sounds of their panting, he picked up the mechanical hum of whirling gears.

The barn’s mechanical door clanged, and a gust of arctic air wafted over his bare skin.

“What the…” said a feminine voice.

He dragged his lips from Vivian’s and raised his head, spying Alex and Jericho. Alex stared back at them, eyes wide with horror.

Jericho smirked and sent him a chin lift. “Right. We’ll just leave you to it then.” He punched a button on the wall, and the door slid down.

Vivian peered up at Liam, laughter dancing in her eyes. She arched a brow, asking, “Pumpernickel?”

He growled low in response. “Hell no. Let them wait.”

Twenty-Three

Submergedup to his neck in the hot spring, Liam kept his back to the wet, lip-smacking sounds coming from the couple behind him. In the distance, the sun dipped low on the horizon. Snowcapped boulders surrounded their secluded oasis. Steam wafted from the bubbling pool. Not that he was an expert, but even Liam found the setting romantic.

More so when Vivian wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him against her body. “Never mind them,mon coeur. Focus on me.”

Mon coeur.He grinned. He’d finally asked her what the endearment meant. Though she’d said it translated roughly to “my chicken,” she’d licked her lip when she’d said it, which told him she was bluffing. Later, she confessed it meant “my heart.” He liked being her heart. Liked beinghers.

She pressed her lace-clad breasts into his chest, and his mind went fuzzy. With no swimsuits available to them, they’d all gone for a dip in their underwear.

Alex and Jericho had returned from their snowmobile ride earlier with the hopes of convincing them to take a dip in the hot spring.

His former Chosen had yet to meet his eyes after finding him in Vivian’s ropes. Though Viv reassured him, Alex wasn’t too scarred. In fact, she’d already asked Vivian for a lesson on rope work.

Like he wanted to hear that stuff. It made his insides squirm, and not in a good way. He’d admitted as much to his Bride. Seemed the more he’d huffed and sputtered, the harder Vivian laughed.

He had to admit, he liked the sound of her mirth. After all she’d been through, he wanted to make her happy for the rest of her days. That’s why the trip to the Well of Souls had been put on the back burner. For now.

Vivian wasn’t comfortable with the final destination of those souls being an unknown. Though reluctant, he’d agreed they’d use it as a last resort. In the meantime, they needed to find another way to neutralize the dagger. Fast.

He turned and pulled her into his lap, where she sat with her arm around his waist. When he dared to look across the steaming water, he breathed a sigh to find Jericho with Alex nestled against his side. No lip-lock.

As he took in the two of them, along with their matching hairstyles, the corner of his mouth curled.