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Her hand reaches out and her fingers graze my bare chest. She pauses, brow furrowing. “Where’s your shirt?”

“Got rotter blood on it,” I say. I keep it vague, not wanting to explain the fight with Jace or how we tore at each other like animals or what happened with the rotter and the fire. Now isn’t the time for that. Not now, not when she’s looking at me like that.

Her tongue darts out to lick her lips, and my eyes follow the movement. My hand slides down her body to settle against her waist, thumb brushing the bare skin where her shirt rides up. She draws in a quiet breath but doesn’t move away.

I lean in. Her mouth meets mine before I can close the space. It’s soft at first, then deeper. Hungrier. Like she wants this as much as I’ve been craving. As though she’s been holding back as much as I have.

Her fingers curl into my bare shoulders, nails leaving half-moon imprints that I hope stay there for days. Her hips thrust against me and she bites my lower lip, sending heat coursing through me. She always sets my body on fire. I shift, pressing her back enough so I can look at her, really look at her.

“You sure?” I whisper, not wanting to push things farther than she’s ready for.

Her breath fans over my skin. “I want…”

She doesn’t finish the sentence, but her body arches into mine, telling me everything I need to know. I slip my hand beneath the shortened hem of her shirt.

Her skin is smooth, warm, and perfect. My thumbs brushes the underside of her breast and she lets out the softest moan. I feel it all the way down to my dick.

I cup her breast. She arches into my palm. I want to takemy time, but there’s no telling how much longer we have to ourselves here.

“Mars,” she gasps. “Make me feel. Please.”

I kiss her lips. “Your wish is my command.” I dip my hand lower, sliding along her stomach, the muscles there tensing beneath my touch. When I reach the band of her shorts, she shifts her hips, and I flick open the button and ease my fingers past the waistband.

She gasps, and one hand fists against my bare chest. I kiss her gently. “That’s right, Autumn. Let go for me. Feel.”

She bites her lip, and I see her eyes cloud with hesitation. “Mars, I…I kissed Caspian, too. More than once.”

I pause, searching her eyes. Then I lean forward and smile against her lips as my finger slips through her folds, slow and deliberate and teasing. “That’s fine. You’ll probably want to kiss Jace at some point, too. Regardless, I’ll still make sure you come on my fingers, even if you’re thinking about them.”

Her eyes widen, and a flush creeps up her neck at my words. Her mouth opens to say something, but then her jaw slackens when I circle her clit.

I slide one thick finger inside her, and her other hand digs into my shoulder, her nails biting deep. I smile against her lips. “That’s right, purple. I’ve got you.” I insert a second finger, and her legs tremble.

“Mars.” My name slips from her lips in a broken whimper as I stroke her soft and slow, building her up while the rest of the world falls away.

“Say my name again.” I press my palm against her clit, and she gasps.

“Mars.”

My other arm tightens around her when her body shakes. Her hips thrust, chasing her release while riding my hand. She buries her head against my chest and emits soft whimpers. “Come for me, purple. I want you to feel good.”

She whimpers again, and I pump my fingers faster until she can’t take it anymore, then I press my palm against her clit. Her head lifts and her teeth sink into my shoulder to muffle her cry.

She’s fucking gorgeous.

The bite marks that are about to be on my shoulder tell me I succeeded in making her feel, and despite my painful erection, this is all I really need right now.

She’s everything. Mine, in this moment.

Right here. Right now.

And when she breaks in my arms, trembling and breathless and burying her face against my neck, I hold her through every second of it.

22

AUTUMN

The first thing I feel is warmth, and it’s not from the fire. It’s from him. Mars.