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The kiss starts off tentative, then exploring, but this explosion of heat and desperation that sears through me . . . I fist her hair in my hand and answer the fervor of her mouth on mine, her tongue tangling with mine, one kiss right after the other.

Like me, is Blaise longing to feel something other than the ache of loneliness? It can be so fucking lonely at the top.

In this moment, who gives a flying care? I’m all about making this the best first kiss for Blaise. I cocoon her head with my forearms and give her my all. Or is she the one giving me her best? ’Cause this is the best fucking kiss.

I run the tip of my tongue along the seams of her lips. Suck her bottom lip for good measure.

“Blaise, baby, Jesus, you taste good.”

“I like you too,” she murmurs over my mouth, her eyes glazed with desire. “Since we didn’t have a proper wedding night, can I put in a request?”

Curious, I nod.

“Promise you won’t make fun of me.”

“I’d never do that, unless you poke fun at me in return, pun intended.”

To make my point, I stroke my erect cock. She isn’t put off by my crassness. Instead, she surprises me, covering her smile with her hand, her two-color eyes twinkling.

“Okay, here goes nothing.” Her smile slips. She avoids my gaze.

Blaise is unsure of my reaction to her ask, and wanting to reassure her that I’m true to my word, I reach out to caress her face, then remember flesh on flesh repulses her. My hand falls to rest against my side.

Well, damn. We’ll have to find different ways around this repulsion of hers. Again, she surprises me when she comes up with the idea on her own. With her courage, this woman is giving the bastard who hurt her the middle finger.

“Will you touch me using my satin sheet? No skin on skin. It’ll be me, you, and the satin.”

How can I say no? I’m a selfish bastard through and through, and we bastards don’t like to give, but we certainly take and take.

But when I’m through with Blaise, will I give her what I see clear as day in her eyes, hope for a way out of her lonely existence?

Not likely. I am a selfish bastard, and I’ll make certain Blaise never forgets I’m not good for anything past what we agreed on—three months.

Yeah, that’s all I’m willing to give her before I take everything, including the protection my name affords her, away. Just like my father did to my sister.