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Iris is going to kill me.
And Linnea isn’t done yet. “Because I wanted to be able to say to you that I only wantyouto kiss me from now on.”
My gaze clashes with hers.
She stares directly into my eyes. “I knew that if I’d never kissed another man who I really liked and thought was attractive and who could be a perfect match for me, you’d say I couldn’t be sure and that I needed to know that I could have someone else and not just the first man to kiss me and make me come.”
I blow out a breath. Jesus. Iris might not have to kill me because Linnea is going to.
There are people passing by on the sidewalk behind us, cars passing on the street, and I don’t hear any of them.
She’s my whole world right now.
And probably from now on.
“So I kissed him because I wanted to tell you that I understand I have a choice. And I chooseyou.”
I let those words roll through my mind. Through my chest. Through my fucking soul.
Then I drop my head to her knee. “Duchess.”
I feel her hand go to my head. “I know...it’s complicated.”
“So fucking complicated.”
“So we’ll?—”
My head comes up. I lean in. “Let me make something very clear to you.” I don’t care about the people around us. I don’t care about the texts on my phone from my boss demanding answers. I don’t care that when we tell everyone we’re together, there will literally be a king and a future president pissed at us.
Her eyes go round, but she nods. “Okay.”
“Unless you say no right now, I’m making you mine tonight.”
She nods quickly. “Yes.”
“That means I’m going to fuck you, Linnea.Tonight.All night. I’ll be your first. And. Your. Last.” I enunciate those last three words carefully. Her head continues bobbing up and down, but I keep going. She has to understand this fully. “Once I fuck you,no oneelse will. Ever. So if you have any desire to experiment, to spread your gorgeous wings, to catch up on what you’ve been missing, tell me now. Because I donotshare. And once I have you, I’ll never get over it. Do you hear me?”
She nods again.
“Say it.”
“Yes.” She wets her lips. “Yes, I hear you.”
“And then we will go back to Cara and we will tell Torin. And…everyone. This is it.”
“I understand. I agree.”
I’m nearly vibrating with need. And it’s so much deeper than physical need. There’s no way she can truly understand what she does to me. How can she? She’s innocent in so many ways. But I won’t be able to let her go. I’m trying to be as up front and honest as I can.
“Make sure this is the cake you want.”
That makes her take a deep breath and smile. “It is.”
“Make. Sure.”
She lifts her hand and places it against my cheek. It’s the only place we’re touching. I’m in her space, we’re sharing air, but our bodies aren’t touching. Until she cups my cheek.
“You want to know what I realized about that cake?” she asks.