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“You’re leaving.”

A thrill races down my arms at that silky smooth voice.

I turn to the Bargainer. “I’m not staying here.”

“Your ex will find you if you go back to your place.” His arms are folded.

Displeased.

“Who says I’m going back?” I totally am.

“Where else would you go?”

“I have friends.” Okay, I haveafriend. One. Temper. And she’s probably furious with me at the moment for going AWOL on her.

“You’re not going back to their places.” It’s not a command, just a statement of fact.

“So what if I go home?” I would much rather face off Eli, who cares about me, who’s hurt and angry,who I can control if need be, than stay here and chance meeting an enemy that not even Des understands.

The air stirs, and suddenly, the Bargainer is at my side, his lips pressed against my ear. “If you go home, I’ll likely have to steal you back from your ex, and that will displease megreatly.”

I turn to look at him. “At the moment, Des, your feelings aren’t my biggest concern.”

The Bargainer stares at me for a beat. “You’re scared of staying here,” he says, reading me. He tilts his head, his eyes narrowing. “You think I’d let anything happen to you in my house?” I swear the man grows bigger, his presence overwhelming.

Judging by the look in his eye, I’ve offended the King of the Night.

Whatever.

I tear my gaze away and head towards the door.

A second later, the Bargainer materializes in the doorway, blocking my exit. His hands grip the top of the doorframe. Unwillingly, my eyes move to those toned arms of his.

“What if I told you that you couldn’t go?” he says, his voice hypnotic. “That I wanted you to stay and use up some more of my beads?”

I don’t actually think he would try to keep me here. He’s wanted nothing to do with me for so long that I can’t really imagine our relationship any other way.

“I wouldn’t believe you,” I say. “Now please, move.”

Des is staring at me strangely. He releases the doorframe and prowls forward. “Truth or dare?”

I back up, suddenly nervous at the look in his eyes.

“Des …”

“Dare,” he breathes.

In the next instant, he’s on me, his hands roughly cupping my cheeks. His mouth crashes into mine, his lips demanding.

Des is kissing me, andGodis it savage.

I kiss him back without thinking, swept up into the taste of him and the feel of him holding me.

I’m supposed to be leaving, reclaiming my house and my life, but nope. It’s not going to happen, not while Des is demonstrating all the ways my taste in men was spot on when I was a teenager.

I’m backing up, and one of the Bargainer’s hands has dropped to my thigh, exposed by the high slits of my dress. His fingers move up and down the skin, up and down.

My back bumps into the wall. Des cages me in, holding me hostage with his body. My lips part, and Des’s tongue sweeps inside my mouth, claiming mine.