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She swallowed. Her throat felt lined with razors. She kept her eyes fixed on the carpeting, hands clasped behind her back to hide the shake.

‘Eyes on me.’

His utterance was a rough, commanding growl. The inflection that on any other day might have had her knees weakening. Not today.

She lifted her gaze, keeping her composure, as she met his stormy eyes. ‘Because I need space.’

His brow furrowed, his rasp grating, his accent deepening. ‘¡Hostia! From me? Why? What did I do?’

She inhaled and sighed out her ratcheting stress.

He stepped in close. ‘Savvine, talk to me.’

She took an inhale and then blurted out the words. ‘You want to knot with me.’

His expression darkened as he jolted. ‘Fokk, baby, of course, you know I like you. I don’t play games or spin shit Savvine. My intentions for you are righteous.’

‘So you did mean it when you told your pack that what we have is a permanent thing and that you intend to claim me for eternity.’

‘You overheard me,’ he murmured.

‘Naam.’

‘I thought I scented you,’ he huffed. ‘I’ve nothing to hide or be ashamed of. I meant what I said. Regardless, isn’t that what a woman like you wants?’

‘Tis a decision and assumption you made on your own; you never thought to check with me.’

‘I planned to.’

‘Nada. You said you’ll use your spectral energy to change my mind. Also, if anyone comes up against us, you’d rip them apart.’

He frowned, a lock of his violet-sable hair falling over his brow. ‘It’s a figure of speech, Savvine. I know what I want, and it is you.Fokkme for expressing it in a savage fashion.’

She barked a humorless laugh. ‘You needed to do more than express it; you should have discussed it with me.’

‘Like I said, didn’t get the chance yet,’ he growled. ‘Regardless, I know you want more.’

‘I don’t know that yet.’

‘You do.’

‘I don’t, Xander.’

He moved in, eyes blazing. ‘I see it. In your eyes. You feel more for me than you’ll ever admit.’

‘You don’t know me,’ she whispered.

‘Oh, but I do,’ he grated, his energy dangerous now. ‘Say it, you want me.’

Her composure cracked. ‘Fine! You want to hear it? I like you. There. Happy?’

The air sucked out of the room.

Xander stilled, as if the words knocked the wind out of him.

‘Say it again,’ he said hoarsely.

She shoved at his chest. ‘Nada.’