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“Pineapple pizza.” I’d never been more terrified to say two words in my entire life.

Nothing happened except a smile bloomed on his face.I can assure you this is quite real.He braced his hands on the chair and leaned forward. My body bent toward him of its own volition.From what I showed you to everything I said.

“You’re my mate?” My voice sounded ragged.

He nodded again.

“And you’ve been waiting for me?”

Another nod.

“And you want to be with me, and protect me, and live the rest of your life with me?”

With every fiber of my being.

My skin broke out into a cold sweat at how much I wanted that too. “Even when my lifespan is as short as heartbeat when compared to yours?”

I’ve lived too many lifetimes without you to give up one by your side in exchange for more loneliness.

My chest tightened in a painful way. I could hear, couldfeel, the sincerity in those words when he spoke in my mind.

This was everything I’d ever wanted, to share my life with someone worthy, to be in a partnership which meant something. And from his mind probe earlier, he knew it too.

I wanted this, wantedhim, more than I’d wanted anything in my life.

“So why are you way over there and not touching me?”

His fingers dug into the leather of the chair. “You signed a contract. I’ve vowed not to touch you.”

My eyes scanned to his desk where he’d tossed the tablet, then deep into his glowing eyes. “That’s the only thing holding you back?”

One more nod.

“I verbally break the contract!” I shouted, the sound way too loud in this small space, but I wanted it on record. “You are no longer held by its terms!”

He leaped over the chair like something out of superhero movie, landing in front of me.Thunk. I launched myself at him, my legs wrapping around his waist. One of his strong arms tucked under my ass to hold my weight and the other cupped the back of my skull. Even with all my clothes on, the reality of him holding me was so much better than the dream had been. And that had been mind-blowing. I braced my hands on his shoulders, loving the feel of his smooth skin beneath my palms, mesmerized by the swirls of color.

I could stare at him all day, every day, and it floored me I’d get the chance to do just that.

His head lowered to mine and I met him halfway. We both groaned into the kiss. His lips were incredible, soft, and firm.And delicious.Better than the dream because I knew he cared. I knew this was real. I knew there would be more—as amazing as that truth was.

The kiss went on and on, both of us content to enjoy this moment and not take it any further. We would have a lifetime for everything else. I could feel him in my mind too, stroking, investigating, the sensation more right than intrusive.

You’ll be able to stroke my mind with practice as well.

I wanted that. I wanted to know him on every level like he was getting to know me, to explore the glimpses I’d seen during the first part of my dream.

That and more.

It was his promise, and I would hold him to it.

We broke the kiss, and I stared into his star-bright eyes. My arms flexed around his neck, keeping him close. “So how long is your tongue, really?”

A warm, baritone of a laugh rumbled from his chest into mine. “I will take you to our bedroom, my mate, and you will soon find out.”

I returned his grin. “Stellar plan, KD. Just stellar.”