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The handle turned slowly and Rion exhaled. Arianna. He would know her anywhere. Her scent, the way she breathed, and that small tug on the bond that told him his mate was near.

“It’s just me,” she said. She’d probably sensed his sudden spike of fear. Rion waited for her to say more, but she just stood there, a silhouette behind the steamy pane of glass.

Then her shirt hit the floor. His heart began pounding when her pants followed, then she shed her undergarments.

Rion’s mouth went dry and he was almost certain this had to be a glamour. A trick.

Arianna’s bare feet padded across the short space separating her from the shower door, then she slid it open.

A low sound escaped his throat as he soaked in every beautiful detail. His mate stood before him. Bare, gorgeous, and utterly breathtaking.

His eyes roamed over her perfect curves and the way her damp hair hung over her shoulders. His gaze traveled lower, then lower again.

“Can I come in?”

Rion nodded, unsure if he remembered how to form words. He backed up a step to give her room.

Arianna swallowed hard and he sobered a bit at the sight of her clenched fists. Her fear stung his delicate senses and he wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull her close. But Rion remained still, as if he were nothing more than a statue within the manor’s once beautiful garden.

Her body trembled. His did, too. “A-Arianna?” He stumbled across her name in a breathless whisper. Every instinct roared at him to claim her, claim her, claim her.

Arianna slid the glass door shut and stepped toward him.

He stepped back until his shoulders pressed against the cool tile wall.

Her brow furrowed. “Do you want me to leave?” Why in the unholiest of gods’ names would he want her to—

“No.”

She stepped toward him again. Her heart fluttered almost as fast as a humming bird’s wings. He felt her desire down the bond and scented it from her as well. It almost broke his restraint.

“Can I touch you?” Why was she asking?

Rion cleared his throat, but his voice still came out unsteady. “I’m yours.” She owned his body, his heart, his soul.

Arianna walked through the water and Rion watched it roll down her skin. Her body. Perfect. She was so utterly perfect. A shiver ran through him when her hands pressed against his chest, but shame accompanied it as he realized just how thin his body had become. He hated the way his ribs showed and loathed the strength he’d lost from being caged for so long.

But she didn’t seem to notice those things as she traced his stomach, then tilted her head up to look at him. Those eyes. Those beautiful cerulean eyes. They captured his soul and set his body on fire. The way she gazed at him reminded Rion of the cabin, when he’d offered her his life and she’d captured his heart instead.

Arianna stepped closer and pressed her ear to his chest. Tentatively, Rion wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She shook so violently that he almost released her.

“I don’t want to be afraid,” she whispered.

Gods, he didn’t want her to be afraid, either. “Tell me what to do.”

Arianna tilted her head back to look at him. “Make it go away.” Her gaze trailed to his lips and understanding swept through him. She wanted this. She wanted him.

Rion captured her mouth in a gentle kiss, but Arianna was greedy for him. She slid her tongue over his lip and a throaty moan escaped him before he could stop it. His laced his hands through her dripping hair, then Rion slid to the floor, pulling her down with him.

Arianna straddled his lap and he traced his hands over the thick scars along her back. “Summon your magic,” he said. She eyed him for a moment, then did as he asked. “My wrists.”

“Rion.”

“Trust me.” He knew it was asking a lot. She didn’t trust him, that was the entire problem, but he was determined to change it. She wanted him to change it.

Water surrounded his wrists and Rion splayed his fingers over her waist. His breathing was ragged with want and unbridled desire threatened to burn him from the inside out.

“Tighter,” he said and she obeyed. The rings of water circled his wrist as if they were alive. Firm, but not enough to hurt.