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Today she had a lot of work to do.

Ella reached for her phone and sent her mom a message to say she was safe, had seen Mack, and promised to call soon.

Then she hit the shower.

If Mack was going to pretend that he didn’t desire her,still,then she had to carry on with her life. God knows she was well practiced at it.

AFEW HOURS later, after doing a bit of work and when the sun had sunk down into the horizon, Ella got changed, pulled on a jacket, and headed out for a walk.

She wanted to get to know her new neighborhood. Who knew how long she would be living there or how the world would look in a few days, weeks, or months?

The house Mack had rented was a short walk from the main stores in Portland, so she soon was walking past a few restaurants and bars which were bustling.

Ella kept walking and discovered some clothing stores she promised herself she’d come back to when they were open. Maybe there was a mall she could find. She loved shopping.

Her phone buzzed, the vibration in her pocket nudging her to read it, but she knew who it was without looking. Like a sixth sense.

Mack.

Nope. She wasn’t interested in talking to him right now.

Her cheeks flamed as a mix of anger and embarrassment filled her. She’d begged him when he’d pushed her away.

Don’t stop.

This can’t happen again.

Are you mated?

Why else would he stop in the middle of such passion? Passion they both had denied for far too long. Passion she could feel with every part of her being.

No. I have a job to do, Ella. I need to get back to work.

You...I’m sorry...you need to get back to work. After that kiss?

Right there in the street, she let out a scoff, stomping her feet harder as she strode through the streets.

Who did that? Who stopped what was the most intense kiss of their life because they had to go to dumb work?

Fine, yes, it was important work for the king and the race, but Mack had shown no remorse. Instead of sayinglet’s pick this up later, orI’ve wanted you all my life, he’d prioritized his job and told her it would never happen again.

“Ugh.” Ella muttered as she wrapped her cream jacket around herself.

Total excuse.

She had clearly misread the lust. It hadn’t meant the same thing to him as it did to her.

But...the way his mouth took complete ownership of hers, his large hand on the back of her neck, it was so dominant and possessive. His hard length pulsing against her as she trembled, wanting more.

Expecting more.

Mack had peered deep into her soul while her heart pounded, telling her she was no longer face-to-face with the boy she’d grown up with, but a strong, wild male.

And there was something animalistic about the way he handled her.

She’d liked it.

“All my imagination.”