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He went stock still at her telepathic command, but he didn’t pull back.

He was panting, his heartbeat so loud it was ringing in her ears.

She pulled away to look up at him. Scales roiled to the surface of his face, and his eyes were glowing red, alerting his displeasure

“What happened?” Her hands cupped his cheeks.

“I received a memory.”

Rowan raised an eyebrow. “What was it?”

“You lost your virginity.”

“Oh?” She couldn’t actually remember much from that night. Her succubus had furled to life with a bang in the middle of a high school party and, well, with the buffet of lust driven teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, Rowan had let control slip away.

“It was a fucking orgy.” He growled.

She grimaced at the tone. “Maybe we should prevent my sex memories from transferring. That was one of my…softer nights.”

“Softer?” The words escaped him like a curse.

“San, we were a bunch of teenagers. None of us had any experience.”

“They worshipped you.” He growled. “At that moment, they would have done anything you asked of them.”

“Is that the problem? Because let me tell you, they’re all like that. I’m a very skilled succubus! As the receiver of some of my best moves, you should be able to understand.”

“That’s exactly the problem!” Alessandro snapped. “If they even feel a fraction of how I feel…you aren’t safe.”

Rowan let out an involuntary laugh.

“You dare laugh?” Alessandro growled and Rowan noted the ice around him as if were his tell of coming close to losing control.

“I have to find humor in this or you’re going to piss me off.”

The ice grew, and her temper flared.

“How many times must I remind you? I am not a fucking damsel in distress.” She hissed, snatching the bottle of champagne off the bistro table she’d spent so much time trying to perfect. The candles she’d lit seemed to mock her wasted effort. Disgusted, she waved a hand to put them out. “I’m tired of having to prove my strength.”

“It isn’t about you being a damsel in distress!”

“You’re not safe.” She mocked and shook her head, trying to remember why she went above and beyond for such an infuriating man.

Fucking mark.

“Did you set this up for me?” No trace of the anger he’d lashed out with was present.

Rowan looked up and noted that his ice had also disappeared.

“No. It’s for me.” She huffed. “I love setting out two dinner plates full of your favorite food that took me for freaking ever to find the ingredients for. I do it at least twice a week.”

He crossed his arms and scowled down at her. “Is sarcasm really necessary?”

She huffed and looked away again, unable to think about staying angry at him when his forearms, biceps and triceps were all bunched in the position.

He crouched in front of her. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” She asked, unsure if she wanted to forgive him so easily.