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My stomach takes a nosedive. I completely forgot where I was for a moment.

Okay, maybe this was a terrible idea. Art of touch, did she say? What the hell does that even mean?

Will I have to remove my clothes? What exactly will we be doing? Oh my God, what if I’m supposed to get naked for him?

Hello! It’s not like he’s just gonna be touching your arms. Do you realize where you are, Dinara?

I should just walk away.Thatwould be smart.

“Don’t be nervous, love.” His masculine and alluring voice zaps my attention back to him. “I wouldn’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

The sincerity in his words makes me relax just a little.

“Is that so?” I tease, hoping to sound calm and collected instead of frazzled and nervous like a stupid virgin.

Youarea stupid virgin.

Okay, maybe not stupid, but definitely a virgin.

Hopefully not for long.

“That’s right.” He caresses my jaw with his hard knuckles, and I just want to crawl into his big, strong arms and live there. “If all you want to do is talk, we can do that too. I’m not in a rush.”

In a rush for what?I want to ask.

But instead, I let out a nervous laugh. “Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

His thumb swipes across my bottom lip, his gaze following his movement. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”

My pulse quickens, racing against the heat building between us. Every fiber of my being begs to rip off his mask, to see the man hiding behind that confident exterior, the one who speaks with such ease and charm. I want to know him—reallyknow him.

“You may now go to the first empty room you find,” the woman announces, and my stomach flips with anticipation.

His gaze lingers on me, the weight of his presence heavy and undeniable.

“You ready?” His voice slips under my skin.

I try to swallow the knot in my throat, but it sticks, thick and heavy.

Without missing a beat, I nod, forcing a smile. I tell myself it’s fine, that I’m not scared. But the truth is, I'm not just nervous.

I’m petrified.

CHAPTER4

DINARA

It’s perfectlynormal to go off into a room with a stranger, knowing he’s supposed to touch you. Nothing to see here…

But I can’t back out now. Showing weakness in my family will get you killed. Marinovs are bred to be strong, and I’m every bit a Marinov.

I can do this.

Cillian leads me to the front, taking a black bag from the woman’s outstretched hand as a flutter of nerves and curiosity stirs inside me.

“Ever done this before?” I glance up at him as we make our way past her down the narrow corridor.

“This specifically? No,” he responds, low and steady.