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But he left every night with another woman, so I resigned myself to Ronan never being more than a friend.
Until recently, when he abandoned flirting and started trying to seduce me.
Telling him no night after night physically hurts. I want him that badly. The more I resist, the more I ache. The more insistent he becomes. Possessive, too. He clearly dislikes Tynan, and I’ve let Ronan think we’re more than friends because if I give into him, I’m not sure I’ll recover when he shags someone else.
“Let me go.” I tug against Ronan’s hold.
Reluctantly, he does, then downs his scotch in three long swallows. My desire sparks as I watch his Adam’s apple bob in the strong column of his neck.
He slams his empty glass to the bar and pins me with a scorching stare. “I burn for you, Kari. I can’t pretend anymore. I ditched my brother tonight. He’s furious, and I don’t care. You’re a fever I can’t shake.”
The kind Tynan described? Unlikely. That’s just my wishful thinking. If Ronan suspects I’m his mate, why wouldn’t he simply say so? Or try to kiss me? I can’t think of a single reason, which tells me he’s just feeling good, old-fashioned lust.
But the gravity in his eyes feels like more.
“Where is Raiden?”
“Elsewhere.”
My stupid heart lifts with hope. I tamp it down. “Translation: he’s finding you someone to shag.”
“I told him to go alone. I don’t want anyone else.”
Tonight maybe. Tomorrow, when he’s had his fill, he’ll be gone for good. I shouldn’t take the risk.
“That’s a pretty whopper.”
Ronan leans in, his eyes like lasers, fierce and direct. “That’s the sodding truth. I know nothing about the women I spend the night with. But you… I know you drink only one sort of chardonnay, and you must have lemon with your water. I know you hate anyone to see you cry and that you’re too stubborn for your own good. I know you can argue with most anyone and win. I know the only romance you allow yourself is in books. And I know you’re afraid of me.” He seizes my hands again and holds tight. “You’re sweet and kind. You’re funny. You listen, you care, and you help everyone around you. You’re too incredible to be alone.”
His words threaten to bulldoze the wall around my heart. “Ronan… Don’t do this. Please.”
He lifts my hand to his lips and presses them to my palm, making me shiver. “I only want to hold you.”
It takes everything inside me not to close my eyes and let him. He’s barely touching me, yet tingles spark under my skin. Fire tears through the rest of my body before settling into an ache that throbs relentlessly between my legs. All I want to do is strip naked, lie back, and beg him to sate this nonstop need.
“Tomorrow, another woman will take my place.” And that will rip out my heart. “After Edward, I can’t.”
“No one can ever replace you. You make me feel things no woman ever has. I don’t know how to explain it…”
He sounds so agonized, I’m torn. Yes, he might be telling me what I want to hear. He probably is. But…what if his mating instinct is kicking in? What if there’s even a remote chance I’m the woman for him?
I need to think.
“Closing time,” I yell across the pub.
Ronan’s eyes never leave me as the wizards at the back rack their balls and stow the cues, settle their tab, then leave. Our taut silence stretches on as the pub’s other patrons also pay, then disappear into the chilly night.
Then we’re alone.
“That means you too,” I whisper.
Ronan clenches his jaw. “Why are you so determined to say no?”
“I’ve made my reasons clear.”
“As clear as I’ve made the fact you’re not merely another woman to me.”
“That’s talk, and it’s cheap.”
