That spark of thrill strikes me like a match, and I steal another backward step …
“You’refragile. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I decide what I can and cannothandle.” I reach for the hem of my—hisshirt and pull it over my head, letting it fall to the ground.
His chest inflates, this deep, abrasive sound grinding out of him as he devours me with his sweeping stare. He continues to work himself in long, white-knuckled strokes, and I raise my hands, threading my fingers through the damp tangles of my hair. “I want you inside my body.”
His canines slide back down, the vision lashing me with a ripple of pleasure.
I don’t want to hide—not with him. I want him to see that I’m here, achingly ready to take him.
Have him.
Asme.
I want to feel him against a skin that’s not covered in a layer of somebody else.
Skin that’smine.
Skin that’s untouched—untainted by the hands and thefeelof other men.
He lets out a warning growl as I reach for the chain around my neck and unlatch the clasp, letting the necklace, gem, and conch fall to the ground with a clattering thump. My skin peels away, dissolving the final layer between us. Baring mytrueself.
My mark.
The flush of blooms weighing down my shoulder.
So many …
Something lethal flashes in his eyes that would probably bring a spark of fear to my chest if I hadn’t witnessed the way he so delicately handled my haircut. Instead, it feeds another wild blaze of pure electricthrill.
I’m playing with fire, I know I am, but I’m not leaving until Iburn.
I lift my chin, brimming with fierce, primal confidence. “Mybody, Rhordyn.”
My.
Body.
He stands—looking bigger than he ever has. Like this world is too small to smother the mighty essence of him erupting through the cracks of his stripped composure. So beautifully, boldly naked, carved to monstrous perfection.
I moan at the sight, coaxing him with another backward step.
He collects our clothes, my sheath, crushing them in his fist as he advances. Slow.
Predatory.
There’s a challenge in my stare as I meet him stride for stride.
“Okay,” he says carefully—toocarefully.
Another step forward.
I thieve another back, watching him crouch and sweep my necklace into the crushing might of his fist. “But ifanybodysees you without this necklace on,” he says, pushing to a stand, “I won’t think twice before I put them down.”
My heart thumps to a halt, the statement delivered with such cutthroat poise I feel the words sliding across my skin like a blade.
”So, what do you suggest, Milaje?” His head cants to the side. “Because those pretty blooms are out, and my tether is fraying by the second.”
