“Now I know where my attention goes every moment of every day.”
His voice lowered further.
“I know I cannot stop thinking about you. I know my instincts react to your fear before you even speak.”
His breathing roughened slightly.
“And I know that every time someone looks at you too long, I imagine removing their eyes.”
My pulse skipped wildly.
That should not have been hot.
It absolutely was.
Sten seemed to realize it immediately too because frustration flashed briefly across his face.
“See?” he muttered bitterly. “This is precisely what Professor Kenna fears.”
“You protecting me?”
“No.” His eyes locked onto mine again. “Me wanting you too much.”
The words hit low and hard inside my stomach.
Heat unfurled instantly between my thighs.
Because no one had ever wanted me too much before.
Most people barely wanted inconvenience.
Sten breathed obsession.
And maybe there was something deeply wrong with me because instead of running—I stepped even closer.
Close enough now that I could feel warmth radiating from his body.
Close enough to smell him.
Smoke.
Lavender.
Rain.
Magic.
The scent wrapped around me like temptation itself.
“Sten,” I whispered.
His nostrils flared slightly.
Like he could smell my reaction too.
Monster senses.
Cool.
