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“Please watch your language,” Frank says. “This is a place of worship.”

“You think God gives a shit about how I talk?”

Frank looks like he wants to punch me, but God would frown on that as well.

Patrick quirks a half-smile and leans until he can see Zaiya again.

“You’ll get used to this town’s peculiarities soon, I’m sure.”

Then he winks at her.

He knows exactly what he’s doing.

My fist tightens at my side. My arm is already moving when small fingers curl around my wrist.

I look down.

Zaiya clutches my forearm, holding me against her. She looks up at me with a silent plea not to make a scene.

That single touch disarms me more efficiently than a blade to the throat.

“Thank you,” she says to Patrick with that careful smile still in place. “I’m enjoying my time here so far.”

I pull her away before I lose it.

There’s an empty room, save for a spare folded table and some chairs, and I shut us inside. The door clicks. Silence gathers between our bodies.

I drop her hand like it burns. Her power is dangerous. One touch from her and I’ll do whatever she wants.

She backs away as if I frighten her.

I move towards her, slowly at first, then faster when the need in me outruns restraint. She retreats until her spine touches the wall, and I’m right on her.

I take the hand that cretin touched and place it against my chest.

“Tell me exactly what Patrick said to you.”

Her gaze drops to her palm over my heartbeat. She can feel how hard it’s thumping. Wild for her.

“He said it was nice to meet me. Asked how I like Shadow Bluff.” She slips her hand from beneath mine. “Why are you following me?”

I cradle her face gently, far too gently for what I feel, and brush my mouth against hers.

It’s barely a kiss. A spark. Enough to set every thought in my head on fire.

But she doesn’t pull away. Her lips soften beneath mine, and she lets herself have something she wants. I want to push her to give in, to turn this tiny flame into an inferno between us. But her response is too delicate to rush.

I ease back just enough to see her. Her lips are still parted as unsteady breaths pass between them. Her wide eyes meet mine, and I recognize the desire in them because it mirrors my own.

Neither of us moves.

Then my attention falls to her mouth.

I lean in again.

This time, she jerks away, eyes flicking to the door like someone might walk in.

“I can’t.”