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She doesn't look at me. "Hey."

"You didn't watch my set."

"I've seen it before."

"Not as my mate."

She finally turns to face me, and her dark eyes are sharp. "We're not mates when you're on stage, Ekon. That's work. Remember?"

I lean closer, lowering my voice. "Lies. We're mates on and off stage."

"We're at the club. Did you or did you not hear Nyx?"

I hate the idea of Nyx putting a damper on anything. I know she runs a tight ship, but this shit transcends any of her rules. But Yue needs something to hold on to, so I'll give her just that. "Nyx said public affection is fine."

"She said professional public affection."

"What's unprofessional about me sitting next to you?"

"Nothing about you sitting next to me is the issue." She glances out the corner of her eye. "It's the way you're looking at me that's the problem."

I grin. "How am I looking at you?"

"Like you want to eat me."

"I do." I stick my tongue out and do a slow lick of my lips. "It's been ages since you let me taste something other than your mouth."

Her jaw unlatches, and she chokes on her saliva. "Stop."

"Stop what?"

"Stop testing the boundaries," she hisses. "I set them for a reason."

"I'm not testing them. I'm clarifying them."

"You're being an ass."

"I'm being your mate."

She slams her glass down on the bar, and Eos glances over, eyebrows raised. Yue takes a breath, then leans in close enough, running her winter scent into my nose.

"Listen to me," she snarls. "I agreed to this arrangement because you're paying me, not because I want or trust you. This isn't real, so stop acting like we're actually together. This is a job."

The words hit like a punch to the gut, but I don't let it show. Instead, I lean back and nod.

"Understood," I say.

She studies me for a moment, then picks up her drink and walks away.

Eos slides over and sets a fresh bourbon in front of me. "You're an idiot," she says.

"I know."

"She's scared."

"I know that too."

"So stop pushing her."