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“Pheromone enhancers,” he repeated.

“The hell is that?”

“It’s supposed to magnify your own scent.”

My second scoff was louder than the first. “No alpha should need their pheromones enhanced,” I told him, leaning back, getting comfortable, staring at him.

“Certainly not you,” he blurted out, his gaze all over me as his lips parted.

“No. You like the smell of me.”

His lashes fluttered before he glanced away.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I, for one, am very thankful you do.”

Instantly, his eyes were back on me. “What did you do to Alpha Fontaine?”

I scowled at him. “I told him that it would be unhealthy of him to continue pursuing you.”

He crossed his arms. “So you didn’t want me, but no one else could have⁠—”

“I wanted you,” I yelled at him, my anger flaring before I could stop. “I still want you. You’re mine, and you choosing to make us wait for⁠—”

“There, see? Isn’t it horrible to have someone making decisions for you?”

“What?”

“Well?” He was insistent, daring me to argue. “Isn’t it?”

“Of course it is, but I did it for⁠—”

“Perhaps, instead of defending yourself, you might apologize.”

“I did that ten years ago when I first got here.” I sounded belligerent, but I didn’t care.

He pressed his lips together so he wouldn’t smile, but I saw the quick curl of his lip.

“I am sorry down to my soul,” I told him. “Listen to me, look at me, taste my scent—can’t you tell that’s the truth?”

Those big beautiful eyes were studying me.

“I swear to you, I never wanted to be away from you. You’re the person I… You have to believe—” But I had to stop.

“What were you going to say?”

“When?” I feigned confusion.

He shook his head. “No holding back, never any lies, tell me. I’m the person what?”

“That I want to sleep with.”

He chuckled. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

“It’s true, but when I say sleep, I mean sleep.”

After a moment, he said, “Oh.”

“I want you wrapped around me more than anything.”