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“So?”
Sighing, I tilt my head back. “You don’t care if I accidentally break your heart?”
His palm fits to my cheek, and his fingers toy with my short hair. “I’m an adult, Briar. If you break my heart, so be it. I’m used to abiding by ever changing rules. Want me when you want me. Use me when you feel like it. If I get caught in the crossfire of your emotions as you figure out what they are where I’m concerned, I’ll deal with it.”
“Do you miss abuse or something?”
“Who knows?”
My lips press together before I sag against him again. “Honestly, I should do the mature thing and sleep it off.”
“That’s boring,” he murmurs into my hair.
“Have we changed places, pet?”
“I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure if we had, I’d have been the one winning earlier. Were you cheating?”
I hum. “I’m good at reading people and managing my own signals. I can make anyone believe anything I want them to.” Even that they’d like to marry me someday. “It’s quite wicked, actually.”
“Sounds it.”
“Also, I count cards.”
He exhales a laugh. “There it is. Counting cards is cheating.”
“Can’t stop me or prove it if it’s in my head.”
“You’re joking.”
“Nope.” Leaning back, I chance a look up at him again. Wonder and admiration fill his lovely dark eyes. Ebony strands of his hair cascade across his forehead, tousled. He’s stunning. So handsome I could cry.
Maybe that’s why I kill my morals, stand on my toes, and kiss him. His arms flex around my body, then his fingers skim into my hair. They grip; memories from last night flood.
I break away, already breathless. “We should…”
“Yeah,” he answers, sounding as starved for air as I do.
I don’t think he knows what I’m trying to say. I just think that, in this moment, he’d do anything for me.
“I mean…” My hands twist in his clothes. I swallow. “I didn’t mean that. Not really. Do you…understand?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
“I’m just so tired.”
Delicately, he touches a kiss to the apple of my cheek and eases the grip in my hair. “I know, princess. Let’s get you to bed.” Without another word, he scoops me up, carries me to our room, buries me in his bed, and stays.
Chapter 21
~~~~~~~~~~~~
They both need therapy.
Rowan
My skin smells like lemons, sugar, sunshine. Bright yellow things.
Lately, I fantasize about tracing ink petals with my fingertips, not my entire world coming apart. I still have no idea how Briar does it, but—one step at a time—my family has begun to feel like the moment after a deep breath is exhaled. There’s laughter in the halls. Greetings around the property. A homey warmth that suggests the den of criminals is made up of real people.
