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And then, without warning, one of his hands goes slowly and deliberately to my thigh.
The touch is firm, possessive, his fingers resting just above my knee. It’s not “a move”. It’s not even sexual. It’s just comforting. Like he’s giving me a bit of his strength, since mine is so obviously failing.
He doesn’t look at me, doesn’t say a word. But the weight of his hand sends a surge of heat through me. It’s a silent claim.
I don’t move. I don’t want to.
My pulse quickens, the warmth from his hand seeping into my body, igniting something deep inside me. It’s dangerous, this pull he has over me, and yet I find myself craving more, wanting more, even when I know I shouldn’t.
I try to focus on the road ahead, but my body betrays me. My mind spins with thoughts of what might happen next if I let this go further.
If Iasked himto go further.
The car slows, and we pull up to the fronttoristyle gates of the Mori compound.
We’re here.
When we finally stop, my mind is racing, torn between exhaustion and the tension coiling ever tighter between us. I half-expect Mal to say something: to bring up this still undiscussed tension between us that’s been simmering since the night I went to him and he almost broke me in the most insanely perfect ways imaginable before I left without a word.
But instead, he silently steps out of the car, comes around to my side and opens the door, my heart skipping a beat when his hand reaches to help me out.
I let him pull me to my feet. Before I can even take a step toward the main house, Mal’s hand wraps around mine, guiding me toward the guesthouse.
Oh.
I feel my lip retreat between my teeth. The touch is gentle but insistent.
The unspoken power he holds over me makes my breath hitch. I know I should resist, tell him no, walk away, and keep whatever shred of control I have left. But the truth is, I don’t want to. Not after today.
Maybe not ever.
Inside, the dim light casts shadows across the walls, and I can feel my heartbeat quicken as I stand in the entryway. His hand still holds mine, and I’m painfully aware of how close we are, how the air between us feels like it’s about to crack beneath with the weight of everything unspoken.
I pull my hand free, taking a step back before I can let myself be consumed by it.
“Before this goes any further?—”
“I wasn’t exactly planning to fuck you on the floor right now, Freya.”
My face floods with heat as I chew on my lip.
“I—I know that.”
“Doyou?” he growls. “Because you’ve been looking at me ever since the last time you were over here like I might do exactly that. Like I’m a fucking animal who’ll drag you into the nearest bushes and have my fucking way with you.”
I arch a brow.
“Would you?”
“Maybe.”
I grin.
So does he.
“I just…” I look away. “I know what I said, but I needmore, Mal. Beyond the physical. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the physical is…I mean…”
“Yes?”
