Page 161 of Split or Swallow

She wanted to say Caspen. But somehow, she couldn’t bear the thought of speaking his name in front of Leo. The prince was still watching her, his head cocked to the side. Tem sat silently, staring at her whiskey glass. When Leo spoke again, his voice was sincere, his teasing tone completely gone.

“I didn’t know it made you feel that way. I certainly don’t mean to assault you in your own home.”

He paused. Tem wanted to say something, but she couldn’t seem to breathe. At her silence, Leo continued:

“I’m grateful for your hospitality, so I will refrain from flirting with you tonight. But know this, Tem,” he leaned in, and she smelled his cologne. “Flirting with you is a pleasure. And a compulsion. One that, if I’m being truly honest, I doubt I can stop.”

Tem stared at her whiskey, unable to look him in the eye. Her throat was tight.

“Tem,” Leo said softly. “I understand, more than anyone, how you feel.”

“Don’t—”

“And I understand—” he cut her off, leaning even closer, “—that your loyalty lies elsewhere. Contrary to what you may think, it is not my intention to make that more difficult for you. I know what it is to have an occupied heart. But I cannot help how I feel. And you’ve made it very clear that I am not entitled to any part of you—that your heart, as well as your body, are to be earned. I ask only for the chance to do so.”

Now Tem was sure she was blushing.

“You may think he is right for you,” Leo whispered. “But perhaps I am right too. And should you choose to kiss me tonight, he never has to know.”

Leo was so good with his words. Always saying the exact thing that would give her pause. It was an infuriating talent, and one that was serving him extremely well right now.

His breath feathered her cheek as he finished quietly:

“So are you going to let me kiss you?”

Tem closed her eyes.

She couldn’t deny that she was drawn to Leo. But she also couldn’t deny the look she’d seen in his eyes when he told her about Evelyn. He loved her—still loved her—the type of love that didn’t fade easily, if it ever did. Tem didn’t want to kiss someone who loved someone else. He was not the same man who had walked into the Horseman. This man had a past. A past that could have a profound effect on their future.

Tem opened her eyes.

“Not tonight.”

To her surprise, Leo smiled.

“Is something funny?”

“No,” he said simply.

They stared at each other in the darkness. Despite the autumn evening, the kitchen was warm, and Tem felt agitated. Why was it that immediately after she’d turned down a kiss from the prince, suddenly it was all she wanted to do? She had to break the moment:

“I’m going to sleep.”

Leo ran a single finger around the rim of his glass.

“Very well. Goodnight, Tem.”

There was a pause, and Tem almost didn’t want to leave. But she was exhaust⁠ed. She needed time to process what had just happened between them, and she didn’t trust herself to make any more decisions tonight.

Tem was just pulling her bedroom door shut when suddenly she was met with resistance. With a jolt, she realized Leo was holding the door from the other side. She let go of the handle slowly, watching as he pulled it open, leaving a six-inch gap between them. For a moment, Tem thought he might step through. But he didn’t. Instead, he said quietly:

“In case you change your mind.”

Then he turned away.

In case she changed her mind?

Could Leo tell, somehow, that Tem had been on the verge of changing her mind already? He seemed to be inside her head nearly as often as Caspen was. At the thought of Caspen, Tem crossed to her bedside dresser. With a glance back at the open door to make sure Leo couldn’t see her, she stripped down to her underclothing, reached between her legs, and removed the claw. She didn’t know why she did it. Something was guiding her tonight that she couldn’t explain: something was drawing her to Leo in a way she’d never been drawn before. Tem studied the smooth curve, stroking it with her thumb.