My head spun from the bluntness of his words, brain getting a sensory overload from how things had changed in the past forty-eight hours. “I don’t want to.”
“Try.” His hand tangled in my hair, tugging just enough to tilt my head. The other hand pressed firmer against my skin, dragging me closer until he couldn’t.
Not knowing what to do with my own hands, I explored him—his broad shoulders, his chest, the hard lines of his stomach—again and again, as if memorising every inch would steady me. A visible shiver coursed through him, his teeth grazing my skin like he needed the bite to keep control.
“Goddamn,” he breathed raggedly. “This is insane.You’reinsane.”
Satisfaction swelled in me, didn’t know why my touch affected him so much, but I enjoyed it. My hands slid up to his hair, those soft strands spilling between my fingers as he growled my name like it was a curse.
“Sanora.”
Fuck.I so much wanted him to lose any shred of control he was holding onto and bend me over this counter like he said.
“Please,” I whispered, skin burning with the need.
“Please,”he echoed, begging for a different reason.
Of course I didn’t think a one night hook up with the Soulless Man was a bad idea. That was how bad I wanted his body on top of mine. My mind had not been able to think of anything else since I saw him bring himself to orgasm in the bathroom. I hadn’t been able to stop imagining what that cock would look like sliding into me instead of his fist. The thoughts were intoxicating. We could keep our feelings out of the door and pretend it was merely an experience for both of us. Feelings made things complicated, and even though I wanted him far more than my body did, I would gladly keep my feelings out if he wanted it.
I would gain nothing from involving them anyway. He was an immortal, and I was just...a girl.
Everything would pass.
He pulled back, fist tightening in my hair as if forcing himself to reclaim control. His tormented eyes locked on mine, and through them, I could see the war he was fighting, realising his rational self was winning.
Knowing he would put a space between us, I locked my legs around his waist, dragging him closer, my glare sharp. “Don’t you dare push me away after everything you’ve said. Put space between us again and you’ll see me lose it.”
His brow arched, amused. “Again?”
“Wasn’t that what you were doing when you always left before I woke up and came back only when I was in bed? That time, you were avoiding me. Is that how you run from your problems?”
His expression hardened. “You think you are a problem?”
It was my turn to lift an eyebrow.Okay?
“You’re more than a problem, Sanora.” His tone dropped. “Problems don’t get under my skin. They don’t make me restless when I should be calm. They don’t crawl into my head and stay there when I try to shut everything out. They don’t follow me into my mind when I try to sleep. But you—” his eyes held mine, unblinking, “—you stay there whether I want you to or not. Problems end, Sanora. But you never.”
Oh, gods.I could feel my eyes prickling with tears as I held his gaze. Hearing those words, the things I made him feel, realisingIwas the one making him feel them and it wasn’t just me that was falling into madness, made my chest tightened with emotions.
I should have called his bluff. But there was no bluff in those eyes.
“Why? How? Since when?”
“Why?” He tilted his head, repeating my question. “Do you think you’re unworthy of someone’s attraction?”
My breath hitched. My gaze dropped to his throat. “Not someone’s. Yours.”
I swallowed hard and forced the truth out. “You’ve existed for centuries. You’ve seen women I can’t imagine, touched them, had them. You’ve lived enough lifetimes to be bored of all of it. There’s nothing new for you. So your interest in me—now—it feels questionable at best.” My voice lowered to a whisper. “There’s nothing special about me. So it’s hard to believe everything you’ve been saying. Not that it matters. None of this is permanent.”
“Look at me,” he said.
Slowly, I obeyed, only to find amusement flickering in his dark eyes, like my logic was absurd.
“This isn’t funny.” I nearly smacked his arm.
His lips twitched with a smile he was holding back. “Is that the question you wanted to ask?”
“No.” Damn him. If he hadn’t reminded me, I would’ve forgotten why I came here in the first place. The question had vanished the moment he lifted me onto the counter. “I heard something.”
