“Stop, it isn’t safe,” I grumbled as I grabbed her arm. I realized she’d been drinking too when she wobbled. “Grab my shoulder.”
“Whatever you say, handsome,” she chuckled as I knelt down to put the flip-flops on her feet. She smirked at me again when I looked up at her. “Are you ever going to act on all that lust in your aura or are you planning to make a move on Emma?”
I couldn’t hide my shock or make my mouth work fast enough and unfortunately she got the wrong idea, letting me go with a sigh.
“So you are. Guilt is all over you.”
“No, I’m not,” I said firmly and grabbed her wrist as I stood. “The guilt is because it’s not right to keep ignoring her crush on me, but it’s just easier. I don’t know how to handle it and—I don’t think it’s real. I saved her.”
“You’re not wrong, but it’s real, handsome,” she assured me searching my eyes. “You don’t want her.”
I shook my head and decided it was my turn to be honest with what I knew. “You know who I want. You know damn well and push my buttons.”
Her eyes flashed shock. “That I do. I thought you missed it.”
I snorted. “I don’t miss much even if I’m a dumb man.” I licked my lips as I moved closer so I was looming over her. “But we both know this isn’t smart.”
Hurt filled her eyes so fast that it froze me because I hadn’t expected that. She ripped her wrist away and cleared her throat. “Yes, the eldest son of the head of the council shouldn’t be involved with an orphan. Of course.” She paused in walking away and looked at me over my shoulder, something dark in her eyes. “Or is it because I’m Black?”
I’d heard her specify that she was Black Creole and had been dying to ask her what that meant more than what Google told me. Or what it meant to her, but right then wasn’t the time given what she was saying.
I growled and went to her, putting my hand on her curvy hip. “I don’t give a fuck that you’re an orphan or Black.” I felt better when she just seemed confused then. “We’re two pillars of this side of awar, Tracey. If we end up on bad terms then—”
“People end up on bad terms because they screw each other over or aren’t clear on what they wantorwhere they are in life,”she said firmly, her eyes a bit glazed over. “Your first priority is your family and your second, your people. Mine are Bevin and what we’ve built. None of that will change if we’re involved or not and we know that.”
It sounded harsh, but she wasn’t wrong. She raised an eyebrow waiting for me to agree, so I nodded.
“Good, then we know where we stand. The question is if you’re brave enough to take the leap if you think you can handle me.”
I growled at the challenge and backed her up against a tree. “You’re playing with fire and it drives me crazy.”
And then I was kissing her. I cupped the back of her head and attacked her pretty mouth with the lipstick that I wanted to have all over my fucking body in some new kink I didn’t know I had. I fucking devoured her lips, nibbling them in between trying to map out her mouth with my tongue.
But I froze when I tasted booze on her. “How much have you had to drink, Tracey?”
“Enough to be bold and risk what you were worried about but not enough to regret you.” She sighed when I didn’t continue. “I’m fine. Not driving fine, but I could go do paperwork and not make a mistake.” She snorted. “I’ve had more to drink while handling work than this and without food.”
That was good enough for me. We weren’t kids after all.
“Gods above, I knew you would be intense,” she panted after kissing me.
“Hunter green,” I whispered.
Those pretty eyes flashed shock. “Yes. Few get the color of my eyes right, but yes they’re hunter green.”
“Gorgeous,” I praised, massaging her neck as I brought my other hand to her hip and around to her ass. I pulled her tight against my body so she felt how hard I was for her. “We know our priorities, butyouneed to know that I don’t do anythingbut exclusive. The moment I’m inside of you, I will fucking end anyone else who dares to be.”
She shivered and I hoped it was in a good way because I knew that was overbearing and probably too much.
But it was how I felt.
She licked her lips and melted into me. “Depends on how well you take care of me, but if it’s as good as I hope, I will absolutely agree to only be yours, handsome. Take care of my needs and I promise I won’t even look at another man even if we’re casual.”
“Good.” I laid the circle under us and took her back to my place. It might have seemed silly when we were on the land where she lived, but she didn’t live alone and that place was now guarded by my people.
They didn’t need to know what I planned to do to her.
But I should have known better because the moment she registered the change of location, she made her move. The dress she was wearing hit the floor and then one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen dropped to her knees in front of me.
