Asher reached for her and she dropped his watch and bracelet into his open palm.
“Let me guess.” She smiled sadly. “They’re micro-chipped, like a little pet. That’s how you found me, isn’t it?”
“No.”
“Then how?”
Asher shook his head. He wanted to tell her he really did. But if she wasn’t going to stay with him, he had to protect his people, no matter how much it killed him to withhold from her.
“I hate this distance between us, Duchess,” he admitted. “I know when we met, we agreed to one night only but,” He gazed up into those sapphire eyes, putting the whole of his heart on the line. “I don’t want us to end there. I want you in my life, precious, full time.”
“Full time,” she repeated slowly. “As in, not a weekend fling.”
“God, you’re so much more to me than a fling. Surely you’ve felt that.”
She nodded.
“It doesn’t make sense, though. We just met. The intensity of our con—”
“So, you’ve felt it too?” He smiled, hope blooming in his chest again. “The connection, the pull.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Since I first saw you.”
“Same.” He grinned, standing and pulling her closer. “Among my people, when we connect with another like that, it’s because they’re ouranam cara, our true mate.”
“Mate…” Duchess stepped back at that word. “Listen, Asher, I need to tell you something before we go any further.”
Dread crept into his belly at the unease on her beautiful face, but he encouraged her to go on. He had to hear it, whatever she had to say.
“My name isn’t Duchess. That’s just my club name. My given name is Clea, Cleone Aëtos.”
“The eagle.” He smiled, translating her surname.
She shook her head. “He was my father, and he’s dead. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, though.” She raised her chin, looking him in the eyes. “I’m a thief, Asher, just like he was. But I didn’t steal from you on purpose.” She dropped her gaze. “Well, I did. But not to be vindictive. I just wanted a memento of the best sex of my life. I never planned to offload your things, I just… wanted something to remember you by.”
Her words worked their way through the anxiety he’d been rocking all day, soothing him in an unexpected way.
“Best sex of your life, huh?” Asher chuckled. “Oh, precious, we were just getting started.”
She glanced at the bed, then back at him and damn, the desire in her eyes spoke straight to his cock. But he didn’t want to take her here. Still, he found himself ducking his head and kissing those soft lips of hers, relishing the way she opened for him as though no time had passed since they’d last been together.
When they came up for air, they were on the bed and Clea’s robe was wide open, his palm cupping one of her perfect breasts.
“Shit, Clea.” He pulled back. “I’m sorry, I just—”
“Don’t worry about it.” She smiled lazily. “I’m on board, you know.”
Asher’s heart stopped momentarily at her words, then beat erratically.
“What do you mean?”
“Really?” she drawled with a saucy smirk. “You need me to spell it out for you?” She arched into his hand, and Asher fought back a curse. She was just so damn fucking perfect.
But he had to be sure.
“I can tell you want to have sex, precious.” Make that two of them. “I want to know if it’s just that or if you want more.”
She pulled away, sitting up and rearranging her robe. Asher had to focus on his breathing to remain calm.
