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Her arms tighten around my neck.

“Always so bossy.”

“You like me bossy.”

“I tolerate you bossy.”

“Liar.”

She smiles. And, fuck me, I love her.

I kiss her again.

Then magic surges around us.

The kitchen disappears in a whirl of red and gold, carrying us across the space between our homes.

Straight to my bedroom. To my bed. And maybe—if I'm lucky enough, patient enough, and Belinda Ramos decides I'm worth choosing—ours someday.

Chapter 26

Belinda

The world settles around us in a swirl of red and gold.

One second, we're standing in my kitchen.

The next, my feet touch the floor of Damian's bedroom.

His arms are still around me. His mouth is still on mine. And this time, I know exactly what I'm walking into.

No, that's not right.

This time, I know exactly what I'm choosing.

Damian pulls back first. His eyes search mine, red burning through the black, and I can feel the question before he asks it.

Not because of the bond. Because I'm finally starting to understand him.

“Sweet—”

“I know.”

His hands remain at my waist. Waiting.

Always waiting now.

Goddess damn him. I spent weeks thinking Damian's possessiveness meant he wanted to control me.

Now I understand something I didn't before.

Damian's instincts might scream Mine.

But the man has learned to ask. And tonight? My answer is yes.

I lift my hands. Magic surges through me. Not a sputter. Not one of those embarrassing little bursts that used to happen whenever I tried to perform the simplest spell.

This is different.