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“What happens after the five years is up?”

Blaze’s expression tightened. “I go back home and make a match for political alliance.”

Eden’s heart plummeted to her feet and raced back to her chest. “Don’t do that.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“Because it won’t make you happy. You won’t know the person you’re marrying.”

“I’d get to know them before the match was made official. That’s what I was talking about with the files. My parents have been vetting suitable females. They all seem like nice women. They wouldn’t be hard to get along with.”

“Nice! That’s not something to get you up every morning.”

Blaze gave a low chuckle. “What part of me are you referring to?”

“Any part of you! You want a woman who’ll light a fire under your butt.”

His gaze turned hot as it ran over her. “That sounds like hard work.”

“But worth it.”

Blaze looked away. “You make nice sound like a dirty word. There’s nothing wrong with nice.”

“There is where I come from. It’s still wrong.”

“Should I be more like you?”

“More like me?” she asked.

“Make sure I leave my feelings at the bedroom door. Get what I want and leave.”

Eden’s fingers flexed. The truth stung. “I don’t always do that. And I make sure the guys I’m involved with know what’s going on. I never make promises I can’t keep.”

Nipper raised his head and made a high-pitched keening sound.

“You’re upsetting our fluffy child.” Blaze stroked the doggo until he shut his eyes again. “I’m not letting my family down. They were good enough to take a risk and let me do this.”

“On the condition you’d go into marital servitude.” Sweat prickled on the back of Eden’s neck. She didn’t want Blaze saddled with a woman he didn’t love. He’d be miserable. He’d also be off-limits to her. And he loved her.

“It won’t be like that,” Blaze said. “And it’s how it’s always been. My parents do okay.”

“They had an arranged marriage?”

“They did. It strengthened both families.”

“And meant they were tied to someone they didn’t love. That’s horrible.”

Blaze shook his head. “I can’t be like you, Eden.”

“There’s nothing wrong with keeping things light and easy.”

“Easy?”

“Sure. You do it my way, and no one gets hurt.”

There was, of course, a chance she’d miss out on the crazy love Rexx and Daisy had or the mind-blowing happiness that radiated from Striker and Wren, but this way was safer. No one’s heart got shattered when they were lied to, cheated on, or betrayed.

Blaze was quiet for a moment. “I have no choice.”