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“Hi.”

“Shut up.”

“Missed you too.”

I kiss him harder.

His hands tighten at my waist.

For a few seconds, there is nothing careful about either of us.

His mouth moves to my jaw, my neck, and my head tips back automatically.

Then, abruptly, he stops. His hands stay on my waist, but his mouth leaves my skin.

I make a noise of protest.

“Why did you stop?”

His forehead drops against mine.

“I need to ask you something.”

“If it’s an anatomy question, I swear to God⁠—”

“It’s not.”

The seriousness in his voice cuts through everything.

I look at him.

His breathing is as uneven as mine.

“I need to know this isn’t because today was a lot. I love you and I can’t fucking wait to get you naked, but I can wait if you want to.”

This man.

This ridiculous, infuriating man.

“Callum Fox, I have spent several weeks desperately trying not to sleep with you.”

His mouth twitches.

“And?”

“I hated it. Every single second.”

The smile breaks openly this time.

“Yeah?”

“Awful experience. Zero stars.”

His hands slide around my back.

“I also hated it,” he whispers in my ear.

“Good.”