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My fingers dug into his shoulders. “Yoichi. . .”

“Your heat is here, little witch.”

“I’m horny as fuck.”

“That is part of it.”

“Fuck.” I licked rain from my lips. “Japanese magic is insane.”

“This isn’t Japanese magic. This is fate.” He inhaled me. “What is your name?”

It was hard to think, but still I tried to joke. “Y-you track me down, burn yourself several times pushing through my ancestors’ bindings, and you never even tried to figure out my name?”

“I was in a hurry to touch you.” His glowing gaze dropped to my mouth.

I could feel his restraint thickening the air. His shaky control strained between us like a chain holding back a starving beast.

“What is your name?”

I stared at his lips. “Gabrielle. . .but family calls me Gabby.”

“Hmm. Gabby.” A savage groan tore from his throat. The sound vibrated through his chest and entered my palms, nipples, and pussy.

“Oh!!” My head fell back.

Since Yoichi had touched me, my body had decided he was mine. I could not explain it. I barely knew him. He had bitten me, tracked me, broken through my protections, chased me into the rain, and disguised himself as a woman to trick me.

But now that his arms were around me, some frantic part of my soul had finally gone quiet.

No wonder he had burned himself alive trying to lay one finger on me.

“N-no.” I tried to pull my mind back. Tried to remember Andre in the ground. Tried to remember every man who had thought he was different and ended up in a pine box.

My body wouldn't listen.

My grandmother's magic still hummed in my blood from the alley working, and even she had gone silent. My ancestors weren't fighting him. They were watching. Like they recognized something I didn't. That scared me more than anything else tonight.

Fuck. . .I can’t. . .stop this. . .it feels too good. . .

Touching him had changed everything.

And with that realization, my knees gave out completely.

“Don’t worry, little witch. I’ve got you.” Yoichi lifted me into his arms. One arm supported my back. The other slid beneath my thighs.

I should have fought him. Instead, I curled against his muscular chest.

His skin was hot and smooth beneath my cheek. His heartbeat pounded against my ear. The black hands of his curse shifted like they were close to reaching for me.

My body hummed for him. His arms felt too good around me.

Too perfect.

Too right.

He lowered his face into my wet hair and inhaled. “Fuck.”

The word came out rough and hungry.