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“Is that not what you said?”
His fist tightened against the glass. “Yes. Nonetheless, placating Father and the people of Elyrdin is simply a consequence of maintaining our bond, not its purpose.”
“Then what?”
What other reason would he have for keeping an incomplete bond he didn’t want?
His other hand came up to rest on my waist, his thumb brushing the exposed skin between my tank top and the waistband of my pants.
My breathing picked up as my eyelids fluttered closed.
How could the slightest touch from him affect me so much?
His nose brushed the skin beneath my ear as he breathed in my scent.
“Ezra?”
“While I’ll never bond with you, I won’t break our tether, Raelynn.”
My eyes snapped open, and I looked up into his cold eyes. “I don’t understand.”
“Had you said you wanted to sever our incomplete tether, I’d have considered it. However, if this is another instance of your altruism, then I must decline.”
“It’s not.”
His hand came down from the glass, cupping my face. “You don’t even see when you do it.”
“Stop touching me,” I whispered.
I couldn’t concentrate with his hands on my skin.
He leaned in until I felt his breath fan across my lips. “Why?”
“I can’t think like this.”
“Again, why? Remember, your scent doesn’t lie.”
I hated the soft whimper that came out of me when his hand slid higher up my waist, allowing his entire hand to hold my side. His hand felt like a brand against my skin. “Why are you doing this?”
He shifted once more to the spot beneath my ear, gently brushing his nose against my skin as he inhaled my scent. “Because I refuse to let you go.”
“You said if I didn’t want the tether…”
“I lied,” he said, lips brushing my ear.
“I don’t understand.”
“It is the only thing I won’t give you a choice with, Raelynn. You may fight me on everything. You can say no. I won’t accept anything you’re not willingly giving me.” He inhaled once more. “Except this.”
I squirmed against him, trying to fight the spell he had me under.
His grip tightened on my waist.
“You would take my choice from me?”
“That won’t ever be a question needing an answer. You want this.”
“What?”
