Page 73 of Midnight Star

“The sap will take some time to collect. Which means we’ve got time to kill,” he murmurs, leaving a trail of cool frost along my skin. “We should make good use ofit. After all, you did tell me earlier that you enjoy solid things.”

I yank my arm back and scowl at him. “Are you serious?”

His smirk doesn’t waver. If anything, it deepens, likeI’mthe one being unreasonable.

“What?” he says, spreading his hands in mock innocence. “It wouldn’t be the first time we used waiting around as an excuse to have a little fun.”

My chest tightens.

Fun.

Nothing more.

Nothing real.

“That’s really all it would be for you?” I ask, even though I’m already clenching my fists, dreading his answer. “Just a way to pass the time?”

“A particularly pleasant way.” His fingers brush my cheek, but the gesture feels hollow. Empty. Meaningless. “You liked it before. Alot,if I remember correctly.”

I jerk away from his touch again, my chest aching. “Don’t.”

“Why not?” He tilts his head, studying me with detached interest. “The attraction is as strong as ever. For both of us. And it’s not like it’s something we haven’t done before. So, why not enjoy it?”

“Because there’s more than that between us. More than…” I trail off, gesturing at him. “More thanthis.”

“This is all there is now.” He shrugs, his eyes traveling over my body as if he’s assessing if he’ll get what he wants from it or not. “Take it or leave it. Although I must say, leaving it seems like a waste of a perfectly good—and an extremely enjoyable—opportunity. Don’t you think?”

Sapphire

I shove him,hard, wind whipping around us.

But he barely moves, instead managing to catch my wrist before I can put more distance between us. The way he holds me—gentle, controlled, with just enough pressure to keep me close—makes me ache with the need for him to say those three words to me.

“You’re shaking,” he says instead, his lips only inches from mine now. “Are you sure you don’t want this? Or is this just some fun, new foreplay? Because if it is, I’m into it.”

He waits for my reply, and I canfeelhow much he still wants me. The way his body reacts to mine, the way his breathing slows, the desire in his gaze.

But there’s nothing underneath it. No emotion. No love.

So, I wrench my wrist free, my breaths coming too fast. “No. I don’t want this,” I say fiercely. “I wantyou.The real you.”

His smirk falters—just for a second—but it’s enough to make my heart jump.

Then, it’s back, colder than before.

“The real me?” he repeats, his tone light, but his words cutting. “Thisisthe real me. I want you, Sapphire. And given how familiar we already are with each other, I know you want me, too.”

“You want me,” I repeat, the words sounding hollow. “But you don’tloveme.”

“No,” he says simply, and he doesn’t need to think about it, which makes it even worse. “But this is better. It’s simple. No complications. Just you, me, and…” He trails off, his eyes sweeping down my body in the way that makes my cheeks flush every time. “Opportunity.”

I stare him down, anger rushing through me, willing him to take it back.

Wind whips around us. Water droplets from the melted ice shards rise, suspended like tears in the air. My magic is a storm raging inside me, and I want him to know what that sort of turmoil feels like, too.

I want him tofeel.

He just glances around and chuckles, as if I’m performing a magic trick. “Showing off now, are we?” heasks in amusement. “Trying to make me love you by reminding me how powerful you are?”

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