Page 157 of Claimed In Darkness

But I didn’t.

Zephiran has always known what buttons to press to make me give up.

He wants the truth, the feelings in my heart.

And I’m going to give it to him.

His hands are still on me.

Holding me in place.

His body, a wall of heat against mine, keeping me from running.

Not that I would.

There’s nowhere left to go.

No matter how hard I try, he always catches up to me.

He’s had me since the beginning. And I have spent too long pretending otherwise.

I let my breath shudder out, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, nails digging in, as if that will keep me steady.

It won’t. Nothing will.

Not when he’s looking at me like he has been waiting for me to utter the truth from my mouth.

The truth that I’m trying to hide from.

I’m still his, and I love him.

"Say it,” he demands.

His voice is low, dangerous, curling around my throat like a blade.

I squeeze my eyes shut.

I can’t.

"Naira."

My name, dragged from his lips like a promise. Or a curse.

I shake my head.

He tightens his grip. It’s not painful, just unyielding.

Enough to remind me he won’t let this go. Just enough to remind me he never does.

I swallow hard.

"Why do you have to ask when you already know the answer?"

His fingers slide along my jaw, tilting my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"Say it anyway,” he orders.

I exhale, hard and sharp as if breathing alone is like pulling teeth out of my mouth.

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