Page 213 of Primal Bonds

The words spilled out anyway. “You asked if I ever come to Baltimore. I’ve been thinking—this doesn’t have to be a one-night thing. The king will forgive me.” He hoped. “I’ll wait a couple of months, and then send you a message. I have a condo on the Mediterranean—in Spain, near Barcelona. We can meet there. No one has to know.”

“Yeah?”

Encouraged, he said, “Say yes, Jani. I’ll buy you anything you want. Clothes. Jewels…”

She stiffened and he trailed off.

“Fane.” That was all she said. But it was all she needed to say.

He took her mouth, pouring everything he knew about seduction into the kiss. “Think about it. That’s all I ask.”

She turned her head away. “If we do meet, it won’t be because you fucking pay me.”

He swore under his breath. “I’m sorry.” He nudged her chin until she was looking at him again. “I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that I want to buy you pretty things.”

Because I love you, damn it.

“But you don’t have to. I don’t need them.”

“Got that. Loud and clear.”

The hell with talking. He had the sinking feeling that nothing he could say would change her mind. And she’d made it clear this was a one-time thing. He might as well enjoy it while he could.

He inserted his thigh between hers, wrapped his hand around her nape and gave her a deep kiss.

Their lovemaking this time was urgent, frenzied. The bittersweet coming together of two people who knew something was ending almost before it had begun.

Chapter 25

Marjani let out a sigh and rested her head on Fane’s chest. The second time had been even better than the first. She’d been able to enjoy it without worrying she was going to freak out on him and go clawed.

Now dawn was speeding toward them way too fast. If she could just stop time, have another day with him. But they had only a few hours.

She stroked a hand down the hard planes of his abdomen to where his cock lay nestled on a patch of wiry dark hair.

“Hold that thought, love.” He pressed a drowsy kiss to her temple. “You wore me out.”

She grinned. “I guess you are just getting over a fever.” She wrapped an arm around his waist and drifted off, sure that tonight, there’d be no nightmares.

She was wrong.

Men. Stinking of alcohol and lust.

Grabbing her, so hard they bruised her. Throwing her down on the floor. Thrusting into her.

Hurting her.

Shame filled every corner of her…spilled onto the floor along with her cries.

Weak. She was so damn weak.

The aphrodisiac burned like fire in her belly…and lower. And after a while, she’d stopped fighting—and begged, instead.

They’d made her beg. That was the one thing she couldn’t forget…or forgive. She’d held out for as long as she could—fighting them, and then when she couldn’t fight anymore, closed her eyes and pretended it wasn’t happening to her.

The drug racing through her veins…making her weak and needy. That was what an aphrodisiac did to you—made you crave sensation. Sex. Pain. Drugs. Alcohol.

And when they ordered her to beg for more, she did.

---