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“Thank you,” Bellarose whispers after the kiss.

At some point, she turned in my arms, and now she’s looking up at me. I can see the silhouette of her face in the moonlight, and I reach out to brush my thumb over her cheek.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” I say, my voice deep and gravelly from sleep. “Nothing I wouldn’t give you.” My thumb moves to trace over her bottom lip. “All you have to do is ask.”

“Will you kiss me again?”

Even in the moonlight, I can see the shyness in her eyes. How can she possibly think there’s a universe where my answer would be no?

“Bellarose,” I tell her as my other arm slides around her waist and I pull her flush against me. I need her to feel how much I want her. I don’t want there to be any mistaking my desire.

“Oh,” she says in surprise, and I’d be willing to bet if I could see the color of her cheeks right now, they’d be fire-engine red.

“I think it might be easier if you tell me when to stop kissing you.” I brush my lips over hers gently, giving her time to object.

“Um, well.” Her breath hitches as her fingers tighten in my shirt. “Based on that new information, I think I’ll just stay quiet.”

“Anything you want, kitten.”