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“Probably,” I chuckle.

“They're lucky you came into their life.” She rubs her palm over my skin. “Let go. I know it’s easy to say.”

“But you make me want to,” I say gruffly. We stare at each other, her caress continuing, and my thoughts center on her. “You’re incredibly beautiful.” I lift my hand and trail my fingers under her jaw.

“You're very hot,” she breathes. “I love your tattoos.”

Her fingers trace the vines of the tree, and I try not to tense.

“It represents my nightmare,” I grit out, resisting the urge to remove her hand. “I don’t like to be reminded. The ink grows when I use my power, and I think of my mom when I look at it.”

“I can sense the power,” she whispers, continuing to trace. “It’s a part of you. Perhaps you can think of it as what you've overcome instead of the dark times. As much as we'd like to change our experiences, they have made us who we are today.” She leans over me and kisses my skin. “There’s a reason you were given your gifts, and you never know when they will save your life or the ones you love.” She moves back.

“How do you make me rethink my beliefs?” The tension eases.

“It’s easy to think about the bad things, and sometimes we get caught up with the way we’ve always dealt with our pain. All we need is a different perspective.” She rubs her hand over my chest.

I trace her neck to her collar and over her shoulder. Her hand stops, and I continue down her arm until I’m circling her wrist.

“I’ve been restraining myself.” I glide my finger over her skin.

“Maybe you should stop.”

“Should I?”

She licks her lips. “Please.”

I grab her wrist, roll her, and press her arm above her head. Dipping my head, I slide my leg between hers and hover over her.

“What do you want, baby?”

“Your skin against mine,” she rasps. “In whatever way you want.”

I harden everywhere.

She’s perfect.

Bracing on my knees, I release her hand and lift her shirt. She raises her arms, eager as I pull it over her head. Her hair spreads over the pillow, and she lies back.

“Fuck,” I hiss, and bow my back.

I drag my tongue between her breasts, humming at the first taste of her soft skin. I continue up her neck, and she tips her head back. Nipping her chin, her mouth parts as I lick her bottom lip. I slide my knees back and press against her, gripping the pillow on either side of her head.

“Yes,” she rasps, arching her back.

“Stunning.” I’ve never felt so much by just the contact of skin. She's open with her pleasure and not afraid to ask for what she wants. As much as I want to sink inside her, tonight is all about her. She has already given me her trust and a light in my dark world; I want to reward her, which is becoming increasingly difficult as she's squirming beneath me.

“Archer,” she whimpers.

“Hold on, Wild One.” I ease down her body. “I’ll give you what you need.” I drag her pants down her legs, and sit on my ankles.

“Promise?” she groans.

“Yeah.” I throw the fabric to the floor and stare at the sexiest pair of underwear I’ve ever seen. “Let me look at you.” They’re not lace or satin. They don’t show everything at a glance. Bright purple cotton. Simple. The waistband is slightly below her belly button. On the front of them, it states, ‘under my spell.’

I'm very much under her spell.

“I like your eyes on me, but I’m not very patient,” she states, the corner of her mouth tipping up.