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“When?”

“Right before I saw you in Castle’s arms” The implied accusation detonates in the space between us, and he stands, shirtless, his dark blond hair a o when he co doard over an icy blue gaze His audacity to wield anger in this situation shouldn’t surprise me, and it shouldn’t put me on the defensive

Not this time

I hold aze “Well now I know, so what does she want fro else

What does this mean for us?

Planting both hands on the glass behind me, he presses forward untiland a white picket fence, if that’s what you’re asking” He’s invading hts until a voice in the back ofme on purpose

To distract from the issue at hand? Or to deflect? I can’t be sure, since he’s good at both

His eyes areup again We’re two stubborn pillars trading prideful stares My mouth slackens as his lips part, and we share quick and shallow breaths—angry breaths with an undertow of desire

The ever-present heat between us will never cool Anger fuels it Lust fuels it The sun rising in the east and setting in the west fuels it Our cheone conclusion before the first sentence of our story was ever written

“It doesn’tthe tense standoff with a flick of his tongue along his botto between you and me”

Truer words have never been spoken, and yet there’s a contradictory strain in his voice

I gear up to argue, but oes on the offensive, his lips silencing the ue past my defenses, I shove him back

“You can’t just kiss this away”

“I know,” he says softly, his anger losing strength He sinks into a chair again like a hopeless brick on a journey to the bottom of the ocean

“Why didn’t you tella piece of my pride, I settle into the seat across from him

“I already told you—”

“I knohat you said,” I interrupt “Elise and Landon’s wedding was over a week ago You’ve known all this ti a laborious beat to pass “And time isn’t on our side”