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Duke pulled close to the walk, then turned to Olivia “Can you park this? Call Marrok and tell hiest that Sabelle fetch you as soon as possible I hate to leave you alone, even for a moment”

Olivia laid a soft hand on his shoulder “I’m fine”

“Bad people still want their bloody hands on you, er Be careful”

Le Fay? Like Morganna le Fay?

A s brother I never had”

“Big brothers know best Now go”

At Olivia’s nod, Duke exited the vehicle, doffing his sweater When, the back door opened, he leaned in Sydney wriggled to lower her skirt, which earned her a growl frorove never looked her way

“Corabbed Caden by the neck and yanked hi his head on the top of the door

“Careful!” she insisted

As soon as he cleared the vehicle, Caden snarled and whirled, throicked punches in the air

Duke spun him around, then clamped his arms around Caden’s middle “Put this on” He tossed her his sweater “Go Open your door We’ll follow”

Sydney skipped the lift and headed for the stairs, uncertain that Duke could contain Caden during the ancient runted, straining to be free She sed His desire was contagious Want hiked up her breathing, cramped her sex But terror crept in What if she couldn’t help him? What if her efforts to reach his heart didn’t heal him? What if this was all due to that damn book?

Suddenly, Duke huffed “Bloody hell!”

Glancing over her shoulder, Sydney found Duke doubled over—and Caden charging for her He pinned her to the wall aat her throat with his lips She felt his erection pressed against her Her anticipation skyrocketed, and she paler to feel the hot, bare skin of his back

“Not in the hall,” Duke adet behind closed doors, shall we?”

Oops! No ht Admittedly, it was odd to be nearly ravished in front of a stranger, and she was hardly in the hu at the moment was bloody hard What wo so overcome with passion he was hardly himself? Even more, the fact Caden had asked her to be the anchor in his storainst her and whispered that he couldn’t wait to be alone with her, inside her, she ed to pry Caden away and push hied toward her door

As they reached it, Duke tried to soothe her by patting her shoulder “After you’re inside and together, all will be well”

Suddenly, Caden shoved her behind his big, hot body, then whirled to face Hurstgrove, then clasped his hand around the duke’s throat “You will not touch her”

“Right” Duke held up both hands in surrender “Won’t do that”

Caden growled and let go, then turned back to Sydney Possessiveness? Yes, it was in his eyes She’d always been certain that this relationship meant more to her heart than his, but nownow she questioned that Was she finally seeing the emotions he’d kept hidden behind his barriers?

Hoping yes, she raced for her door, inserting her key with tre her to the wood, breathing hot and hard in her ear

“Don’t leave ed to turn the key, and they spilled inside the little flat Caden roared in after her, his expression a pledge that he ed breath Duke followed theaze discreetly focused elsewhere

Hurstgrove spotted the hallway leading to her bedrooestured to her “Take him”

“Be with me,” Caden murmured “Now I need you”

Sydney wanted that , but needed some information about his condition first “We’re here Explain Why is he suddenly a randy octopus and why does he want my help?”

Duke h it He cursed so his hands over her ar her up with his touch

“This is off the record If one word of this appears in your tabloid, I will use all my wealth and connections to shut it down and unemploy you permanently”

His intimidation tactics startled Sydney—and annoyed her If he hadn’t been Caden’s friend and she hadn’t seen his concern in action, she’d have tossed him out on his ear Yes, he ealthy and powerful, but if she stumbled upon a hidden truth, she wanted to tell it Still, she had no doubt Duke couldbullied” She glared at Duke

“Understood But you’re dealing with soerous you can’t possibly understand”

Her heart stopped “Caden’s condition is that serious?”

Duke hesitated “Not exactly It’s everything you’ve been writing about”

Caden had warned her of that repeatedly, seeravely concerned about her safety “In ay? What does ic have to do with him?”

At that moment, Caden planted his mouth on her neck, hand under the sweater, and whispered of his need She shivered, herBut Duke’s words demanded a few moments of attention before she lost herself in Caden’s touch

“We’re out of tiic and he’s chosen you, and you alone, to provide a healing touch He’ll reject all others, I suspect”

The fact he’d chosen her was both thrilling and surprising, but“Touched by ain of the book and all she’d written and winced

“I’ with you, he can convert the energy you generate together into so that heals hiasp out as Caden gripped her hips and pressed into her, clearly ready for a night of sin She wasn’t at all ih this He needs you now Please,” Duke cajoled “He’s going to require everything you’re willing to give Just don’t kiss him It would be catastrophic”

“To his health?”

Caden’s handsit Sydney tried to wriggle away, but his grip was like iron He wanted her Now

Duke nodded “And perhaps yours”

“Does this have anything to do with the book?” Sydney hated to think she’d done this to hihtfully so

Caden had apparently tired of talking He tore Duke’s sweater froed her down the hall When she resisted, he scooped her up and carried her

“What the—Caden!”

With a grunt, he kept going

“Give hi as you can,” Duke called out

“I will!”

Now her only questions were: How long would that be? And did she have everything necessary to heal him?