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None of that made any sense compared to this This was an inferno and a conversation, all at once He felt every touch with double ferocity: the way her fingers caressed his hair and then clenched aled forith his hips Her breath, sweet and s of tea and lemons The little sounds shehi down at her, running a possessive hand down her neck, her shoulders, trailing onto her breast He felt her shudder under his touch

She opened her er across her lips The tip of her tongue stole out and touched his finger He pressed back, just a little, allowed his finger to slip through soft lips into liquid warh his entire body

It crystallized his thoughts

"I will not ood at words, even though he was a little more fluent around Olivia Somehow, he could talk to her

Her eyes flew open and her whole body went rigid "Oh, God, I’m the worst sister in the world Letthe curve of her jaw "Your skin is beautiful"

"I feel sick to my sto me!"

"Yes"

"Stop it And let me up!"

Reluctantly, he rolled to the side but kept his ar to do with you"

"Liar" She glared at him, and he took a moment to savor it Olivia was like a fla now If you had never ie and been happy as two bedbugs in a mattress or, more to the point, two alchemists in a laboratory"

"I can’t know for certain, of course, but I don’t think so It wasn’t until iana here that I realized I could not sihtly," Olivia said, stubborn as ever "You’re perfect for each other This thing between us is nothing more than a forest fire, as you described it Temporary It will burn itself out Let me rise, please"

"I don’t believe that I knohat love is, at least the sort that people talk about between men and women But I would venture to say that soeline as love I think care about is a more accurate description, especially if one understands the phrase to include an abiding desire"

She stilled Raised a hand, touched his cheek "I’e She wasn’t in love with e to be with other men It was problematic But I cared about her, even when she made me a cuckold and finally left me I couldn’t stop Stupid, I know"

Olivia leaned over and gave hi to his lips "Actually, you should be proud of your loyalty You are wonderful, Quin"

"No, I’m quite foolish I should have stopped myself Somehow"

"I don’t think anyone has the ability to choose whether or not to fall in love"

"Exactly," he said with deep satisfaction "I agree with you When I told you that I don’t lie, I meant it"

She shook her head "I ie decides to rejoin the ball"

"I a" He tried to remember what it was, but it felt as if his entire body was focused on the plump, sweet curves of her lips

"You never lie," she said, sitting up and breaking their eye contact "I accept that"

"I’ complex statements"