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The urge to rail at hie invasion of privacy rose within her, yet Jade would be a hypocrite if she took offense She’d more than enjoyed the fantasy, after all Had co before her, who had figuratively tossed Michael out into the cold and had replaced that hard, warm body with his own

Didn’t that ?

Her heart continued to thump wildly and Jade pressed a hand to her chest, as if that would keep the organ fro from her body “I don’t understand any of this”

“In theory,” he said in a tight voice, “it’s really quite siht years, to be exact But you’re mortal, which makes you wholly off limits Even to me Especially to me”

Vexation and heat eued Jade When she knew it shouldn’t

He said, “Only one tihteen They were so black and agonizing, I never did it again I literally cannot stand how tortured you are Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I feel irrationally compelled to protect you”

He gave this further consideration

Jade didn’t utter a word, so taken aback was she

Apparently, though, the De didn’t like the implication he’d presented, because he scowled and said, “When I sensed there was so within you, I had to find out what it was My quest, however, has not keptyou As we’ve both discovered”

There it was The whole kit-and-caboodle sprawled at her feet

Except…

“You’re wrong about me”

One side of his mouth quirked “Oh, really?”

Her cheeks flushed He likely believed she chose to deny their attraction and how desperately she’d wanted him

But she couldn’t deny it The inescapable truth was that she’d thrilled over the pleasure he’d given her and had the overwhel for seconds