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He’d demonstrated much em

pathy and kindheartedness toward her, a huentle with her while she’d healed

When he’d made love to her, however… He’d been fiercely passionate Davian had shown her what desire and intimacy were all about Jade knew innately and with certainty that she would never experience such powerful emotions with another man, not even Michael

The very reason she shifted away from him when he reached out to touch her cheek

“Please don’t,” she said in a low voice Although she suspected Davian would stay out of her head, it wouldn’t bode well for Michael if the king slipped and inadvertently learned of this exchange through her own thoughts It would torment Davian as well

“Jade,” Michael said “The night you were folloe were outside the tavern… I intended to kiss you”

She nodded “I assumed”

“Yet you didn’t move away”

“No But things have…changed…since then”

His eyes narrowed on her “What things? How? We haven’t seen each other in a week”

“Michael, I was in grave danger I couldn’t very well let that transfer to you I still can’t” She heaved a sigh How else was she to explain this other than with a direct approach? “Look,” she told him in a compassionate tone, “I think it’s best if we remain friends No more than that For all our sakes”

She walked past him and reached for the doorknob Michael halted her in her tracks as he said, “You’re infatuated with him, aren’t you?”

“Don’t be absurd,” she scoffed But her hand shook on the brass knob

“You challenged hih, he was interested in you before that He was the one watching us on the sidewalk, wasn’t he?”

“Yes”