Page 95 of Tame Me

That Dain even knows how to stitch it stuns me. Surely he never had to darn his holey socks or anything. He’d have been handed new ones.

‘He belongs with Lukas,’ Dain says gruffly.

I glance back up at him only to see he’s watching me and his expression isn’t masked. I see his hunger. I see it and feel it and match it. I move closer.

He swallows but doesn’t step back. He’s watching me the way a predator watches the thing it wants. Warily, quietly, intensely—waiting for it to wander within reach.

I get that he doesn’t trust people because they always have an ulterior motive. People want things—generally money—from him all the time. I don’t want any of thesethingsfrom him. At all. What I want is far more basic than that. Far more reckless. And it is so impossible to resist. But I should. For Lukas I should. For myself.

But the blue of Dain’s eyes vanishes in the black heat of his pupils and the yearning I see echoes my own.

‘Talia...’

I don’t want him to think I want him because he’s been nice—because he’s helped me in so many ways already. It’s frustrating and somehow I need to make that clear to him. ‘I understand why you’re not interested in marriage,’ I say.

He stiffens. ‘I’ve never wanted any kind of wife, trophy or otherwise. I can’t commit to something I can’t believe in.’

‘Good.’ I step towards him. ‘Becausewe’redefinitelynotgetting married.’

He seems to stop breathing.

‘Never, okay?’ I whisper.

He tenses even more. I know he’s reserved but he’s very clear about what hedoesn’twant. I wouldn’t consider this if I thought he had other intentions but there’s honesty between us now. There’s also this chemistry—it burns ever more intensely, ever more out of my control. I ache for touch. I stroke the toy I’m still holding instead. The toy he’s fixed. Another wave of emotion engulfs me. I’ve misjudged him. Again.

‘Never,’ he finally agrees huskily. ‘There’s no reason for us to do something we know would be damaging to Lukas and to ourselves. We just...co-parent. Quietly and easily.’ He stands very still. ‘Lukas needs you. And you need...less stress.’

‘I thought you said I needed to be indulged,’ I say softly.

The words escape before my brain catches up—control slipping free of my hold, like water sinking through sand. But it’s not a trickle, it’s an unstoppable tsunami. I freeze but at the same time I really don’t. I sway ever so slightly towards him. My body doesn’t give a damn about the future. It’s only interested innow.

‘Talia...’ he mutters a whispered warning.

I’m too far gone to pay heed. This passion between us is temporary. Such things arealwaystemporary, right? This I know. All those men in my mother’s life...

But I also know thatDainis not a cheater—I was wrong about that. He’s reserved and private and wants to do his best for Lukas. He’s gorgeous. And I can’t resist this need any more. Because Dain willalwaysdo his best for Lukas—as will I. So I know he’ll still work with me as best he can even after this chemistry fades. Neither of us wants Lukas to be caught up in arguing parents.

‘So you want me to indulge you?’ he says.

I lightly toss the toy to a side table so my hands are free. ‘You wanted honesty, right?’ I swallow. ‘I still want you.’ I touch his chest. ‘I can’t seem to stop wanting you.’

His hands span my waist and now I couldn’t step back even if I wanted to.

I really don’t want to. ‘I don’t want to complicate things but—’

‘You can’t get past it?’ he interrupts with a growl.

‘Right.’ I nod. I can’tthink.

‘Funny thing, nor can I.’

I’m so relieved my knees almost sag. ‘We let it run...’ I eventually say. ‘Let it end.’

‘And then move forward?’ He’s still but his hold on me tightens. ‘For Lukas.’

‘Yes.’ I nod. ‘We’ll work it out for him. He’ll always come first.’

‘Right.’ He leans towards me.

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