Page 66 of Riv's Sanctuary

That minor victory eased some of his tension.

Loosening his grip a little, he kept her wrist enclosed by his palm.

The phek was she doing in his room?

He thought he’d made it clear he didn’t want anything to do with her.

He’d growled. He’d snarled. He’d tried not to encourage her company.

But here she was…

And the bad thing about it…

The more he stared down at her…the longer her body heaved against his…the more his anger dissipated, till he was left just staring down at her, wondering how he’d moved from bristling anger to…whatever this new feeling was.

Try as he wanted to ignore it, her body felt soft against his…her scent intoxicating.

And though she was wary, though she wasn’t sure what he was going to do next, behind her fear he could see her own anger simmering.

Only, she was much better at controlling it than he was controlling his.

She was waiting to see what he would do before she reacted…and right now his body was telling him he wanted to do one thing while his mind was fighting in the opposite direction.

Feeling her against him was making him react in a way that hadn’t occurred in a while.

Not like this.

His cock was growing hard. Very hard. And without his interference.

He could feel it pressing against his trousers…against her leg.

He should let her go.

He should release her and usher her from his room.

He should…

Something moist bumped against his arm, bringing him from his daze, and he turned his head slightly to see Grot rubbing his head against him.

The tevsi could sense his battling emotions. Grot was trying to calm him.

Riv closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Calm.

Calm.

Regain control.

Calm.

Releasing her wrist, he let his arm fall as he bent his head and fought to control his warring thoughts.

“Go,” he said.

As she lifted herself off him, her movements were jerky and he could feel her flaming gaze on him.

“Ugh, yoor soh difikult. So rood ahnd, ahnd, juhst…mahdennin! Ai was uhnesstly juhst trahy-ing to help yoo.”

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