Page 247 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Fuck off with your introspective bullshit, Luka,” she said. “The only thing I felt for Theon was hate.”

He hummed in response.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Love and hate are equally intense emotions.”

“I donotlove him,” she spat.

“But you do feel something more than hate.”

“I—” A sound of frustration clawed up her throat. “I don’t know. I don’t know what any of this is. And how can I feel something for him after what we did? Is it always awkward when feelings are involved?”

Her face screwed up at the thought. If that was the case, she didn’t understand why people enjoyed sex when it wasn’t cut and dry and without feeling.

A sigh came from Luka as he closed the distance between them. Her arms dropped to her sides when he took her face in his hands, bending down to brush a kiss to her brow. “It is only awkward because you do not know how to accept that someone cares for you simply because you exist.”

“Everyone wants something, Luka. Don’t be naïve,” she scoffed. “This is Devram.”

“Answer this then: did you only fuck me to avoid something?”

She lurched back. “What? No!”

“Did you just use me for your own pleasure?”

“No.”

“Then…you want something from me?” he asked, and she saw his lips twitch as he fought his smirk.

“No,” she snapped.

“No?” he repeated, leaning in to brush his lips along the shell of her ear. “But you just said everyone wants something, so you must want something from me. If it’s not avoidance or pleasure, then…”

He trailed off, moving lower and kissing below her ear.

“And what about Theon?” she blurted. “You suddenly do not care that he thinks I am his? That I hate the male you are sworn to guard? That he and I were always meant to destroy one another?”

Luka pulled back, just far enough to look into her eyes. Tucking her hair behind her ear, he brushed another kiss to her lips before he said, “I won’t deny it will take time to navigate everything, but this is new for all of us. Nothing says it needs to be decided and figured out today.”

“Right. So when you were speaking to him a few minutes ago, the two of you just avoided the topic?”

“For now,” he agreed.

“You know why that is, right?”

Luka arched a brow, waiting for her to go on.

“Because this isawkward.”

Then she was squealing as Luka scooped her up and deposited her on the sofa before sinking down beside her.

“Was that necessary?” she demanded.

“Yes,” he answered. “That conversation was going around in circles. We needed to break the cycle, and you need to eat.”

He grabbed the bowl from the end table, placing it in her lap. She looked down to find yogurt with berries, granola, and honey.

Her nose wrinkled. “Did Theon send this?”

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