Page 188 of Emylia

But he didn’t kiss me.

He didn’t have to. The restraintwasthe intimacy.

The not touching—the hesitation—that was the most devastating touch of all. He was still waiting. Waiting for me to claim him. To demand his touch.

Until that moment came, he wouldn’t falter.

No matter what it would cost him.

And Gods help me—I wassoclose to surrendering.

The air between us was molten. Maalikai hadn’t moved, and neither had I. His breath fanned across my lips like a dare, like a promise.

If I just tilted my head to the right, our lips would graze. And I knew—if they did—that this wall I’d built between us would cease to exist.

All of my control would disintegrate into nothing.

“Well, this looks cozy.”

The voice was familiar.

Too familiar.

My stomach dropped. Maalikai blinked—slowly, like he’d known it would happen. Like he’dbeen waitingfor the interruption.

I turned just as Sebastian stepped through the treeline, light catching his golden skin as he crossed into the clearing. His arms folded lazily across his chest, but his expression was anything but casual.

Like he wastoookay.

His gaze didn’t miss a thing—not the way Maalikai and I were tangled, not my thigh still hooked around his hip, not the tension that hummed between us louder than any kiss. His eyes burned into mine. And Gods—hesmirked. But it wasn’t amused. It wasn’t broken, either.

It was armor.

Shielding everything from me—like he was still trying to protect me.

“You two done throwing each other around? Or should I come back when you've finished the foreplay?”

“Might be safer,”Maalikai muttered, not looking away from me.

I slipped free of him with a sharp breath, backing away like distance could extinguish the fire still crawling beneath my skin.

“Sebastian—what are you?—”

“Training session,”he said lightly.Toolightly. “With you. Or had you already filled your quota for the morning?”

“Maalikai was just?—”

“Yeah,”he cut in, smile tightening. “I saw.” He tilted his head. “But it wasn’t his turn, was it?”

“What?”

“I came by your room. But you weren’t there.”

I froze. You’ve got to be kidding me.

My eyes pierced Maalikai—molten steel as I stared him down.

“You!”

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