Page 37 of Dark Rover's Gift

He set her on her feet just inside her bedroom door, and for a moment, they simply looked at each other. Fenella hadn't missed the desire burning in his eyes, and also something deeper, more meaningful. This wasn't just physical attraction, though there was plenty of that.

This was love, connection, recognition.

This was two souls finding each other despite impossible odds.

"You're incredible," Fenella said quietly, needing him to understand. "But I'm still not ready to say those three words to you."

"I know." He cupped her face. "I'm good with you just letting me love you."

The tenderness in his voice, the patience in his eyes—it undid something inside her. She'd spent so long protecting herself, building walls to keep others at a safe distance, yet Din didn't attack those walls or demand they come down. He simply stood outside them, steady and sure, waiting for her to open the gate.

"You really are too good to be true," she murmured, then pulled his head down for another kiss.

This one was different from the desperate passion against the wall. This was exploration, communion, a slow burn that built gradually until they were both breathing hard.

Din's hands tangled in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss, while hers mapped the planes of his chest through his partially unbuttoned shirt.

When they finally broke apart, Fenella felt like she was floating. "We have a few hours," she said, her voice husky. "Before my shift at the bar."

"Then we'd better make them count." The smile he gave her was pure wickedness.

"Is that a challenge, Professor?"

"More like a promise."

She laughed. "Bold words. Let's see if you can back them up."

"Oh, I intend to." He backed her toward the bed with predatory grace. "Thoroughly."

The back of her knees hit the mattress, and she sat down hard, looking up at him with anticipation thrumming through her veins.

Din knelt before her, placing his hands on her ankles, and removed her shoes. "Still thinking about disappointing Atzil?" he asked, pressing a kiss to the inside of her ankle that sent shivers up her leg.

"Atzil who?" she murmured, which earned her one of those rare full smiles that transformed his face.

"That's what I thought." He pulled her pants down with ease, and as his lips traced a path up her calf, Fenella let her head fall back, surrendering to the moment.

"Din?"

"Mmm?" He'd reached her knee, and the scrape of his stubble against her inner thigh was doing dangerous things to her composure.

"You are overdressed for the occasion, Professor."

His laugh rumbled against her skin. "Patience, my love."

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