Page 186 of Lana Pecherczyk
“The ones you flirted with during the game!”
“That I purposefully splashed mud on?—”
“Yes! Those—wait. What?”
“—to make them unappealing to anyone with eyes.”
Why was he smiling?
“You winked at them,” she accused.
“Atyou,” he corrected. “To show you I knew you were watching. That I felt your emotions through our bond.”
“You did?”
“Oh, Blake. You sweet, darling human.” His hands slid from her face to her shoulders and held her back so he could stare intoher eyes with amused affection. “Why do you think crows like violent displays for claiming their wingmates?”
“Because you’re all bird brains?”
“It’s a warning. Both to the males who think a weak female is free game, and to the females who think the same of the male.” His approval washed through their bond, darkly satisfied. “You did good warning off rivals, Sparkles.”
The praise shouldn’t have affected her, but it did. A flush of warmth spread through her chest, annoying the hell out of her.
“That’s not why I fought you!” She huffed. Swiped wet hair from her eyes. “When you swooped me, I mean. And…” Her body felt too hot, skin too tight, as if something wanted to burst free. “And I’m still angry at you because I used the safe word and you ignored me.”
Worst excuse. She blinked, shaking her head.
“No.” His jaw tightened. “I did listen to you. I stopped short of killing Cloud.”
“But—”
“I still let you walk away,” he finished, understanding dawning in his eyes. “And when he provoked me again, you thought I’d chosen vengeance over you.”
The truth of it cracked something open inside her chest. “Youletme walk away.”
“I did.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “You’re right, I did. How can I make it up to you?”
Say the words.
Say you love me.
You’ll keep me.
Nothing.
She threaded her fingers into his wet hair and yanked his head back until his throat was exposed. Vulnerable.
“You promised me obsession.” She tightened her grip, watching his pupils dilate with each painful tug. “You don’t getto pick and choose when or how that applies. If I’m yours, then you’re mine. We’re all in or we aren’t.”
Her heart couldn’t take anything less.
River’s hands found her hips beneath the water, his grip gentle but firm. “I won’t let you walk away again.”
“Show me you mean it,” she challenged, wading off his lap and finding her footing.
With deliberate, provocative intent, River stretched his arms wide along the pool’s edge, sliding his hands through glowing moss beneath his splayed wings.
“How?” he asked.
