Page 64 of A Vow to Set the Virgin Free

He gritted his teeth, pushing back against the idea of Athena fantasizing about him before she went to sleep. She was being deliberately provocative. She had been that way ever since they had arrived.

But then... She’d been testing the waters with him since she had first come to the castle. Going into the tower when he had told her not to. And now pushing him physically after he had told her no.

But he had held her hand last night. And there was no earthly reason for him to do that. It wasn’t a sexual gesture at all. It was something more. And he shouldn’t have allowed for it to happen. But he had enjoyed the feel of her skin against his far too much.

So much for your grand declarations that you would never touch her.

Well. That was never going to work in a literal sense. Not when they had to make their debut as a couple. Not when they would absolutely have to touch in that venue. But he did not have to touch her last night. And he had anyway. It was an indictment against his soul.

What was one more?

“This looks delicious,” she said. But her eyes were not on the food.

He had no idea what game she was playing. But then... There was a chemistry between them. A magnetism. That she felt it in spite of everything was perhaps not as unfathomable as he had initially told himself.

The basic human desire to mate was not unique. And was typically not sensible.

And as she had said, she had been cloistered, and kept away from exploring her sexuality.

A pity she would not be doing it with him.

He set the crepes out before her, and put fresh cream and strawberries on the top.

Then he poured her a strong cup of coffee, and watched intently as she took her first bite. She hummed, the sound sensual. And then she took a sip of the coffee, closing her eyes for a moment before looking up in meeting his gaze.

“Thank you. For sharing this with me.”

There was something unspoken then. The way she curled her lips up spoke of something intimate.

She was thinking that eating his food was tantamount to sensuality.

She wasn’t wrong, unfortunately. Because he felt her enjoyment.

He was giving her something that gave her pleasure, and he could not remain unaffected by that.

She had brought his body to life in a way that he had found untenable from the moment he had first seen her.

General arousal was one thing. The desire for another person was...

Unprecedented.

Even before the accident he had never wanted one person with the ferocity he wanted her.

“It is a very short flight to London.”

“I figured. Geography being what it is.” She was being salty with him. And was clearly unrepentant about it.

“You need to stop being a brat. I was explaining the itinerary to a woman who has never been anywhere before. Many would find that helpful.”

“You were speaking words to fill the space without having to acknowledge the tension between us.”

Everything in him went hot and sharp.

“Let’s acknowledge it then. I could take you in the bedroom and have you. You would enjoy it. It doesn’t matter that it’s been years, I know what I’m doing. I could kiss you, bare your beautiful breasts and suck your nipples into my mouth.” His own words started to make him hard. Her breath hitched. And he realized he had miscalculated. He had attempted to frighten her. But she was aroused. Yes, this girl was aroused.

“Then what would you do?” she asked, the words a breath.

She was pushing, and he was through coddling her. If she wanted to push, let her see where it went. Let her see who truly held the power here.

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