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“You hold the stars in your hands,” her mother had always said, rubbing Tem’s fingers between hers. “Just like your father.”
“That’s not true love. That’s an unplanned pregnancy waiting to happen.”
“Like I said, it will connect us. I can make it…pulse.” “Pulse?” He smiled, and she melted. “When it pulses, you will know I am thinking of you.”
“There’s no need to be rude,” she hissed. “I know there’s no need. I’m rude because I want to be.”
“And I’d prefer you didn’t lie to me, Leo. Plenty of people do that already.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. His next words were barely a whisper. “You are not meant to be tamed, Tem.”
“Seems like a lot of rules to follow.” “Knowing you, you will not follow any of them.”
Squeeze, little viper.
“I hate that you have this much power over me.” To her surprise, he laughed. “What’s so funny?” His grin only widened. “Of the two of us, I am not the one with the power, Tem.”
“I think you like me, but you don’t know why. You want me, but you wish you didn’t. You’re used to getting what you want, but part of you likes that you can’t get me.”
It is not my approval you should seek. You must save your heart for the prince. You know this, Tem.
“Am I not allowed to protect you?” he murmured. “You are,” she murmured back. “I just didn’t realize you wanted to.” Caspen held her gaze. “Protecting you is only the beginning of what I want to do.”
Relax, little viper.
Untamable, as always.
There was such unrestrained certainty in his desire—such unparalleled ownership—that Tem finally understood what Caspen had said earlier. Protecting her was his most basic instinct. It was at the forefront of his mind, even greater than his lust, which was stronger than anything she had ever felt. Caspen wanted—needed—her. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice—including himself—if it would guarantee her safety. Tem couldn’t believe Caspen was willing to be this vulnerable. It was like seeing straight into his heart. Everything he had said was true.
Nobody could control you, Tem. But even if I could, I would not.
He wanted her more than life itself because a life without her wasn’t one he cared to live.
“This is not just a necklace,” he said softly. “Then what is it?” Caspen paused, his fingers stroking the charm. “It is…a gesture of intent.” Tem frowned. “Intent to what?” His eyes found hers. “To marry you.”
“Temptation, salvation, heaven, hell—you are everything, Tem. You are my undoing. You are beyond comprehension. There are no sufficient words to describe you, either in my language or yours.” His hands moved to her face, cupping her jaw. “My compass points to you. I could not change direction even if I wanted to.”
“I am undone by you,” he said. “I crave your scent, your skin, your voice. I think about you all the time, to the point of destruction. You are unbearably overwhelming. I cannot resist you no matter how hard I try.”
“I am afraid of how much you mean to me. You occupy every inch of my mind. If anyone ever hurts you, I will rip them apart. No one compares to you. No basilisk or human has ever captivated me the way you do. I want to fuck you all the time. I want to come inside you.”
“He had a fight with his father.” “Daddy issues,” Gabriel said knowingly. “Sexy.”
“You were a damsel in distress. I had to.” “You chose to, and I am very grateful.” Tem rolled her eyes again. His hand was still on her thigh. “Don’t get used to it,” she whispered.
Little viper.
“Say you want me, and my cock is yours.”
“Good girl. Now unbutton them yourself.”
“Knowing you has been the single most torturous experience of my life.”
“You’re the one who asked me to torture you, remember?”
He always waited for her—always made sure she got what she wanted, even when she didn’t know she wanted it. He listened to her. He cared.
You hold the stars in your hands. Just like your father.
Love is complicated. It never goes away, only changes.
