“Lou, it’s okay. I’m tempted, too.”

I dropped his hand and poked his chest. Oooh, that was a mistake, too. I curled my fingers under so I wouldn’t do it again. “That’s not the point of this conversation and it doesn’t matter. I’m only telling you so that we can keep our boundaries straight.”

He made a noncommittal humming noise as he captured my hand, his thumb stroking along the back of it. I shivered. “Lou, it’s okay.”

I couldn’t quite bring myself to take back my hand, and irritatingly, my voice came out a little breathy. “No. That’s not okay. There’s a power imbalance here. With me on top.”

A slow, wide grin unfurled on his face.

“Don’t say it.”

“I don’t mind women on top.”

I shoved him playfully with the flat of my palm this time. He barely budged, and he didn’t lose my other hand in the struggle. I did it again, but the second time was mostly just an excuse to touch his chest, because I apparently have zero restraint. “I said, ‘Don’t say it.’ This isn’t funny. The line of consent gets hazy in situations like this, and I don’t want to take advantage of you.” I looked at him to see if he understood.

He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

A suspicion occurred. “And you are one hundred percent fucking with me right now.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “I am. It’s wonderful.”

“That’s it—get off my bed.”

His laugh trailed off in a sigh, and he picked me up to pull me into his lap. I slapped at his hands. “No.”

He paused. “Is that an actual no? Because I’m trying for an apology cuddle here.”

I leaned into him. “It’s not an actual no, I’m just tired and irritated and freaking out.”

He wrapped himself around me like a human cocoon, and it felt glorious. “Louise, stop. Listen to me for a second.”

“Okay.”

“You’re so busy trying to do what you think is best that you’re not really listening to me and you’re ignoring body language.” His voice held a gentle chide. “Ignore the bond for a second. We’re just two people. What would you think? Am I interested or not?” He traced a line along my jaw with his knuckle. “Because I think I’m being pretty obvious.”

He leaned even closer, dropping his voice to a whisper, like he was sharing a secret. “I want you, too.”

He offered that so casually, like the line wasn’t completely devastating to my willpower. I don’t think I’d ever been so easily wrecked by a statement. I licked my lips, nervous, and he traced the movement with his eyes.

“But the bond—” I cleared my throat and tried again. “What you’re feeling….”

He chuffed, sounding very like a wolf. “What I’m feeling was there before the bond.”

I thought back to his meltdown, his obvious discomfort when he’d first moved in. “That seems unlikely.”

He traced light circles on my arm, and I wasn’t sure he was aware of doing it. “Afraid of the mage, attracted to the person.” His lips quirked when goosebumps broke out on my arm. Okay, he was aware of the circles. He breathed a sigh and tapped a finger gently against my forehead. “Open up, Lou. See for yourself.” I must have looked as dubious as I felt, because he smiled. “Just look.”