A roll of thunder shakes the air. Maybe a storm is coming. Maybe I’ll get blasted into a million bits by lightning. Maybe I could care less. My inner lust demon has kicked to life with a vengeance. I open my mouth, hoping something snarky and cute will come out. Instead, I just nod. Total fail.

Lincoln leans in closer, licks his lips. “I don’t care because…” There’s a moment where I’m sure I’ll get my first kiss. “Because I’m about to beat your ass back to the stables.” Leaping to his feet, he races up to Bastion and mounts his horse.

I jump to my feet, a mixture of sexual heat and rage flowing through me. “You bastard! You lying sneaky evil sonuvabitch bastard!”

Lincoln rears Bastion, the horse balances firmly on his hind legs. “Catch you later.” He winks.

I stomp my foot and shoot him dirty looks, but all the almost-kissing-stuff has me flustered.

Lincoln leads Bastion onto the ground, then glances over his shoulder and grins. Setting his heels into Bastion’s barrel, he takes off at a gallop.

That clears my head in a hurry.

I’m not letting some hottie Prince bastard distract me with nasty talk that totally makes me wonder what he looks like naked. And on that topic, since when do I think about anybody naked? Well, except for Lincoln, whose bare belly must be particularly ripped.

I shake my head from side to side. Focus, Myla.

I race across the open ground and hoist myself onto Nightshade. “Let’s get him, Night.” Before the words are out of my mouth, she’s off at a gallop. I urge her onward, but we soon lose Lincoln and Bastion in the forest. I catch up with them both back at the stables.

The Prince stands by Bastion, an overly-satisfied grin on his full mouth. “Hey, loser.”

I pull Nightshade’s reins so we circle Lincoln and his horse. “Hey, cheater.” You’re never getting away with that Mister Sexy trick again, my friend. I point directly at his nose. “Besides, if I were you, I wouldn’t poke fun at someone who’s about to get you out of an evening of suck.”

“True. And you’re still one up on me, after all.” He bows slightly at the waist.

“That’s better.” I bow my head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of prep work to do for tonight.” I lean back in the saddle and twiddle my fingers at him.

He chuckles. “Have fun.”

“I will.” I pat Nightshade’s neck. “Girl, take me to–” She’s off at a run before I finish my sentence. As we speed across the countryside, I keep thinking one thing: this is going to be sweeeeeeet.

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