“Ah, Emberly.” His voice was little more than a murmur, but one that echoed deep within me. Another side effect of our merging was the ability to hear each other’s thoughts. Not all the time, and certainly not without some effort, but it was still there. And still developing, if that echo was any indication. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

“Let’s be honest here.” The amusement that ran through me bubbled over into my voice. “You’re an oversexed fire fae who hasn’t had much of the intimate stuff of late. You missed my body more than you missed me.”

“You wound me to the core with such a comment.” He rather dramatically slapped a hand against his chest, but the effect was somewhat spoiled by the laughter dancing in his eyes.

I rose. “Yeah, I can see the tears.”

“They are raining inside, trust me.” He caught my hand and tugged me closer. “Life in the office has been seriously boring these last three days without you.”

He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. Not only was he delightfully muscular, but deliciously warm as well. Fire fae tended to run hotter than most humanoids, and although their core temperature was nowhere near as high as ours, they did make very compatible lovers.

But Jackson was also a perfect lover in one other respect: Fire fae didn’t do commitment, and Jackson was never going to want anything more than a good time from me—which was just as well, considering Sam was this lifetime’s heartbreaker.

“You spent years in that office flying solo,” I said, voice dry. “I’ve only been there a few weeks.”

“But in those few weeks, I have become so accustomed to your presence, I cannot imagine life without it.” His face grew suddenly serious. “And now, if you don’t mind, I desperately need to do something that I’ve been dreaming about for these last few days.”

And with that, he kissed me.

It was a long, slow, and extremely sensual exploration, and one that had my pulse racing and inner fires flaring. I controlled the latter, but only just—and that was instant cause for alarm. Control was something I’d learned from a very young age. That it threatened to break my restraints here—with this man—was something that hadn’t happened in the past and certainly shouldn’t be happening now.

I abruptly pulled away. His skin was almost translucent with heat, and alarm washed through me. The lack of control wasn’t mine, but rather his, somehow seeping through the link between us.

Jackson, I said, trying to put as much urgency as I could through our silent connection. Control it.