Blind pain floods my vision as I stumble from the warmth of his arms. Why does this hurt so much? Sebastian Stone is callous and cold and cruel…and he doesn’t deserve me.

But I want him to.

“What am I to you?”

“Innocent, Novalee. That’s what you are.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“What do you want me to say?” He spreads his arms wide. “You have no choice but to marry me. Nothing else matters.”

I shake my head, sending two salty drops trailing down my cheeks. “It’s the other way around. You’re forced to marry me.”

“Like I said…” He closes the distance and palms my cheek, his thumb wiping away a tear. “The mechanics don’t mean shit. It doesn’t change anything.”

Gripping his wrist, I push him away. “I don’t want to marry someone who hates me.”

“I don’t hate you.”

“But you love her.”

“And you have a thing for the chancellor. Do you not realize what knowing that does to me?”

“I didn’t know you cared.”

“Jesus. You should have. The shit going through your mind right now about Lilith? Turn it around, princess. Then maybe you’ll see what I’m talking about. You’re not the only one screwed up in the head over this.”

“You and me…” I look at him through my tears. “We’re a destructive combination.”

“There isn’t much we can do about it.”

“Yes, there is.” I straighten my spine. “Landon needs to pick someone else to win.”

Sebastian scowls. “You want the chancellor.”

“This isn’t about Liam.”

“The hell it’s not.”

“It’s about you.”

“Me?” he says, his voice a deep, accusing gruff. “Am I not good enough for you, princess?”

“I want someone who wants me back.”

“You think I don’t?”

“I think your heart and dick are two separate entities that can’t agree on anything.”

He lowers his attention to my chest and the expanse of skin there, and his aqua eyes deepen. “My dick wants to use that dress for what it was designed for.”

He’s dangling subject-changing bait, and I can’t help but take it. “As the designer, I’ll need an example.”

“Two slides of that material, and I’d have your tits in my hands. Have you ever had a man’s cock between them?”

I gasp, indignant. “I put my heart and soul into this dress, and that’s all you have to say about it?”

“I’m a man with eyes, princess, and a cock that aches for you to the point of distraction.” His voice rises, sending me into retreat mode, but he follows with a predatory gait. “I want to invade every part of you.”

He wants my virginity—on both counts. But that’s all he wants, and the reminder renews the searing ache in my chest.

“So I get your cock, but she gets your heart?”