He’d never been arrogant enough to believe there was no risk of capture when he was always vastly outnumbered, which was why he’d taught himself long ago to shut out his emotions. He needed to be capable of staying clearheaded no matter what happened to, or around, him.

Then she appeared. Gods, that fucking mouth on her. Sometimes he truly wasn’t sure if he wanted to kiss it or sew it shut.

The last week had been a torture like nothing he’d ever prepared for. Seeing her every time he opened his eyes until the moment he closed them, feeling her every time he breathed, smelling her, wanting her. Fuck. It was maddening.

A throat cleared. “Do you mind?”

His lips twitched, but he somehow fought back his smile, watching her muscles shift as she wiped sweat off her skin from the afternoon bout she’d demanded after her meditation.

“Not at all, little star. Carry on.”

Her heart picked up speed, and her cheeks warmed, turning a delicious shade of pink that always drove him fucking insane.

Kiss it. He definitely wanted to kiss that foul mouth. To nibble at her bottom lip and pull it into his mouth, forcing her to open for him. He imagined the feel of her hair wrapped around his fist as he positioned her exactly where he wanted, exploring and tasting at his leisure.

And he wouldn’t stop there.

Across the deck, his mate stumbled, clenching the cloth she’d been using in a death grip. Her flush deepened, and his chest rumbled in answer.

He loved that she could feel his raging desire. Loved that every time he was hard for her, she knew it without even setting eyes on him. But most of all, he fucking loved how much it affected her.

Gods, they needed off this vessel. Almost against his will, he shifted toward her, and she sucked in sharply, flicking her eyes to his trousers and biting that gods damn full lip.

Maybe he wouldn’t wait until they were off. He knew their less-than-ideal bathing situation bothered her, but he, for one, couldn’t care less if it meant she’d be writhing beneath him.

She made a choking sound and pressed a hand to her chest, taking a step back. “Is there a way to…block this?”

Like a wave smashing against a lone ember, his desire stuttered out, and he froze. A heaviness settled between them, and his fingers spasmed at his sides. “Be very careful what you say next, little star. Block what, exactly?”

She tossed her washrag to the deck, squaring her shoulders and standing tall like she was readying for a storm. And maybe she was, because depending on what exited her mouth next, he might just bring one down on her.

“This bridge, or whatever, between us that feeds our emotions to each other all the time. Is there a way to…not do that?”

He gritted his teeth, taking several more steps toward her. If she thought she was going to reject him, she was going to be painfully fucking disappointed. “You accepted our bond.”