After Hansa kicked us onto the dancefloor, I had no choice but to get comfortable in Heron’s arms again as we swayed to the music. “You really aren’t a bad dancer,” I muttered, gazing into his deep jade eyes.

I felt like jelly against his firm body and broad frame, and I didn’t really feel like putting any distance between us, despite my promise to keep him deeply rooted in the friendzone. I couldn’t help but relish the many delightful sensations provided by his proximity, though I was going to chastise myself later about it.

“What made you assume I’d be a bad dancer, to begin with? I thought I’d already debunked that myth.” He smirked.

“I figured your foot-in-mouth syndrome applied to your dance moves, too,” I shot back with a grin.

He spun me around, fast enough to steal my breath, then pushed me into a dip, pulled me back, and tightened his arms around my waist. “I must say, it gives me tremendous satisfaction to prove you wrong,” he said, his voice lower than usual and sending tingling sensations down my spine.

“Yeah, well… don’t get used to it.”

“Oh no, I plan on celebrating every time I make you eat your words. It turns me on,” Heron quipped, making me laugh.

Neither of us realized how close we were getting to each other, until the tips of our noses touched, and his eyes darkened as they settled on mine. His breath brushed gently against my lips, and I didn’t know what to do. I was putty in his hands, but I didn’t want him to see that. Heron had a habit of using whatever I gave him against me, though he never seemed to mean any harm by it. I didn’t want to let go, either. After the events of tonight, after the half-truths we’d managed to get out of Arrah, having him around me made everything look a little brighter, despite the many unknowns still lurking around us.

He tightened his hold on me, almost cutting off my air supply. I felt his body heat seeping through the layers of silk between us, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it was about him that made all the females quiver in his presence. Even the Maras dancing with their partners around us couldn’t take their eyes off Heron. I’d seen the lustful glances. I recognized the yearning in their eyes.

I knew he was trouble, and yet I wanted more. Was that what others were experiencing, too?

“You did very well tonight, by the way,” he muttered, his lips still dangerously close to mine.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “You too. That mind-bending skill you have is out of this world. I wish I could do what you do.”

“That’s funny, because I find it completely useless right now.”

“What do you mean? Because of Arrah? That’s not your fault. She’s obviously an anomaly.”

“No, I meant it’s useless because I can’t mind-bend you.” He sighed.

I took a deep breath and recognized the chemicals in his natural scent. The sweet spices of arousal, with a lemony hint of fear.

No, anxiousness… He’s nervous about something…

“Why would you want to mind-bend me, you weirdo?” I chuckled, feeling the conversation taking a serious turn. I didn’t know how to react. I was nervous, too.

He stared at me for a while, his gaze softening as it found my lips. I instinctively parted them in response, and his eyes clouded as a result. His scent invaded my nostrils, and that friendzone seemed more distant and barren with every second that passed.

“I’m just being very, very… very selfish right now,” he whispered.

He tried to conquer the inch left between us, and I completely forgot where I was, quietly anticipating the feel of his lips on mine, when Hansa’s voice violently dragged me back to reality.

“Time to go,” she said, suddenly standing next to us.

We both stilled, but didn’t immediately break eye contact. I felt his chest deflate, then quietly watched as he stepped back, glanced at Hansa, and nodded.

I realized that the rest of the team was standing behind us, and Fiona’s grin told me she’d seen what had almost happened between Heron and me. After a second scan of our group, I saw that Harper and Caia were holding back smirks. Scarlett wasn’t there, so I figured she’d gone ahead to see Patrik—I knew she had a thing for him, but we’d yet to talk about it. Blaze was busy stealing a glance at Caia, and Jax had a dark and menacing glare fixed on Heron, while Hansa seemed not to be in the mood for anything other than maybe a hot bath.

I took a whiff of her scent and identified grief, arousal, and anger. I glanced at Jax, and noticed the way he stole glimpses of her when she wasn’t looking. He’d pissed her off with something, for sure.

Someone needs to lock you two in a room…

“Regrouping at the infirmary, right?” I asked, trying to shove what had almost just happened aside to regain my focus on the mission at hand.

“Yep,” Hansa replied bluntly, then walked over to the main reception hall.

We all followed quietly, and I felt Heron’s hand brush against mine. He gave me an unreadable sideways glance, then moved forward, joining his brother’s side. I walked behind with Fiona and the others.

He looked even taller from behind, his broad shoulders making my fingers twitch with the memory of holding him as we danced and put the whole world aside for a few blissful minutes. I then remembered what a philanderer he was, and how easily I could end up getting my heart broken if I gave in to his charms.

But charms he had aplenty…