“Why? Give me one good reason and I might consider it.” Abandoning her position by my bed, she came toward me.

I sucked in a breath as her gaze danced over my body. Her fingers twitched as she took in my bleeding forehead and knuckles. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

She lingered over my split lip before her eyes drifted down my still-damp torso to the towel around my waist.

An image of us walking back from the springs dressed only in towels came swift and strong.

I’d never been so free. Never been so happy at the thought of telling her everything and finally admitting that Nila was it for me. That I might have a chance.

It was a pipe dream. And one that got us both into this mess.

“Fuck.” I couldn’t have her in here, and I definitely couldn’t have those thoughts.

I tried to grab her, but she darted away. Jumping onto my bed like fleeing prey, her tiny feet disappeared in the feather duvet as she pranced across the mattress. She leapt down, once again placing the bed between us.

A headache throbbed and the bruises on my ribcage smarted as I ran a hand through my wet hair. “I don’t want to play any more games.”

Never taking her eyes from mine, she placed her palms on my bed. “Neither do I. We’ve both established that.” Her voice lowered. “You’re hurt, Jethro. Let me help you.”

“No. You need to go.”

How many times do I need to tell you?

My eyes flashed to the pills on my bedside. If I took one, the numbness might give me enough reprieve to kick her out.

“Who did this to you?” she murmured, inching closer again, forgetting that her intention was to stay away from me, not comfort me.

Her concern was like a mink blanket, soothingly warm and so, so soft.

I wished she would stay away. Her concern might be a blanket, but her love… Shit, her love was a blade slicing me into pieces.

She kept coming closer, no longer trying to flee.

I held up my hand. “Stay right there.”

“Jethro…don’t do this.”

“No, you don’t do this,” I snarled. “You don’t know what you’re risking.”

Nila didn’t reply, and she didn’t stop.

My throat dried up. I was stuck between the wall my father had erected and the chasm she created. I need help. My hands shook as I charged toward my bedside and scooped up the bottle of pills.

My body blared from the fight, but it was nothing to the way my mind bled being around her. It was like claws on a blackboard, forcing me to listen—regardless if I wanted to or not.

The tablets offered quietness. Peace.

I needed that.

“No!” Nila sprinted forward, knocking the bottle from my hand. The tablets spewed all over the carpet.

“What the fuck?”

“Whatever they are—don’t take any more.”

My temper bubbled. “They’re painkillers!” I held up my torn knuckles, shoving the evidence in her face. “See.”

She scowled. “No, they aren’t.” Rummaging in the first aid kit, she brought out some anti-inflammatories and paracetamol. “These are painkillers.” Snatching my hand, she dumped the blister packet into my palm. “Whatever those others are—they’re hurting you, not helping you.”

Throwing away the pills, I ran a hand over my face. Being this awake after a month of listlessness, my old concerns came back. I missed Jasmine. I missed Kes. And fuck, I missed Nila. So damn much.

I looked at her beneath my brow, unable to fight anymore.

She wanted to talk? Fine. I’d talk.

We’d played cat and mouse too many fucking times. The trap had sprung, and if death was the reward, then I sure as hell would make it worthwhile.

Capturing her hips, I dragged her closer. She gasped as I circled my thumbs on the cool satin of her night-shorts. “You came here for a reason. What was it?”

Nila blinked, lust blazing in her black eyes. “Eh…I came to…”

I tugged her closer, fitting her small frame against mine. “Yes?”

My heartbeat raced. My cock thickened. Giving in was an ultimate aphrodisiac, and the pain dissolved in favour of my intense need to fuck her.

I cocked an eyebrow, dragging my gaze down her body.

She had magic. I didn’t deny that. Magic that we hadn’t managed to take even though we’d treated her like a witch with the ducking stool.

Swallowing hard, I slinked my fingers into her hair, curling them around her nape. She bit her lip as I pressed my thickening erection on her belly. “You didn’t come to talk, did you? You came for this.” I rocked again.

Her eyes snapped closed.

“Admit it,” I purred. “Admit that all of this is our version of foreplay. We argue. We fight. And then…” My fingers tightened around her neck. “We fuck.”

She made a breathy noise that made my heart crack and bleed. “You’re right…” Her hand disappeared between us, latching around my cock through the towel.

I bit back a growl as her thumb pressed the crown, shooting electric bolts into my balls.

Her nipples peaked beneath the black satin. The lust she’d conjured in my office at Diamond Alley came back in full force.

“Goddammit, you test me.” Fisting her hair, I jerked her backward, supporting her spine as I ducked to suck her nipple.

She cried out, her hand releasing my cock to tug on the knot in the towel. “Yes…Jethro.”