The moment his lips touched mine, I melted. In the back of my mind, I knew I shouldn’t let him kiss me. I shouldn’t surrender to this attraction, to this lust and want that assaulted every inch of my body. I shouldn’t allow him to lose himself in my spell like this.

But … his mouth closed around mine and all reason flew out the window. All I could feel, all I could think of was him and his mouth and his body and his intoxicating spicy, woody scent.

His kiss was slow and deep, and I felt the electricity and lust from my head to my toes, shaking my body with pure want. One hand closed around the back of my neck, and the other snaked around my waist, pulling me close. My chest pressed against his, and I wished my magic could make things disappear. Like clothes. I wanted all our clothes gone.

I slipped my hand underneath his shirt, and he groaned as I ran my fingertips over the muscles of his back. Holy crap, there were too many muscles. I could bet his entire body was like that, and I wanted to step back and admire him while he modeled for me.

Nathan deepened the kiss, pressing his lips harder against mine, taking my breath away. I felt dizzy, intoxicated, high.

I gasped when he spun us around and pinned me to the wall beside the window. He pressed his entire body against me, and I let out a moan against his mouth. In a second, my legs were entwined around his waist and his hips brushed against mine, proving to me how much he wanted me.

Want …

Something about that flicked in my mind, but when Nathan slid his lips from my mouth to my jaw, then dragged them over my neck, sending shivers down my spine, I forgot about everything else.

He bit the soft part between my neck and shoulder, and I moaned. I ran my nails down his back and brought them to the front. Holy crap, his chest and stomach were packed too, maybe even more than his back. I wanted—needed—to see it. To kiss and bite and lick all the muscles he had.

Nathan let out a deep groan, then brought his lips to mine again. He slid one hand under my sweater and clasped my waist tight. He pulled me toward him, grinding his hips on mine, and I whimpered, drowning in lust.

He broke the kiss again and brought his lips to my ear. “You have no idea how much I want you,” he whispered, his warm breath teasing my skin, making me shiver again.

He wanted me.

Want.

Horror surged in me like waves washing over the sand. I dropped my legs down and pushed him back.

A knot appeared between his brows. “Sorry,” he said. “That was too much, too fast.”

I shook my head as tears threatened to spill from my eyes. “No, it wasn’t your fault. It’s mine. I’m so, so sorry.” I took a large step back. “I just … I can’t control it. I don’t know how.”

He froze. “Wait. You don’t think … you still think I’m attracted to you because you’re a siren? Brooke, I told you before. I feel the pull, yes, but it’s a dull thing I’m learning to ignore. That’s not why I kissed you.”

I retreated another two feet. “You don’t know that. If you were under my spell, you wouldn’t know it.”

“That’s probably true, but I do know I wasn’t under your spell just now. What we just did, what I did, it was because I wanted. I still do.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, willing the tears to evaporate. I didn’t know what was true anymore. If he was under my spell, he would say anything to me, wouldn’t he? For safety measures, I took another large step back.

“I don’t trust my powers, Nathan, and neither should you.” I inhaled deeply, hoping I sounded sure and strong. “You should join the other guys and stay away from me too.”

He advanced a step. “But—” He cut himself off when I took a step back, keeping the distance between us. He let out a long breath. His eyes on mine, he said, “I’ll leave, because you’re asking me to. But before I go, I want you to know, I like you. I want you. I want to kiss you again. And that has nothing to do with your magic. Once we solve all of this and your potion is ready, I’ll prove it to you. If you let me.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. What did I say to that? My heart yearned, begging it to be true, but my mind, so logical and stubborn, told me it wasn’t.

Without another word, Nathan nodded and marched out of the bedroom.

Feeling lost and alone all over again, I fell seated on one of the armchairs and finally allowed myself to cry.