Ilian chuckles. “Trust me, soyam, you have all the power.”

His words don’t make any sense, but I can barely think as he runs his hands up and down my sides, his claws digging in gently enough to not hurt me, but hard enough to make me laugh.

“You win!” My voice is a breathless whisper, but Ilian stops.

“Go on.”

He settles me in his lap, and suddenly, the cabin is far too hot. I peel off a sweater while trying not to think about all the naughty things this man can do with his tongue.

And cock.

The Ithaqua groans. “You’re going to be the death of me, I swear.”

“What—why? What did I do?”

Ilian eyes me critically. “Never mind. What were you worrying about earlier?”

Ugh, he doesn’t miss anything.

“I guess I’m just anxious about finding Aisyth—what if we don’t?”

“We will. I promise.”

Through our bond, I sense the guarantee of his vow as well as his hurt. He might hate himself for creating this bond, but he also wants it, too.

And I don’t know what to do with that because I can barely figure out my own emotions.

A week ago, the thought of being in a committed relationship with someone would’ve caused heart palpitations, so theoretically, a mating bond should kill me—except, I’ve never felt more alive.

“You’re upset again.”

“More…confused. I don’t know how to feel, and that’s overwhelming in itself.”

“I understand. Again, I’m so sorry for dragging you into this mess.”

“Please stop apologizing! I promise, it’s ok. As you said, we’ll figure it out. Hopefully soon. I do want to go back home, and I’m sure you have clients.”

“Ironically, I already planned on taking the next two weeks off. I sometimes go and visit the Mulens this time of year and bring them things. The young ones love human gadgets.

I called Yuri to tell him that I didn’t get to clean up properly last night. He’ll take care of the studio while I’m gone.”

“You’re lucky to have Yuri.”

His bright pink gaze narrows. “You seemed close with him.”

It takes me a second to place what I’m sensing from him. “If you turn green, you’ll be the epitome of jealousy.”

“What?”

“In English, we have a saying. When someone’s jealous, we call it the ‘little green monster’.”

“Firstly, I’m not little. Secondly, Ithaqua are possessive of their mates.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, I’m in your lap, not Yuri’s.”

Ilian squeezes my ass and grunts. “Good. This is where you belong.”

We stare at one another, the moment stretching as something combustible builds between us. A smart woman would back away—this isn’t what I want.

Instead, I lean forward, licking along his smooth jaw, his groan reverberating through my body before settling inside of me.

“Fuck,” Ilian mutters.

“Fuck it,” I agree, twisting his words.

Later, I can berate myself for lighting the match and throwing it on the kindling of our arousal, but right now, I just want to drown in this man.

If this bond kills me, at least I’ll die in a cloud of post-orgasmic bliss.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Ilian

I freeze, hearing the need—the plea—in Zhuliya’s voice. I try to resist, I really do, but the bond between us flares to life, demanding that we get closer.

It’ll continue to inflame our senses until we fully submit to it. With every stolen touch, we just make it worse.

“Soyam, we must stop.”

Zhuliya pulls back to stare at me, her expression torn. She wants this, but she also knows it’s just the bond. Her will to fight it is getting weaker, though.

“Please.”

Oh Ulu, anything but this.

“It’s dangerous—this is illegal.”

This catches her attention. “We can draw the curtains and lock the door. There’s still a bit before our next stop. We’ll just have to be quiet.”

I snort. My mate is anything but quiet when I’m touching her, but it’s one of the things that I love most about her.

“You misunderstand. I’m not talking about it being illegal to have sex in public, I’m talking about you having any relation with a monster, public or otherwise.

In Russia, it’s illegal for you to be with me. If anyone asks, we’re friends. I’m not overly concerned about what they could do to me, but I worry for you—especially since you have citizenship here.”

“Why can’t we be in a relationship?”