Page 98 of Blood that Burns

“It requires concentration. You have to almost envision a wall sliding in front of your face. Eventually you’ll be able to quickly think about it, and I’ll be blocked, but to start, it’s going to take time and practice.”

“Wonderful,” I whine. “So until then, you get a front-row seat to every single salacious thought I have.”

“Salacious,” he croons. “Sunshine, I never knew how absolutely dirty you were.”

I smack his chest. “I didn’t mean salacious. I meant—”

“Sexual?”

“Ugh,” I grumble.

He laughs, pulling me tightly against him. “I’ve kept you at arm’s length to protect you. This world is cruel, Maggie. I want to shelter you from it. Being with me puts you right in harm’s way.”

My breath hitches, knowing that this is the time I need to pull myself together and tell him how I feel. What I want.

“I know what’s out there, Law. But together, we can get through it.” I take a deep breath and stare into his eyes. “I want you.”

His eyes close as he exhales. “Are you sure?”

When his cornflower irises meet mine, he must see my determination, because all the doubt, all the fight leaves him.

“Yes.”

One word is all it takes to finally feel his mouth against mine.