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They really were strangers to each other still, weren’t they? In spite of all the time they had spent together in the last couple of days, how much did she really know about him? His bloodline? When she was around him or they were on the phone, she felt as though she knew all she needed to, but realistically speaking, what did they have together?

He frowned as he dropped his hands and cut into his pizza again. “Don’t go there.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Wherever you are in your head. It’s the wrong place for you and me.” He took a drink of his wine. “I’m not going to be rude and read your mind, but I can sense what you’re feeling, and it’s distance. That’s not what I’m after. Not when it comes to you.” His amethyst eyes shifted over and stared straight into her. “You can trust me to take care of you, Ehlena. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Looking at him, she believed him one hundred percent. Absolutely. Positively. “I do. I do trust you.”

Something flickered across his face, but he hid it. “Good. Now, finish your dinner and come to the realization that my helping you is the right thing.”

Ehlena went back to eating, slowly working her way through her pizza. When she was finished, she put her silverware down on the right-hand edge of her plate, wiped her mouth, and took a sip of wine.

“Okay.” She glanced over at him. “I’ll let you help.”

When he smiled broadly, because he was getting his way, she cut through his robin-breasted satisfaction. “But there are conditions.”

He laughed. “You’re putting restrictions on a gift given to you?”

“It’s not a gift.” She stared at him with dead seriousness. “It’s only until I find some kind of work, not my dream job. And I want to pay you back.”

He lost a little of his satisfaction. “I don’t want your money.”

“And I feel the same way about yours.” She folded her napkin. “I know you’re not hurting for cash, but that’s the only way I’ll be okay with this.”

He frowned. “No interest, though. I won’t accept even one penny in interest.”

“Deal.” She put her palm out and waited.

He cursed. And cursed again. “I don’t want you to pay it back.”

“Tough.”

After his mouth performed some intricate f-bomb acrobatics, he put his hand in hers and they shook. “You drive a hard bargain, you know that,” he said.

“But you respect me for it, right?”

“Well, yeah. And it makes me want to get you naked.”

“Oh…”

Ehlena flushed from head to toe as he slid off his stool and towered over her, cupping her face in his hands. “You going to let me take you to my bed?”

Given the way those purple eyes of his were shining, she was willing to let him take her down on the damn kitchen floor if he asked. “Yes.”

A growl rolled up out of his chest as he kissed her. “Guess what?”

“What?” she breathed.

“That was the right answer.”

Rehvenge tugged her off her stool and kissed her quick and soft. With his cane in hand, he led her to the other side of the penthouse, through rooms she didn’t see and past a twinkling view she didn’t appreciate. All she knew was thick, pounding anticipation for what he was going to do to her.

Anticipation and…guilt. What could she give him? Here she was craving him sexually again, but there was no release for him. Even though he said he got something from it, she felt as if she were—

“What are you thinking about?” he said as they came into the bedroom.

She glanced over at him. “I want to be with you, but…I don’t know. I feel like I’m using you or—”

“You’re not. Trust me, I’m well familiar with being used. What happens between us here is nothing like that.” He cut off her question. “No, I can’t go into it, because I need…Shit, I need this time with you to be simple. Just you and me. I’m tired of the rest of world, Ehlena. I’m so fucking tired of it.”

It was that other female, she thought. And if he didn’t want whoever it was with them? Fine with her.

“I just need this to be okay,” Ehlena said. “Between you and me. I want you to feel something, too.”

“I do. I can’t believe it myself sometimes, but I so do.”

Rehv shut the door behind