Before Lizeria
could pull open
the door to the
shop, a man’s
broad hand closed
over hers. Breath
caught in her
throat.

“You’re a flighty
little one,” he
teased, as if
he’d guessed her
age.

At nineteen, she
looked the same
as she always
would. Immortal.

“We didn’t get to
finish our
conversation.”
His hand slid up
her arm. Long,
thick fingers
curled into the
soft underside of
her bare arm.

She should tell
him to stop but
only gasps
sounded from her
lips. It felt too
good.

His slow
exhalation on her
neck hinted at
the nearness of
his warm lips.
She expected his
kiss but he
firmly gripped
her shoulder and
turned her about.
His hard body
pressed her
against the door
as he leaned in.
Hilts of sheathed
swords thudded
against the wood.

She felt like
clay in his grip,
ready to be
kneaded by his
strong hands. Her
legs would have
given out from
under her, if not
for his arm
snaked around the
small of her
back. She
couldn’t breathe.
Reality seemed to
waver in a
dizzying rush.
What was wrong
with her? “Stop,”
she finally found
her voice but
gasps weakened
it. When she
pushed against
his chest, she
fell limp against
him. What did he
do?

Something like a
moan rumbled
through his chest
and against her.
“Shhh. I just
want to see your
eyes, little
dove.” He palmed
her cheek.

A jolt of energy
pushed against
the inside of her
ribs at the taboo
sensation. His
skin didn’t
tingle like a
fated’s would,
but it quickened
her breath and
made her ache for
more.

But it was wrong.
Lizeria squeezed
her glowing eyes
shut and tried to
turn away. She
shouldn’t want
this. Elves and
hybrids bind
their fated mates
this way. He
wasn’t her fated.
Earth, this was
wrong. He’d see
her curse.

She opened her
mouth to scream
for Gray but
Alexander’s hand
covered her mouth
and nose. Only a
muffled hum
escaped through
his fingers. Oh
no. How could she
have been so
stupid? A
fluttering,
sinking feeling
tugged on her
gut.

“It’s all right,
sweet princess. I
promise I won’t
bind you to me.”

He couldn’t. She
was fated a
dwarf, a
disgusting dwarf
who she’d never
bind. Cursed by
fate to either
face eternity
alone or live in
misery.

“Just open your
eyes. I won’t
hurt you.”
Alexander stroked
her cheek with
his fingertips as
if he was a
gentle lover.

Why couldn’t he
just want sex?
She’d always
wanted to feel a
human climax. She
could pretend he
was her fated,
that she had a
choice like
humans did.

“Read me, dove.
I’m not going to
hurt you.”

His voice. If it
had a flavor, it
would be
chocolate, rich
and smooth,
melting on her
skin.

Images flooded
through her head
of him licking
her nude body.
Her back arched
as if the
thoughts came
from her. Earth,
he stole control
of her mind.
Dizziness
threatened to
spill her into a
pool of
unconsciousness.
She couldn’t get
enough air
between his
fingers. The
pounding of her
heart drowned out
whatever he said.

His puffs of
breath burned her
already hot and
damp neck.
“Deeper, love,”
he repeated, low
and fervent.
“Read deeper.”

She seemed to
fall but it was
only inside his
mind. Warm and
snug, he fit like
a cocoon that
cradled and
rocked her on a
cooling breeze.
The hard thuds in
her chest slowed
and heat slipped
from her face and
neck. His hope
soothed her in
ways she didn’t
understand.

Before she could
explore why, his
mind closed off
from her.

“Your turn, sweet
Lizeria.” Her
name rolled off
his tongue like
cream poured over
warm cherries.

“I’ve never…”

“I know, honey
love. I’m just
going to touch
you. You don’t
have to touch
me.”

She suddenly
wanted to, to
feel his
smooth-shaven
cheek beneath her
fingertips and
thumb the moist
flesh of his thin
lips.

His hand slid
from her mouth to
her cheek and
heat radiated
from the touch.
The scent of
lilac soap nearly
masked that of
freshly dug earth
on his wrists and
hands. Very
masculine.

She leaned back
against the door,
wishing they were
hidden. Would
someone see? A
tiny thrill
tickled her belly
at the thought.
She licked her
lips.

What if it hurt?
She’d heard the
touch hurt for
some people.

“I’ll be gentle,
sweet princess.”

Did he hear that
thought? She’d
shielded it. How
strong was he?
Wait, how did he
know who she was?
Was princess a
pet name, or did
he know?

“Shhh. Relax and
I’ll give you
ecstasy you’ve
never imagined.”

If she had the
strength, she’d
push him over and
pounce on him
right there on
the broken glass
and rubble.
Instead, she gave
him what he
wanted. Her
eyelids loosened
and amber light
burst free from
her eyes. They
blazed with the
lust that heated
and moistened her
sex.

Through no
command of her
own, memories
from her entire
life flowed from
her mind to his.
It felt as if he
stroked her
inside, as if her
thoughts were
warm honey that
slicked her
entrance. A moan
rose from her
chest.

She’d expected to
explore his mind
too but he
somehow shielded
himself, an
almost impossible
feat during the
touch. She pushed
but couldn’t
concentrate on
anything but the
thrill of him
inside her head.