âI didnât follow you out here for an apology.â The sun had set and the wind suddenly gusted, raising goose bumps along her bare arms. âSo why did you? It isnât like youâd find it hard to hook up with someone else.â She shouldnât have asked, shouldnât have laid herself open so completely. âBecause I liked having you against me.â Sheâd known heâd say that. It was like a secret hope, one that sent a jolt of enjoyment through her, but slammed into the wall her fears had built. âYou liked being against me too.â Hard certainty flickered in his eyes, driving that bolt of enjoyment into the wall a few more inches. She fingered the fabric of her skirt as she fought the urge to reach for him but at the same time, enthralled with the effect he had on her reservations. He was so tempting until she remembered that she wasnât ever doing a long-term relationship again. âSabra is my best friend too, so letâs leave each other alone before things get tense.â His eyes narrowed. âI donât get tense over relationships.â She found herself recovering her poise. âThereâs my point. If Iâd accused you of being the playboy type a moment ago, youâd just call me judgmental.â He offered her a lazy shrug. âTrue.â He reached out and captured her wrist. Before she finished deciding if she was going to let him keep hold of her, heâd stroked the delicate skin of her inner wrist with his thumb and sent a ripple of awareness across her skin that made her nipples pucker. âThereâs a charge between us.â There sure was. Playing with fire⦠But it was intoxicating in a manner sheâd never encountered before. She really questioned if she was tossing away a prime opportunity to get it dealt with. No strings attached, and a pistol like Nartan might be the perfect remedy for her trust issues. âWeâre not going to connect.â She twisted her wrist and dropped it on the other side of his hand to break his grip and held a finger up to keep him back while she finished her thought. âBecause I would be using you to cross a line item off my to-be-dealt-with list. I donât use people.â His eyes narrowed as his lips thinned. âParts of me would really enjoy being used by youâ¦but your point is valid.â He nodded and forced himself to step back a pace. âYou should get someâ¦therapyâ¦â She offered him a dry laugh. âI donât need therapy because Iâm not interested in a fling with you. Itâs called maintaining the integrity of my soul.â âYouâre interested and that scares you,â he countered ruthlessly. âThatâs why you need therapy. Youâre being a bitch now because I called it on the money.â He saw too much. And she was being a bitch. âIâve had some. Court ordered, no less.â She felt like her emotions were draining her. âIt was just another way Caspian was able to ensure I did what he wanted. Just another hold stuck in the fine print of our divorce papers. So public, but such a private little stab too. No freedom until I performed one final act of obedience.â âWhat a prick.â There was venom in his tone. It surprised her and nurtured the little spark of trust taking root inside her. He looked sincere, but she couldnât afford to let her budding feelings grow. âYeah, but itâs over.â She was shutting him out. Nartan watched the way Celeste tightened her features and looked away from his face. He really didnât need to get involved. But leaving felt like quitting. That was something he never did. âIt wonât be over until you pull that weed out by the root,â he informed her. âThatâs how that ghost maintains its grip.â She started to shake her head. âThis isnât your concern.â He