It happened so fast, I barely had time to breathe. One moment I was standing in front of Finn and the next moment his hands gripped my shoulders, his lips pressed against mine. The blood rushed in my ears, and my heart pounded as he deepened the kiss. Every nerve in my body fired with desire as he drew me closer. I sank in to him for a brief second, letting the heat of his skin draw me in, but then I remembered who he was, his oaths, his allegiances.

With a cry of protest, I wrenched myself free, panting and heaving, trying to ignore the hot ache settling in my abdomen. God, I wanted him. Stupid Elizabeth. Stupid.

He stared at me in shock, his fingers on his lips, as if he wasn’t quite sure what had just happened.

I took that moment of confusion to swing my hand around and slap!

His head jerked back, and a palm print bloomed bright on his cheek.

“What the hell are you doing?”

He took a deep breath and paced the room. “I-I’m sorry,” Finn stammered, straightening his jacket and retreating to the door. “I don’t know what came over me, I—”

“You should really ask first, you know?” I bit my bottom lip. In spite of the stinging sensation in my hand, a part of me felt drawn to Finn, a hot, spellbinding gravity luring me to him. I took a step forward.

“I’m sorry.” Finn fumbled with the doorknob. “I’ve made a horrible error in judgment. Please forgive me.”

I snorted. “You know, if kissing me is so terrible, why do you keep doing it?”

Finn whirled around. “That’s not what I mean, Elizabeth. Your kiss is…perfect. You’re beautiful, you’re…”

Beautiful?

I took two steps forward, caging him in. “Then what is it?” Finn’s warm breath brushed my cheek.

“I can’t…I can’t control myself around you,” he said in a strained voice.

“Is that what you want?” I raised my eyes to meet his dark gaze. “Control?” I traced my fingers against the back of his neck, my hands seeking his scalp. Finn’s body relaxed, his invisible armor crumbling beneath my touch. Heat emanated from his body as I moved in closer.

“Elizabeth,” he said. “We shouldn’t.” But his voice was soft, and his lips brushed my ear, and I tangled my hands in his hair, silky strands running through my fingers.

“Kiss me,” I whispered against his jaw.

“Elizabeth—!”

I pushed my hips against him, and he groaned low in his throat.

“Do it.”

“No!”

“Ye—” But I didn’t even finish the word as his mouth covered mine, hot, wet, and hungry. His arms slid down, and he grabbed my waist, his fingers traveling down the whispering green silk until he pulled my hips against him. His tongue darted between my teeth, shifting his weight so I could feel his desire through his trousers.

“Oh, God, you’re not…you’re not dead inside…” I said, my fingers grasping onto his suit jacket.

“Do you feel that?” He thrust again. I gasped, my knees growing weak until I thought I would collapse to the floor.

“Yes…”