So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(142)

Her heart did a little leap as a vision popped into her mind of the two of them physically wrestling. And once he had her pinned down … but he couldn’t. He could never touch her. By the goddesses, it was enough to make her learn how to curse. “I should be going now.” She started toward the tower.

“Did you wonder why I’m praying for a drought?”

She halted. He’d come back with a counterattack of his own. An excellent one. For she had wondered.

His booted feet crunched on the stone wall walk as he approached her from behind. “No rain means no lightning. That means my power would slowly disappear.”

The back of her neck tingled. “Why would you want to lose your power?”

“So I can touch you. Kiss you.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “Bed you.”

The tingle on her neck skittered down her spine. Then he might be able to touch her someday? And she hadn’t imagined the hunger in his eyes. It was real. “You … want me?”

“Yes.”

Her heart thudded as she turned to face him. “You hardly know me.” He didn’t even know her real name.

“I know you’re clever, brave, bold, and beautiful. I know you’re kind to servants. Kind to animals. You’re not above working in the garden. You stand up to me. You intrigue me. I feel more … alive when I’m with you.” He stepped closer. “Yes. I want you.”

A sharp pang shot through her chest. He wasn’t describing Tatiana. He was describing her. It was she, Luciana, that he wanted. “My lord—”

“Call me Leo.”

She swallowed hard. “Leo. C-could you call me Ana?”

His eyes widened with surprise. “Does your father call you that?”

She shook her head. “It would be just for us.” So she could feel that he was marrying her, not Tatiana. Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them away.

“Is something wrong?” He stepped closer. “Ana?”

The goddesses help her, this man was making her heart ache. “I should go now.” She headed toward the tower.

“Dammit,” he grumbled behind her. “You never answered my questions.”

She stopped and gave him a hesitant glance. “You shouldn’t spend the night out here. You need your rest before the duel.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Are you worried about me?”

Tatiana’s request! She’d almost forgotten. “Could you do me a favor and not kill the captain tomorrow?”

“What? You’re worried about him?”

Caw, caw. A seagull called out, and he muttered a curse.

She winced. “There are others who care about the captain. So I would appreciate it if you didn’t kill him.”

He gave her an exasperated look. “What do you think I am? I never planned to kill the bastard.”

“Oh, thank you!” She ran into the tower as he growled a few more curse words.

“I’m not a Beast!” His voice echoed down the wall walk.

No, he was a man. Her eyes burned with tears as she hurried up the stairs. He was an amazing man. And he would be far too easy to fall in love with.