Page 131 of Harnessed in Gold

“Liv?” he guesses.

“He could’ve killed her, and it would’ve been all my fault.”

“Betts—”

“Andyou—” He nearly died in that tunnel.

I peer down into his brown eyes, picturing the light going out of them. Tears choke me, sending my hands to his jaw and my lips slamming into his.

He kisses me back, just as fiercely. “What you’ve had to go through—” he rasps out. “I hate that I keep putting you in danger.”

“It’s my choice.”

“But it kills me.” He takes my head in both hands, his fingers gripping me tightly behind the ears. “You understand that, don’t you? Every time I see you suffer, even the smallest bit, it kills me.” The anguish in his eyes punches the air out of my chest. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Ican’tlet anything happen to you.”

“No.” I shake my head, his fingers pulling my hair as he tries to hold me still. “No, don’t say that. What about Nàdar? What about Summer? You have to do what you need to do. You have to put Nàdar first.”

“I can’t, Betts. Not if it means hurting you.” He clutches my head even tighter. “I love you.”

My heart turns inside out, and all my protests evaporate in a silent gasp.

“We’ll figure it out,” he whispers, his lips brushing mine. “Just tell me you love me, and we’ll figure it out.”

I kiss him with every aching thump of my burning, breaking heart. “I love you.”

“A chuisle mo chroí.” He pulls me on top of him, crushing my body to his and kissing me hard.

I frame his head with my arms and rake my hands through his hair. If he holds me tightly enough, he could pull me inside him, and then I’d be safe. I’d be where I belonged. I have to believe it’s possible that we can survive this. That we’ll find that ring, save Nàdar, and live happily ever after. There’s no other bearable option.

His palms race up my back, under my shirt. I straddle his hips and bite back a moan.

“We can’t.” It’s a ragged whisper, breathed against my lips.

I glance out at the room. Aaron is visible, but he’s snoring gently, sound asleep. And even better, the armchair blocks Rime entirely from view.

“Not because of them.” Leo says, rolling us onto our sides. “I don’t have a condom.”

I kiss him, thinking. Dare I? He’s not a frat boy who’s been sleeping around. And if the fae don’t use condoms, then they must not need protection against diseases. “It’s okay. We don’t need one.”

Puzzled, he meets my gaze.

“I’m on the pill.” Since I’m not sure he knows what that means, I add, “I can’t get pregnant.”

His breath quickens. “Are you sure?”

I nod, hooking my top leg over his and sliding a hand down his stomach, feeling his muscles contract under my fingers. His breath catches as I push under his waistband. He’s hard, and hot, and throbbing.

He tugs on my sweats. “Take them off.”

Hastily, we both undress, leaving our shirts on and covering ourselves with the blanket. We lie on our sides, face to face, one of my legs over both of his, and his palm smoothing up the back of my thigh.

I wrap my hand around him again, stroking up and down. Heat blooms on my cheeks as he growls, his tongue plunging into mymouth and his fingers pushing deep inside me. Frustrated, I whimper back. I want to taste him, but I shouldn’t. Not here.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, voice gruff and low.

Screw it. With his back to the room, no one will see. I dip my head, planting a kiss where his collar meets his neck. Then lower, pushing up his shirt until my lips find his bare chest.

“Betts—?” His abs tighten as I make my way down. “What are you—Betts?—”