"I tend to agree."
That rawness still burned me, making me ache for something I couldn't even begin to describe. "Then why…?"
"Because," he said, a harsh edge of determination in his tone. "I have no other choice."
"There are always choices," I said, quoting his own words back at him. "And wouldn't seducing me break one of those many rules Mijai have?"
He didn't immediately reply, but his hand slid sensually down my spine and came to rest on my rump. The effect was electric—a firestorm that ripped through my body, making me shudder, making me ache.
"Azriel—" I stopped, not entirely sure what I was about to say. Not sure that I should say anything.
"The rules are very clear," he said softly. "But sometimes the gain is worth the punishment."
And with that, his lips met mine.
It wasn't a kiss. Not exactly. It was flesh against flesh, true, but it was a whole lot more. It was energy and spirit and desire all tied up in one gentle motion, and it made me fly and, at the same time, made me weak.
"This will not end here," he said, so softly that his words were little more than a sigh across my lips. "It cannot end here."
I still couldn't answer. I just stared at him, seeing the determination deep in those raw depths and wondering why he'd forced the issue now and not before.
He didn't answer those thoughts, but I didn't really expect him to. Instead, he stepped back, breaking the spell of his closeness. Cool air washed between us, and a gasp of surprise escaped my lips.
"Logan moves," was all he said.
But his fingers slipped down to mine, and once again he was leading me through the crowd. I was glad of that light contact. I don't think I could have moved of my own accord.
There were several people between Logan and us in the corridor that led to the bathrooms, but all the men did an abrupt about-face and walked away. Hopefully, I thought with a smile, their bladders would hold.