“He always that overprotective?' Xaden grumbles, pressing up from the mat a few inches.

'He cares about me,' I glare at him.

'He's holding you back. Don't worry. Your little poisoning secret is safe with me.' Xaden arches a brow as if to remind me that I'm the keeper of one of his secrets, too. Then he guides our hands back to my ribs and slides the ruby-hilted blade back into its sheath.

The move is unnervingly... hot.

'You're not going to disarm me?' I challenge as he releases his grip and pushes up move, removing his weight from my body. My ribs expand as I take my first full breath.

'Nope. Defenceless women have never been my type. We're done for today.”