“Who the fuck’s flight jacket are you wearing?” “Really?” I throw my arms out, happily letting the warmth soak into me. “It has third-year rank, Fourth Wing insignia, and a section leader designation. Who the hell’s jacket do you think I’m wearing?” His jaw ticks, water streaming down his face. “It’s Bodhi’s, you territorial asshole!”

Because love, at its root, is hope. Hope for tomorrow. Hope for what could be. Hope that the someone you’ve entrusted your everything to will cradle and protect it. And hope? That shit is harder to kill than a dragon.

“Let me get this out.” He glances at my mouth. “I’ll kiss you whenever you want because my self-control is shit where you’re involved—” “Whenever I want?” My brows shoot up. What the hell is happening right now? “Yes, whenever you want, because I’ll live with my mouth attached to yours if I do it whenever I want.” He retreats a couple of steps, and

“Fine. You can come with me if you agree not to scare her.” “I can’t control her feelings.” He scoffs.

I want Xaden. It’s illogical. He couldn’t have stopped Varrish. I don’t need his protection. I don’t need him to carry me back to the dorms. I just…want him.

“There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, remember?”

enough to slide out from under him.

You want full disclosure when it comes to me, right? How is this for open?” His gaze drops to my mouth. “I would have done the same thing you did because I’m just as reckless for you as you are for me.”

“However much you think you need this, need me—I need you more.”