Chapter 28 · The Kiss That Could End the City

Carson reached past me and seized the console’s power lever.

The metal burned his palm on contact. He didn’t let go.

"Carson, don’t."

"You need the copy finished."

"That lever is feeding the wards."

"Then I’ll hold it steady."

"It’ll cook your hand."

His jaw tightened. "That your concern now?"

"You’re my husband."

The words escaped before I could bite them back.

His eyes dropped to my mouth.

The contract mark beneath my collarbone flared hot. My breath caught, and I hated that he noticed.

"Say that again," he said.

His voice had gone low. Too low.

"Don’t make it romantic. It isn’t."

"I didn’t say it was."

"You were thinking it."

"You don’t know what I’m thinking."

"I know exactly what you’re thinking when you look at me like that."

His fingers clamped harder around the lever. Blood welled across his palm.

"Do you?"

The room flashed blue.

Carson jerked, but he held on.

"Carson!"

"Keep copying."

"Let go!"

"No."

"That’s not a request."

His eyes cut to mine. "Neither is mine.