'Master Jinshi, forgive ' '

Her words and attempt to get up were cut off as he tightened his hold and pulled her back against himself.

Something about the way his heart was pounding felt wrong. It almost seemed like it had developed a second, extra beat.

Wait.

That wasn 't his heart malfunctioning.

That was Maomao 's heart.

Pounding.

Being struck by lightning would 've been less shocking. Because of how she was lying on top of him, her heart was right above his, and he could feel every single racing heartbeat as much as he could feel his own do the same. His calm, cool, nearly impossible to read apothecary. She had a heart that was reacting to the moment just like his. The realization only served to make him even more ravenous for her. He gazed up into the brilliant blue eyes right above his and he knew.