“I’m okay, sweetheart. I’m right here, just a little battered, but fine. And you’re safe here with me. We’ll get through this.” He dropped his hands to her waist, holding her close, wanting every bit of his body to touch hers. The connection between them was so strong, he felt invisible threads twining around his heart and securing him to this brave woman he’d come to think of as his, only his.
onlySophie feathered her lips over his and his blood rushed to all the right places. God, he needed her, needed to hold her, to possess her, to share himself with her. After thinking he’d die in that dark vat of water, pinned helpless, drowning, he vowed the first thing he’d do was get her alone and brand her as his and seek comfort in her kiss and her touch.
“Sophie, I want you.” He murmured in h
