HENRY POV
For once, I had Maria all to myself.
Dax was speaking with our father and Vanessa, handling the absolute shitstorm that had been dropped on us, and I—well, I had a different priority today.
I needed Maria.
Not just physically, though God knew that was always a craving simmering beneath the surface. But I needed *her.* Her undivided attention. Her laughter. Her warmth. The way she looked at me like I was the only one in the world.
I wasn’t jealous of Dax. Never had been. What we had was stronger than that, something that went beyond what people could understand. But there were moments—like now—when I needed to remind myself that Maria *wanted* me. That she craved me just as much as I craved her.
And I needed her to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I adored he
