"It"s not that I"m afraid of what he might do to me," I said, gripping his hand in return, my words urgent. "I"m worried about you! Derek holds a grudge. He said those things on the rugby field… I"m afraid he"ll target you!" Seeing the undisguised worry in my eyes, Luke"s expression softened. A gentle, moving warmth shimmered in his golden eyes. He gently withdrew his hand, stood up, and—to my slight surprise—walked over to my side of the table. He leaned down, cupping my face in his hands. "Silly girl," he murmured, his warm breath ghosting over my lips, "The person who can hurt me hasn"t been born yet." Then he kissed me deeply. The kiss was filled with intense emotion, carrying an undeniable possessiveness and deep tenderness. It felt as though he was trying to transfer all his strength
