They might only have one day, a few weeks, or even months. He was different, as was she.
But also because a flicker of hope still burned, deep, deep inside.
Firstly, he’d been left behindherhouse—which was nothing short of a miracle. And he’d lived.
Another miracle.
And then, he remembered her—he remembered loving her.
Dare she imagine it was fate that brought them back together?
“All of me?” Alastair stared down at her, looking determined, but oh, so very sweet. It was the same face she’d always loved, hardened and chiseled now. But he was Alastair.
Alastair.
She didn’t need all the details to know he’d collected a handful of scars. She had scars of her own.
And yet, here they were. In her bed. Loving one another.
Lovers and friends. He’d already tugged his shirt over his head, kicked off his shoes, and shucked his trousers. He was here.
With her.
And she didn’t want to waste a single breath of this moment.
“All of you,” she whispered, tilting her chin up, savoring his closeness, not taking a second of this for granted.
Alastair’s eyes darkened as he exhaled a ragged breath. “You have all of me, Daisy. I think you always have.”
She trailed her fingers over his shoulders, down the strong planes of his back. “I know.” Even when everything told her she’d lost, her heart kept beating for him.
His lips brushed the curve of her throat, then lower, tracing a path of fire down to her collarbone. “You know?” He nipped at her skin.
A thrill rippled through her, sharp and sweet. “I know.” Had she always known?
He captured her lips again, and this time, his kiss was deliberate, consuming. Slow and sure, like he was memorizing every inch of her with his mouth alone. As though he had all the time in the world to rediscover her.
Daisy arched against him, heat pooling low in her belly. “You didn’t take this much time the first time.”
He groaned, nuzzling the hollow of her throat. “I was a fumbling fool. Desperate.”
She hummed. “And now?”
His lips curved against her skin. “Still desperate.” His hands slid lower, possessive, reverent. “But wiser.”
She felt the evidence of that wisdom pressing insistently against her thigh. With a sultry smile, she slid her fingers down, wrapping them around his thick shaft.
Memories of silken steel flooded through her.
Alastair shuddered, his breath coming in harsh pants. “You’re going to undo me.”
“It’s only fair,” she murmured. “Isn’t it?”
His laughter died into a groan as she guided him to where she needed him most, teasing him, teasing herself.
She had never forgotten that afternoon of loving. If she had, she’d never have known what she lost.
But she, too, was wiser now. She knew that perfect moments like this one were fleeting. Even the most powerful love could be shattered.
