But in that moment, withSatrinein his arms, Loren vowed that whatever his future brought, it would not takehim away fromSatrineand their bed in the nighttime.
He’d sleep by her side every night.
Until he died.
“That’s where the dark started, isn’t it?”she asked hischest, taking him from his thoughts.
He bent his neck and pressed his face into her hair.
There, he admitted, “Yes.”
“Thank you for your service, honey.”
He again went still as her words flooded through him.
Simple.
Meaningful.
More light in the dark before it faded away.
“You’re welcome, my love.”
She shifted against him, and this time when Lorenopened his eyes, he saw the dawn stealing around the drawn curtains.
He also smelled her.
Felt her.
Was still entirely tangled in her.
And realized his folly of asking her to stay.
As if sensing him awake,Satrineshifted again, stretched, and felt his morning readiness, he knew, for shestilled.
Then (he should have known), albeit gently…
She attacked.
He was on his back, she was draped down his good side, hermouth on his, her hand on his chest, her breasts pressing in.
He pulled his mouth from hers and warned, “Darling.”
Hers was not a warning.
It was a plea.
“So you won’t hurt yourself, you’ll need to be creative.Iknow you’re creative, baby.Be creative.”
He framed one side of her face with his hand, being bothrelieved and pleased from her behavior from the first kiss they shared thatthere was one aspect of life and living it that her mother did not hesitate tobe open about.Satrinewas not at all afraid of sex.And this was not a surprise to him.She and Corliss had a very close, honest,open relationship.
However, being secluded all her life, she was still avirgin.
“Satrine—”
Her hand strayed down his stomach.
He caught her wrist and chuckled.“My dearest, you know notwhat you toy with.”
