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I pull her hand away from my cock, and picking up her glasses, I step out of the shower to dry them quickly. When I perch them on the bridge of her nose, she looks down at her arm.

Stepping back into the stall, I turn on the faucets and wash my release from her skin before shutting them off again.

I dry myself quickly and pull on my boxers, then go into the room and grab the bag of clothes I got for Annie.

When I hand it to her, she still looks awkward, and it draws a chuckle from me. “Get dressed and come to bed, my light.”

I give her privacy in the bathroom and pull the curtains shut before taking the doorstop from one of the other shopping bags. I shove it into place by the front door, feeling better that it will sound an alarm if someone tries to come in.

Throwing the covers back, I lie down and bend my arm beneath my head. The moment I just shared with Annie flashes through my mind and threatens to make me rock hard all over again. I push the thoughts aside and think about everything she said before the shower.

I wasn’t planning on telling her how I feel, but when I saw the panic and uncertainty on her face, I wanted to give her the security of knowing I love her and will do everything to protect her.

I would die a million deaths before I let someone hurt a hair on her head.

Annie comes out of the bathroom, dressed in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, and sets the bag down on the table.

“I tried on the jeans, and they fit. How did you know my size?”

“I guessed.”

She crawls onto the bed and slumps down on her stomach, letting out a groan. “So good.”

Turning on my side, I tuck one of the pillows beneath my head before I begin to draw patterns on her back.

“Even better,” she mumbles.

We lie like this for close to five minutes, then Annie brushes her fingers over my side. “I love these muscles.”

The corner of my mouth lifts as I continue to draw patterns on her back, happy to stare at my woman for the next forty-eight hours before we have to move again.

Annie tucks a pillow beneath her head and hugs it, and for the first time in my life, I’m jealous of a damn pillow.

Glaring at the thing, I tug it out of her arms and say, “Hold me like that.”

Laughter bursts from her. “Are you jealous?”

“Yes.” I turn onto my back and pat my chest. “Come lie on top of me.”

Chuckling, Annie scoots closer and drapes herself half over me, placing her arm around my waist.

I let out a contented sigh and close my eyes.

After a while, she says, “The shower thing is great and all, but I’m going to put a stop to it.” She rubs her cheek against my pec. “I’m scared we’ll take things too far, and I’m not ready for that yet.”

“I understand.” I curl my arm around her and press a kiss to her damp hair before settling again. “Whenever I push for too much, just tell me no. You might not have a choice about going to South America with me, but when it comes to sex, we’ll move at your pace.”

“Thank you.”

She doesn’t comment on going to Peru, and it makes some of the tension ease in my chest.

“If you’ve never loved anyone before, how do you know that’s what you feel for me?” Annie suddenly asks.

“What is love?” I counter her.

“It’s a strong feeling of deep affection, trust, a desire for the other person’s well-being, and commitment toward them,” she says in a quiet tone. “It’s when you can’t fathom your life without them.”

“Throw in an overpowering urge to protect you from everything, a fuck-ton of jealousy and possessiveness, and that’s exactly what I feel for you.” Wanting to reassure her, I add, “I’m not an impulsive person, Annie. Every day since we’ve met, you’ve actively wormed your way deeper and deeper into my heart. I took notice of you because you kept trying to get to know me. You showed me how amazing you are. I fought falling for you, but in the end, it was inevitable. My entire life, I did whatever I had to do in order to survive, but I had nothing to live for. You changed that for me. You’ve given me purpose.”