Conn’s head raised. His shoulders were rigid against the moonlit glass. “Your power would be . . . a great assistance.
But are you wel enough for such a trip?”
His concern touched her. He was putting her feelings before what needed to be done.
“I’m fine. I’m healed.” Physical y, at least.
He turned to face her. “We do not need to see your brothers, if you do not wish it.”
“Why wouldn’t I . . . Oh.” Seeing her brothers meant 1 2 8
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seeing their families. Their children. Caleb’s wife Margred was pregnant again.
Lucy straightened her shoulders. “I want to go with you.”
She held out her empty hands to him. “I don’t want you to be so far away.”
Conn met her gaze. His silver eyes had the sheen of the sea beyond their windows, glazed by the moon. “I am never far from you, Lucy. You are always in my heart.”
She stumbled toward him and he took her hands and pul ed her into his arms.
11
“ I wa n t t o h av e s e x w i t h yo u.”
Lara released her breath, oddly relieved now that they’d acknowledged the elephant in the room.
But outside of her required therapy sessions, Lara never talked about what had been done to her thirteen years ago.
Not to earnest Jacob, her one sexual partner at Rockhaven, and never, ever to Simon.
Openness was obviously not a problem for Iestyn.
Probably sex wasn’t either.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Thankful?
Resentful?
Intrigued.
She angled her chin, testing her reaction, watching his.
“That’s it? That’s your pickup line?”
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He grinned at her, al charm, easy and unthreatening.
“You think it needs work?”
Her pulse quickened. “I think you can do better.”
He strol ed forward, al lean grace and golden eyes like a hunting cat. Her stomach fluttered. Not, she thought, with fear.
“Let’s see,” he murmured and bent his head.
His breath was warm, his mouth firm and persuasive.
His lips rubbed and withdrew, pressed and lingered, teasing, tempting, gentle. She closed her eyes, absorbing the flavor and the tenderness of his kiss, feeling her breath go and her knees turn to water.
More warmth. More pressure. Her heart soared, beating in her chest, and yet he did not touch her with anything but his mouth and one hand, cupping the back of her head. His thumb stroked her jaw, and she opened for him, taking his scent deep in her lungs, his tongue inside her mouth.
Too much. Too fast. She was drowning in sensation.
Suffocating.
But even as she stiffened, Iestyn eased away. He kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose, on the arch of her eyebrow.
“There’s an al -night Walmart two blocks away,” he murmured against her hair.
She opened her eyes, struggling for a light tone. “Are you asking me on a date?”
His silent laughter brushed her cheek. “If this was a date, I’d buy you flowers, not a change of clothes. What size shoe do you wear?”
His consideration shook her. “You want to buy me clothes.”
“Actual y, I’m good with you naked. But you might appreciate something clean after your shower.”
She was dying to shower, desperate to scrub away the smel of smoke. But . . . “You’re going now?”
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