In. Out. Innn. Ouuut. There. Getting better, evening out. Whatever happened to her, they would get through it together. She knew that. Could count on that—on him.
“Are you frightened?” he asked.
“Not of you,” she replied truthfully.
“Of you, then. But I can fix that.” He looked at her with the same intensity she heard in his voice, and with such heat. “Close your eyes.”
“Why? Are you flashing me—”
He did. He flashed her. She blinked, and found herself standing in her bedroom in Panama. He released her...only to back her against the nearest wall.
Nicola gulped. “Laila—”
“Is being taken care of.”
“Well, I have to apologize to Dex.”
“You can. Tomorrow. You can mail him a card.” He braced his hands at her temples, his heady scent wrapping around her as certainly as his arms had done. She breathed in deeply, her heartbeat careening out of control.
“You can’t be with another man,” he growled. “Not ever again. For any reason.”
Despite the too-fast rhythm of her heart, the rest of the panic faded, both old and new. “I don’t want to be with another man,” she admitted.
He nodded with conviction. “You belong with me. Only ever me.” Again, he sounded as though he was making a vow.
They had to be a couple.
“Do you understand the kind of girl you’re getting?” She flattened her hands on his chest, the heat of him seeping through his shirt and brushing against her skin. “I’m just me, and I come with a few challenges.”
He smiled, pleased. “I know that. What I don’t know is how to be in a relationship, but I’m going to learn. Along the way, I’m bound to make mistakes. You’ll simply tell me when I mess up, and I’ll fix it. Agreed?”
Melting faster... “Agreed.”
He said no more. He simply pressed his lips into hers.
It wasn’t the brutal kiss she expected from so determined a man, or the sweet and tender kiss they’d first shared. It was heat and electricity, need and want and obsession. Addiction and desire. A taking and a giving. An unwavering claim.
She moaned at the pleasure of it, and he lifted his head. He peered into her eyes, searching.
“I wasn’t complaining,” she said. “Promise.”
Back in he went, kissing...kissing so deeply, surrounding her with the fever-heat of his skin. She could hardly believe this was happening. It was surreal. It was wondrous. He belonged to her—and there was no one here to stop him prematurely. They were alone.
Her heartbeat fluttered. Her limbs shook.
“All is well?” he rasped.
“Mmm-hmm.”
He cupped her cheeks, his palms searing brands as he angled her however he desired. His pupils were blown, his lips red, swollen and moist. “You’ll tell me if that changes?”
“Yes. But don’t be surprised if I’m embarrassed by it.”
“I told you. I never want you embarrassed with me. What happens happens, and we’ll deal with it. We’re in this together.”
He’d taken the words from her mind—words of hope, now confirmed. I’m more than melting. I’m falling for him. Hard.
Back in he went, taking, giving. Her hands slid along his spine, her nails scraping over the fabric of his shirt.
“Under the clothing,” he rasped. “I want your skin on mine.”
A low growl rumbled from him as she obeyed, reaching under the hem of his shirt. Her fingertips stroked over his hard-won strength, and she marveled all over again. He was velvet over iron, perfection over perfection, and he smelled so good, all that sunshine reminding her of summer. Summer reminded her of blooming flowers and blooming flowers reminded her of colors, so many colors, and life, such vibrant life.
Life. Yes. That’s what Koldo was. Around him, she was stronger, happier...freer. Like the flowers, she bloomed. He’d become the peace she’d never had.
“More,” he said, and released her long enough to rip the garment over his head.
She reached for him. He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her off her feet. She wound her legs around his waist, and white lightning zinged through her veins.
“Did I tell you that you’re mine?” he demanded.
A thrill stole through her. “You did. And you’re mine.” He was a gift, created with her every secret desire in mind, and she wanted so badly to be perfect for him. To be everything he needed. She had to remain aware, couldn’t allow the infirmity to win. Not this time, and embarrassment had nothing to do with it. Only Koldo mattered.
His hands glided up, up, and kneaded her softly, then more tightly, wringing another moan out of her.
“This is good,” he murmured.
“Beyond.”
Their breath mingled, short panting rasps. He kissed the corner of her mouth, along the side of her jaw, sometimes nibbling. Lower still, he licked at her neck, at her hammering pulse, her collarbone. Always he treated her as if he couldn’t get enough of her, as if he wanted to taste every inch of her at once.
“But it’s not enough,” he said, coming back up to kiss her mouth.
She wrenched away with a moan. “I thought you just said—”
He pulled the top of her dress down, revealing more and more skin to explore. The protest died as he pressed her against the wall. He hadn’t been insulting her. He’d been demanding more of her.
More she would happily give.
He slid his magnificent hands down...down, until finally reaching the bottom of her dress. He raised the hem higher and higher, until the material pooled around her waist. Cool air brushed against her, and sensation after carnal sensation shot through her.
He dragged his fingertips back down her thigh, eliciting one shiver after another. Then...he dragged those fingertips back up, leaving a trail of fire in his wake, and oh, this was...this was...so good, too good, too much after the stress of the evening, and...the fog formed in her head, just like before.
“Koldo,” she tried to say, but his name was nothing more than a breath. He kissed her again, stealing what little she had left, and all the while those decadent fingers continued to give her the softest of caresses, taking her body to heights it wasn’t ready to reach.
Her world tilted, and darkness descended.
Time ceased to exist. Noise faded. Sensation left her....
Suddenly, something patted at her cheek. Something cold swiped over her brow.
Frowning, Nicola tugged herself from the darkness and blinked open her eyes. Koldo loomed over her, and she—she was lying on the bed, her head resting on a plush, soft pillow. Her dress was in place, smoothed down her legs.