A Navy SEAL perceived her as capable of becoming his equal in war. She could do this. It wasn’t until this exact moment she realized that she’d harbored doubt over whether what she was striving to achieve was actually possible. But Griffin thought she could do it. She let the knowing of that sink in as deep and warm as the sunlight soaking through her.

Griffin stood. As she gazed up at him from her chaise, he opened his arms in invitation. She rose and went to him gladly. Openly. Trustingly. She stepped into the circle of his acceptance and protection, confident for the first time that she truly belonged there beside him. She laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beating slowly and steadily.

“You make me feel safe,” she murmured.

“You are safe with me. Not only would I never, ever raise a hand to anyone I love in anger, but I’ll kick the ass of anyone who tries it with you. Including your old man.”

Sherri snuggled a little closer to his warmth as Griffin’s arms tightened around her. She responded, “I can kick butts for myself now.”

“That you can. He’ll never hurt you again.”

Griffin’s quiet observation rang with truth. She let that sink all the way down into her soul as well. She’d done it. She’d once and for all gotten clear of the miasma of fear, guilt, and desperation to please that had defined her life up till now.

Huh.

And she had Griffin to thank for it.

“How am I ever going to pay you back for everything you’ve done for me?” she asked.

His chest vibrated with a silent chuckle. “I can think of a few ways.”

She lifted her head to mock-scowl up at him. “You men. Always thinking with your crotch.”

Griffin speared his hands into her long hair, cupping her head and tilting her face up to his. “Don’t underestimate me, Sherri. I think about you with a hell of a lot more than my crotch. You fascinate me. Make me feel things…”

His voice trailed off, leaving them staring at each other. His emotions appeared to be as raw as hers. Normally buried feelings were sitting right on the surface today, out in the open for both of them to see.

“I want you, Sherri.”

Take that, for example. He clearly wasn’t talking about sex. She stared back at him, shocked at the intensity of feelings welling up in her chest. “I want you, too,” she heard herself whispering back.

Griffin nodded slowly, accepting everything she was offering in her whispered words. He said merely, “So be it.”

And then he bent down, swept her off her feet, and carried her inside. He laid her on his bed and followed her down to the mattress.