Her gaze slid over his face. She’d memorized it of course. Every line. The little laugh lines around his eyes. The scars that only served to make him all the more handsome to her. He had a man’s face, not a boy’s. Even when his eyes went soft, his face was hard, carved of stone. He had a strong jaw and always a bit of scruff, as if no matter how often he shaved, his hair insisted on growing.

“I’m not sweet and gentle with anyone else, and I never will be. I can get this man out of your life, but you’ve got to let me in so I can do my job.”

“I let you in,” she said softly. She leaned into him and brushed a kiss across his mouth. “I’ve never let anyone touch me. Get inside. Only you.” That was all she had to give him, because she wouldn’t give him death.

Talking to him about Rafe would do that, and Ridley Cromer needed to be alive and well somewhere in the world in order for her to keep going. Now she had a reason for being alone and lonely. Now she had a reason to stay in the shadows. And that reason was stretched out beside her, tough as nails, as sweet as the beignets she loved from her home state.

“So talk to me.”

“I need more time. I can’t just make a decision without considering all the ramifications. And I’m tired. I don’t make decisions when I’m tired.” She had to let him go before she did do something like talk to him about Rafe. That was how far gone she was. That was how much she wanted him. But even halfway in love, or maybe because of it, she wasn’t going to risk his life.

He sighed, but the resignation was in his voice and on his face. “I’ll give you a few hours to sleep and then I’m coming back, Cat, and whether you like it or not, we’re going to talk.”

“Kiss me again.”

He shifted his body to half cover hers, his hands framing her face, and he brought his mouth down hard on hers. This was a different kiss entirely. This one said no way was she leaving him. He’d never let her go. This one said she belonged to him and no one else and there were so many more firsts he could give her.

Catarina kissed him back as best she could, following his lead, all the while committing every detail to memory. He stayed beside her while she drifted off, feeling warm and safe. She barely woke when he extricated himself from her and brushed his mouth across hers.

“I’ll see you tonight, Cat.”

She murmured a soft response and turned over to let sleep and her dreams of him take her away.