His powerful wanting seeped through her. She sensed that she could keep going, that he wouldn’t stop her. In doing so, she’d capture him, and he’d be hers.

But as quickly as the thought came, she slowed the kiss. She didn’t want to win him through manipulation. She didn’t want him to be with her because she’d trapped him into doing so. If he stayed, she wanted him to choose to do so.

She pulled back and broke the kiss. His hands on her back tightened, and he followed her lips, clearly not sated. She wanted to meet him kiss for kiss and didn’t want to sever their bond, not after wishing for it so long and finally getting it. But she turned her head, caring for him too much to win him this way.

His lips landed on her jawline and made a trail to her neck. His breath was hot and his kisses hungry, almost as if he needed her more than he’d recognized. What if he loved her? He hadn’t come right out and said it, but how else should she take what he’d alluded to moments ago?

She’d always loved him. She could admit it. Even though she tried to stop herself from caring, deep inside her feelings for him ran strong and steady and unshakeable. But she couldn’t say so, not now.

Instead, she said the next best thing. “I’m willing to face danger to be with you, Jericho.”

His trail of kisses came to a halt. “No.” His answer was hoarse, as though he was battling himself to say it.

“Don’t say no yet. Think about it first.”

He shook his head and started to speak, but she touched her finger to his lips, cutting him off. “Please?”

His brow furrowed.

She peered up at him, loving every nuance of his chiseled features, the strength of his mouth, the hard lines of his jaw, the purpose in his eyes. He studied her face too, and in that moment she felt as though her heart was inextricably linked to his. The thought of him walking away and out of her life again was too difficult to contemplate.

He retreated a step, putting some distance between them, almost as if he needed it to bring his thoughts into coherence. “If I say I’ll think about it, in the end will you accept my final decision?”

Could she? What if he said no to being together?

“It’s not you, Ivy. Remember that.”

She buried the rising need to cling to him no matter what. “Fine. If you decide to move on, I won’t pester you.”

He watched her as though testing the sincerity of her words. “And I promise not to hang on to you.”