“I’m sorry.” Janine turned to face him. “But you knew where I was,” she said calmly.

“All Anton said was that you’d be late. Not where you were going or who you were with. So naturally I was worried.”

“I’m sorry. Next time I’ll tell you myself.” Janine yawned; the day had been exhausting. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go to bed now. Unless there’s anything else you’d like to know?”

He glared at her, then shook his head. Wheeling around abruptly, he walked away.

Hours later, Janine was awakened by a gruff sobbing sound coming from the other room. It took her a moment to realize it was Zach. Was he having a nightmare?

Folding back the covers, she got out of bed and hurried into his room. The cries of anguish grew louder. In the light from the hallway, she could see him thrashing about, the bedding in disarray.

“Zach,” she cried, rushing to his side. She sat on the edge of the bed and placed her hands gently on his shoulders. “Wake up. You’re having a dream. Just a dream. It’s okay….”

Zach’s eyes slowly opened. “Janine.” He ground out her name as though in torment and reached for her, hauling her into his arms with such force that he left her breathless. “Janine,” he said, his voice so husky she could barely understand him. “I thought I’d lost you.”

CHAPTER TEN

“Zach, I’m fine,” Janine whispered. Emotion clogged her throat at the hungry way his eyes roamed her face. He seemed to have difficulty believing, even now, that she was unhurt.

“It was so real,” he continued, his chest heaving. He hid his face as if to block out the vivid images the dream had induced. Making room in the large bed, he pulled her down beside him. His hands stroked her hair as he released several jagged breaths. “We were at the ocean,” he told her, “and although I’d warned you against it, you decided to swim. A huge wave knocked you off your feet and you were drowning. Heaven help me, I tried, but I couldn’t get to you fast enough.” He shut his eyes briefly. “You kept calling out to me and I couldn’t find you. I just couldn’t get to you fast enough.”

“Zach,” she whispered, her mouth so close to his that their breath mingled, “I’m right here. It was only a dream. It wasn’t real.”

He nodded, but his eyes still seemed troubled, refusing to leave her face. Then ever so slowly, as though he expected her to object, he moved his mouth even closer to hers. “I couldn’t bear to lose you. I’d rather die myself.”

Helpless to deny him anything, Janine turned her face to receive his kiss.

His hands tangled in her thick dark hair, effectively holding her captive, while his mouth seized hers in a kiss that sent her senses swirling. Nothing mattered except his touch. Overcome for a moment by the fierce tenderness she felt in him, Janine eagerly fed his need.