He flung his hands into the air and back to his hips.

“That’s a lot of liking,” I said, my lips fighting a grin. Only Kane could have me close to tears and despair and then feeling like I was walking on clouds. But hell… that was a lot of good things about me.

“I like your body. I like the way you gasp every time I slide inside of you. I like it when you wake up in my arms, and I hated, seriously fucking hated waking up this morning alone, knowing I was the reason you weren’t next to me.”

I was already moving toward him, my body heating and starting to throb with every wicked word he spoke until I was in front of him, and he reached out, cupped the back of my neck, and slid his hands up into my hair, fisting it gently.

“I do not like that I hurt you or that I made you cry, and I can promise you I’ll do everything I can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

I pressed my hand to his chest, where his heart was racing and his skin was burning. “I should have been more understanding. But next time you do get mad at me or hurt me, please don’t run out like last night. Stay so we can talk, even if we need space here.”

“Deal.” He leaned down and rested his forehead against mine. “I need to hydrate, and I need a protein shake, and I need to sweat out this godforsaken alcohol in the sauna, so I’m not a lazy pile of crap all day. But so you’re clear, I like you, Emmersyn Houghton. I like you a lot, more than I expected, and it surprises me daily how much I miss you when you’re not in the same room as me.”

“I like you, too, Kane Andrews. A whole lot. Bunches even.”

His grin broke out, slow and sexy, and he brushed his lips over mine.

“How about I make you a shake, bring you some water, and then join you in the sauna?”

“Deal.” He kissed me again and stepped back, dragging his hand through my hair and creating a shiver that cascaded down my spine as he bit his lip, examining me with heated eyes.

“And ditch the ugly ass shirt before you join me in the sauna. I like seeing the curves of your body.”

He slapped his hand on the doorframe, sauntered off down the hall like he hadn’t rocked my world and turned me on and made me speechless in one fell swoop.

Damn Kane Andrews.

He might not have loved me, but he chose me.

We had time for the rest.

Thirty

Kane

“You’re up early.” Emmersyn’s smoky, sleepy voice drew nearer, and she sidled up to my side, giving me a sideways hug before slipping off toward the coffee. “Big week ahead.”

I was at the counter, scrambling eggs for a spinach and mushroom omelet. “How’d you sleep?”