He wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. He just trusted her enough to believe she wouldn’t lie to him, not about this. Infinitely relieved, he allowed himself to accept her invitation—and as he pressed inside her and felt her body slowly accept his, he couldn’t believe how incredibly good it felt.

She groaned as he began to thrust, letting him know she was as caught up in their lovemaking as he was, which only excited him more. Once again, he tried to calm down. If he closed his eyes, he thought he might be able to last longer. But he didn’t want to miss the expression on her face—the way she was looking up at him with such heavy-lidded eyes, the steam condensing on her skin like dew, her lips parted with expectation. With the moon casting a silvery glow over her bare shoulders and breasts, he couldn’t help thinking that she was beautiful, in spite of the accident.

He wanted to tell her so—sincerely. But he knew she’d never believe him. And that wasn’t a discussion for right now. She seemed to have forgotten about her injury. Why would he ever remind her? He didn’t want to be reminded of his own scars, which were far less visible but every bit as real.

As the hot water sloshed up against the sides, he did his best to gauge what she was feeling. He tried to read the clues her body was giving him, too, so that he’d know when he could let go. But he didn’t have his usual control. After what’d happened with Shiloh’s parents earlier tonight, he wasn’t mentally prepared for this type of encounter.

When he stopped moving in an attempt to keep from going too far too fast, she gave him the sweetest smile he’d ever seen.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, and that was all it took to snap the last of his restraint. At her encouragement, he began to drive into her harder and faster and harder and faster and harder and faster until he was acting with the same wild abandon that had overtaken him at his easel earlier.

And when his release arrived, his whole body shuddered in relief.

Tia woke in Seth’s bed. Holding perfectly still so that she wouldn’t rouse him, she listened to the sound of his slow, steady breathing. She couldn’t tell what time it was, but it had to be early. Five? Maybe six? She couldn’t see any light creeping around the fancy automated blinds in the bedroom, but that could be due to storm clouds outside. It was the rainy season, after all.