“This world or that,” she said, steady again. “My choice. I wanted to stay, but I couldn’t. I don’t want a dream, Flynn, no matter how perfect it is. If it’s not real, it means nothing. And if I’d stayed, isn’t that just another way of giving him my soul?”

“You were screaming.” Undone, Flynn laid his forehead on hers. “You were screaming.”

“He tried to take it, but I heard you shouting for me. Why did you come here?”

“You were upset, with me. I didn’t want you to be.”

“Annoyed,” she corrected and slid her arms around him. “I still am, but it’s a little hard to get through everything else to my irritation. I want you to stay. I’m afraid to sleep, afraid I might go back and this time I won’t be strong enough to come out again.”

“You’re strong enough. And if you need it, I’ll help pull you out.”

“This might not be real either.” She lifted her mouth to his. “But I need you.”

“It’s real.” He lifted her hands, kissed each one in turn. “That’s the only thing I’m sure of in this whole damn mess. Whatever I’m feeling for you, Malory, it’s real.”

“If you can’t tell me what you feel, then show me.” She drew him to her. “Show me now.”

All the conflicting emotions, the needs and doubts and wants, poured into the kiss. And as she accepted them, accepted him, he felt himself settle. Tenderness spread through him as he picked her up, cradled her in his arms.

“I want to keep you safe. I don’t care if it irritates you.” He carried her to her room and laid her on the bed, began to undress her. “I’ll keep getting in the way, if that’s what it takes.”

“I don’t need someone to look out for me.” She lifted a hand to his cheek. “I just need you to look at me.”

“Malory, I’ve been looking at you from the beginning, even when you’re not around.”

She smiled, arched up so he could slip off her blouse. “That’s a strange thing to say, but it’s nice. Lie down with me.”

They were side by side, faces close. “I feel pretty safe right now, and it’s not particularly irritating.”

“Maybe you’re feeling a little too safe.” He skimmed a fingertip over the swell of her breast.

“Maybe.” She sighed when he began to nuzzle the side of her neck. “That doesn’t scare me a bit. You’re going to have to try a lot harder.”

He rolled over, pinned her, then plundered her mouth with his.

“Oh. Nice work,” she managed.

She was trembling, just enough to arouse him, and her skin was flushing warm. He could steep himself in her, in the tastes and textures. He could lose himself in that low, driving urge to give her pleasure.

He was tied to her. Perhaps he had been even before he’d met her. Could it be that all the mistakes he’d made, all the changes in direction, had been only to lead him to this time, and this woman?