He could still see them. Griffin and Cat. Kaia. And three shadowy figures he couldn’t quite bring into focus. Who were they? Griffin’s expression was so damning. If anything, Cat’s face showed more sympathy. And Kaia… The fear in his little sister’s eyes, the heartache. His fault. Piers knew it.

“I must’ve done something unforgiveable. Something that hurt my family.” His throat thickened. “I don’t understand. I would never hurt my family.”

“Maybe you didn’t,” she whispered.

“No, I did.” He was sure of it.

“Okay. Even if you did, that’s the past now. Another life. Another world.” Sophie tipped her head up, bringing her lips so close to Piers’s that he could feel them calling to his mouth. Calling to him. “You’re here now. With me.”

“With you?” He swallowed. Maybe he hadn’t lost everything. Or maybe he had, but he could start over.

Her eyes flicked up, locking with his. She nodded. Her warm breath swirled against his lips, and Piers’s abdomen tightened.

Unable to resist, he anchored one hand on her hip and slid the other around the back of her head. After only a day together, he already couldn’t imagine a day apart. “Sophie.” Her name sounded so right on his lips.

She gripped his shirt and tugged. That was all the encouragement he needed to claim her mouth for a kiss that turned into a fiery mating dance so fast it incinerated his senses.

Piers clasped her tighter, the heat of her body scorching him through their clothes. Pressure built inside him. His shaft grew heavy and hard. Sophie slid her hands under his shirt, sweeping her fingers over his bare skin. He shuddered in pleasure. He’d never been so aroused.

She broke away, breathing hard. “I can’t believe I’m saying this to a man I met this morning, but I want you.”

Piers groaned. “Gods, I want you, too.” The gift he had in his arms left him reeling, especially when he was sure he didn’t deserve such a reward. “You’re incredible. Brave and beautiful.” He kissed her jaw, her neck, her mouth again. “But there’s no rush. I could kiss you for days.” He barely knew himself right now. There was no way Sophie could know him. He didn’t want her to regret anything, no matter how perfectly their bodies melded together, or how desperately they ached to join.

Wide eyed and beautifully flushed, Sophie huffed a laugh. “No rush? We have Novalight’s henchmen after us and a magical ice shard to get rid of. I’m not getting killed tomorrow and missing out on this. On you.”

“I won’t let you get killed.” Piers took offense she’d even thought it.

“What if you die?” she challenged.