She pushed off the bed. “Then it’s great with me.” She walked over to Theo, who was taking all the purchased items from the bags. She distracted him by tilting his face toward hers and kissing him.

Theo dropped everything in his hands and pulled her against him, slanting his mouth across hers and kissing her deeply until she was dizzy. He picked her up and walked her toward the bathroom. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on for the ride, chuckling against his mouth.

One-handed, he worked the faucet in the shower. The spray of hot water hit them both as he stepped inside, Sarafina still in his arms, laughing and kissing him.

Theo was actually laughing, too. The sound of it warmed Sarafina more than the water ever could.

He set her to her feet and they soaped up their hands and washed each other, stopping occasionally to lick the water droplets off particular locations of each other’s bodies.

Theo pressed her against the wall of the shower, his hands on her hips, his lips brushing hers. “Bai’s not taking you away from me.” He growled. “You’re mine, Sarafina Elizabeth Connell. You’re all mine.”

She smiled against his mouth. “Say it again.”

“You’re mine.” He crushed his lips to hers.

THEO WATCHED SARAFINA’S FULL LIPS WRAP AROUND a French fry and restrained himself from leaning over and nibbling the opposite end like the pasta scene from Lady and the Tramp. Although his intentions were a lot less innocent.

He’d had a taste of Sarafina in bed and he wanted more. Theo had figured she’d be responsive and uninhibited in bed, though she had been a little shy about touching herself in front of him at first. His mind was awash with the ways he could push her further. She’d go anywhere he wanted her to go; he had no doubt on that score. Sarafina had a body and mind ripe for erotic exploration.

And Theo so wanted to help her with that.

She sat on an armchair in front of the cart that room service had sent up. She wore a short, silky gray bathrobe and had her long, pale legs crossed. The expression she wore on her face was faraway and dreamy. He’d helped chase away the bogeymen for a while, which had been his ultimate goal for the night. The entire ride back to Louisville, she’d been stiff with tension and worry.

The worry was now held at bay for him, too. His mind, his body, even his heart—all of it was filled up with Sarafina right now.

“Tell me about Ingrid,” she asked, nibbling another fry.

Theo leaned back in his chair. “Ingrid? Why?” He pushed a hand through his damp hair. “What do you want to know?”

“You said something once that interested me. You said she was the second woman you’d been with who had died.”