some way to ease the pain inside this strong man.
“You humble me,” he whispered, his face hidden in her neck, his voice husky. “You amaze me,
Merinus.”
“And how do I do this?” she asked him gently, her hands threading through the tawny strands of his hair.
He shook his head. “Your love. Your acceptance.”
His voice strengthened, the hoarseness of his emotion leaving it slowly. He shook his head, took a hard
breath and lifted himself from her. She felt him ease his cock from her body and sighed in regret. She
would keep him there forever if she could.
He moved away from her, sitting on the side of the bed, gazing into the dim light of the room as morning
slowly made its way toward them. She watched him, seeing the strength in his body, the way he
straightened his shoulders, ready to face the new battle coming their way as surely as daylight was edging
through the sky.
“It won’t be easy.” He stared toward the window and the thick curtains covering it. “I can’t make any
promises, other than I’ll always love you. I won’t leave you. I’ll do what I can to protect you.”
“No one could ask more of you, Callan,” she told him, her voice soft. “I don’t expect more of you.”
“You should.” He breathed roughly, dragging his fingers through his hair. “You should have run from me
screaming when you first realized you desired me, Merinus.”
She laughed softly, remembering the day she had watched him masturbate on his back deck.
“I don’t think that was possible,” she said with a smile. “I was too busy admiring your gorgeous body.”
He flashed her a quick, embarrassed look, then frowned at her sternly.
“I’m being serious,” he chided her.
“So am I, Callan.” She smiled. “I’m not weak, nor am I so timid I can’t face whatever life throws at me.
We’re together for a reason. We’ll face whatever life brings us as best we can.”
She sat up, curling her legs beneath her as she leaned against his shoulder, staring up at him as he stared
back at her. She let her lips caress his muscular shoulder, her hand smoothing over his back.
Callan took a deep breath. “I never expected you.” He shook his head with an edge of amusement.
“You are a dangerous woman, Merinus Tyler.”
“Naw, just a determined woman.” She grinned against his shoulder. “I know a good thing when I see it
jacking off.”
He flushed. Shooting her a look of mingled confusion and exasperation, he shook his head as he turned
and pulled her into his arms. He held her tight against his body, relishing her warmth, the way she relaxed
against him, looked up at him so trustingly.
“We should shower and begin to prepare for what’s ahead of us,” he told her softly, thinking of the news
conference to come, the days ahead that would be filled with endless tests, questions and danger. He
prayed Merinus’ brother knew what the hell he was doing, because if anything happened to her, then
Callan knew his rage would be satisfied with nothing less than blood.
“You never did return the favor as you promised,” he reminded her, his brow arching suggestively.
“When we come together again, you will have to make this up to me.”
Merinus flushed then. She felt the heat along her cheeks, but a flame of desire between her thighs. That
tingle of lust reminded her, though of the possible conception this night may have wrought. She couldn’t
say she was comfortable with the idea of it happening so soon. She would have preferred to wait, to
know they were reasonably safe before bringing a child into the lives they would share for the first few
years.
“I’ll see what I can do you for ya, sugar,” she drawled, imitating the slow southern drawl she had finally
grown accustomed to hearing.
“Well, you just do that, fine thing,” he mocked her, and Merinus had to admit he sounded a hell of a lot
more authentic than she did.
They were silent then. Holding each other, watching the light slowly filter into the room as the day eased
ahead.
“I don’t want to let go of tonight,” she finally whispered regretfully. “I wish we could just stay like this,
forever.”
Callan sighed slowly, his hands smoothing over her shoulders, her back. He kissed her forehead, a soft
caress of regret and longing.
“Come on, we’ll shower and get breakfast. Then I need to contact the others. It will be over soon,
Merinus. Then perhaps we can make a life for ourselves.”
Merinus swallowed tightly, battling her fears and her regrets. She hadn’t had enough time with him. The