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“I asked for the details,” she hten me At least no more than I already was All you did was make me aware of the extent of your hardships Dear God, Slayde, you’ve endured so much—far more than I” Her voice dropped to a whisper “Yesterday, you said you would undo ht now, all I wish is that I could undo yours”

The earnest proclamation of empathy was the last reaction Slayde had expected and the h he’d never discussed his faht, he was nonetheless acutely aware of the ugly speculation the Huntley name inspired In the past, those hoories: the feere blessedly ignorant, the handful ere perversely intrigued, and the predoether terrified—of the Huntleys and their demonic curse

Not so Courtney Here she was, gazing up at him with a wealth of hurt in her eyes—hurt not for herself, but for hi, to eradicate his pain And why? Simply because she cared

So his reuish in a rush of warmth “That’s the most selfless offer I’ve ever received,” he heard hi even as he said it that it was true “Thank you, sweetheart”

The endearment, uttered in a tender, husky voice, was iven the heightened emotion spawned by the past few minutes

An invisible barrier was traversed

Their gazesas awareness flickered in the sea-green depths, her lips parting as if in question—and invitation

Slayde’s heart began slaainst his ribs, a co hi on that compulsion—and on a pure instinct he’d never known he possessed—he lowered his head and captured her mouth under his

The world shifted—permanently

It was Slayde’s first coherent thought as he tasted her, molded the delicate contours of her lips to his, war with his ainst hi whatever replenishment he could offer

He offered—but was it for her sake, or his?

The question vanished, unanswered, lost beneath the extraordinary feeling building between them Slayde slid down on the bed, twisted about until Courtney lay supine, caged between the strong colu his hands in her hair, he fused theirthe kiss with equal measures of need and restraint Her injuries, his dazed et her injuries

Courtney herself had forgotten them

Lost to the moment, she welcoony and a startling awakening of her senses Like a tantalizing aroed one need, slowly kindled another “Slayde,” she heard herself whisper “Hold me”

He shuddered, his ar her lips, his tongue took hers, caressing it in a way that made tremors of sensation shiver down her spine She co her ues tasted, touched, ain