of the estate. The only noise left in the massive master bedroom was the

alked slowly, her steps making almost no sound on the thick

his was the first time since her re

ht loss couldn't hide his striking, deeply sculpted features. His eyes were closed. His thick, dark

ruin. She remembered the world turning its back on her. And she remembered Deacon, dragging his severely injured body i

led in her chest. Her throat tightened, and

down next to the bed. She moved slowly, terrified

placed her palm over Deacon's large, calloused

normal, radiating heat of a healthy person.

e leaned in closer, her voice dro

room. "I know you can't hear me right now. But I h

on-clad posture she used against Harry me

confessed, her voice trembling slightly. "I marri

in this house, I will be a real wife to you. I will protect you. I wi

le. She felt a little ridiculous making life-or-death v

she sighed softly. "Even if you j

used her index finger to lightly trace the promin

nervous lilt entering her voice, "I would even be wil

hot flush of embarrassment exploded a

impossible

t, physical frictio

t. Her eyes snapped wide open,

as a slow, deliberate movement. The rough pad of his finger dragged against the

yanked her hand back and

elvet armchair backward. It hit t

d at Deacon's face, her chest heaving. She searched his pale featur

shut. His chest rose and fell at th

monitors. The green lines were perfectly steady. H

ne hit the wall. Her brain wa

rve reflex? A random muscle spa

e incredibly shameful, explic