He knew her weakness. She wanted to be pretty, and thought she wasn’t. When in fact he thought she was quite the prettiest thing in his memory.

At least it was dark. His eyes drifted down over her body, the ripe curves in the moonlight, and a dreamy expression crossed his face, just before he leaned forward and put his mouth against the side of her neck, tasting her hammering pulse.

He was human, he was warm and strong and ready to kill to keep her safe. What more could a girl want in a man?

She froze. He reached up and took her hand in his, pulling the knife away, making her drop it on the floor. “Show me how much you hate me,” he whispered against her mouth. “Prove it to me.

She might have forgotten names and faces and people and events, but she hadn’t forgotten emotions.

You’d be better served ifyou gave me a moment to regain my self-control and let me remove my boots. It’s the least agentleman can do.“”And you’re such a gentleman.“”Not with you, love. But I’m trying.

The child in the middle of the room was glaring at him, for child she was, no matter what her advanced years. She was a virgin, untouched, unkissed, innocent and angry, and he was prepared to enjoy himself immensely. “So tell me, little one. What really brought you here?

He couldn’t have known. The moonlight wasn’t enough to illuminate the room, and the tears that spilled silently down her cheeks didn’t touch him. But suddenly the kiss softened, the hands gentled on her, the lips coaxed and teased and healed. And without any more thought she was kissing him back, reaching for him with her mouth while her hands were held back, seeking him out with her tongue, calling him to her in the only way she could.

And there was nothing left between them but love, neither pure nor simple, but love it was.

How could you think I wouldn’t know you?” he chided softly. “I know the way you move, the way you bite your lip when you’re nervous, the sound of your laughter, your eyes. I know your hands and your skin, your scent, the way you try to pretend that something doesn’t bother you when you’re very bothered indeed.