“She smiles and snuggles into me as we wait for our table. I inhale her scent. Vanilla and something else. Something different. Smokey almost. Sexy. It drives me crazy with need and I have to move away while I can.”

“My thoughts war. Part of me needs to protect her; part of me wants something else. Something vile. Wrong.”

“She slips into the seat at our table, refusing to look up at me. I reach for her hand, sending a shiver through me when our finger tips touch. She glances at me, her eyes filled with a feral fear that reaches into my depths, pulling on emotions I refuse to acknowledge. Things I can’t feel now. Won’t feel ever again.”

“Nesy. At last. It has to be her. Who else can make Aydan smile? Make me smile.”

“She’s right in some ways. She doesn’t need a shrink. But she does need to remember. I need her to remember; remember and still choose me. Choose us.”

“Tell me you don't feel what I feel.""That doesn't matter." She swallowed hard."It does to me." I brush my lips against hers.”

“She will assume it was me, assume that I have come to make good on my promises. One of us should.”