Page 152 of Under an Endless Moon

Like she’d become a permanent fixture.

A painting inscribed on the walls.

So stunning it was hard to look at her without dropping to my knees.

The problem was it went so much deeper than the physical. So much deeper than the need that barreled through me on a rampage of greed so severe I didn’t know how I remained standing.

This woman who deserved every fucking thing the world had to offer.

A normal life.

A three-bedroom house with a white-picket fence.

Some dude who would check in to work at eight in the morning and be home by five-thirty in the evening.

Loyal.

Kind.

One who didn’t kill and maim.

She needed out of this life. To stretch those wings and let them carry her someplace safe.

Raven waltzed into the kitchen, light on those heels, hips swishing from side to side in a spellbinding sway.

The woman nothing but a snare.

A hook directly in my soul.

She pulled open the refrigerator and pulled out the half empty bottle of pinot she’d drank last night. She reached into the cabinet beside it and grabbed two glasses, and she waved one in my direction. “You want?”

Fuck, yes, I wanted.

“Why not?”

She poured us each a glass, and I carefully edged her way, feeling like I was making my way through a field of landmines. Unsure of which step was going to cause the blast that would completely annihilate.

Do us in.

Implode the very shaky ground we were walking on.

“Here you go.” Raven passed me a glass, and she tipped those gorgeous eyes up to me.

“Thank you,” I told her, voice rougher than it should be. Standing too close to her as I lifted my glass so I could clink it against hers.

“What are we toasting?” she asked.

“That you’re here. That you’re safe.”

“I think what we should really be celebrating is that you’re still standing.”

“Of course, I’m still standing, darlin’. It’s going to take a whole lot more to take me down than some candy-ass fucker who goes runnin’ scared. Tossing out threats like the night is going to keep him concealed. Going to end him. Make sure he is no longer a threat to you.”

I just laid it out. It wasn’t like she wasn’t fully aware of what was coming for the bastard.

“I never believed for a second that you would let anyone get to me.”

“I won’t. I promise you I won’t let anyone get to you. Promise I’ll stand in the fire.”

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