Page 103 of The Daredevil

“We are? To where?”

“To an adventure that will make your heart palpitate, take your breath away, and offer you one of the best views of your life. Most of all, it will help you overcome your fear once and for all.”

You make my heart palpitate. You take my breath away.

Instead, what came out was, “I’m ready for this adventure.”

“But first, there’s an adventure inside this dome that must be experienced.” A wicked smile slid onto his face, and the muscles in my inner thighs tightened.

“What is that, Viking?”

“Making love to my angel while she gazes at the Northern Lights and screams my name.”

Our clothes flew off our bodies and landed all over the room.

My gaze was riveted on his body as his arousal called to me. But I wanted to do something first.

“Wait,” I said and walked around him until I faced his back. I ran my fingers down the lightning bolt tattoo and kissed it. It was an emblem that told his story. He was the lightning bolt that illuminated the truth, the thunder that made fear scatter, the power that made me feel safe. “I’m sealing this with love. Now you have more power to achieve whatever you want.” I kissed it again, and he shivered.

He whirled, gripped my waist, nudged me to the bed, and prowled over me like a man-beast. His eyes darkened with so much passion I’d do anything he wanted.

Lips collided, and tongues twirled and danced while hands touched and claimed. My body melted to his as he fulfilled his promise and more. This wasn’t the raw fucking I was used to. This was a slow lovemaking that set my body ablaze. His hot mouth created rivers of fire along my chin, my neck, over and under my breasts before capturing my nipples in a wild sucking. I cried out his name while he took his lazy time adoring my breasts, then licking his way down my stomach, heading to my core.

My body trembled as his curious lips roamed around my hips and my inner thighs.

“Royce,” I begged and bit my bottom lip to suppress the need scorching through me.

He lifted his head and offered a devilish smile. “Yes, angel?”

“I need—”

His mouth covered my center and explored my folds with his phenomenal tongue. My back arched, surrendering to his exquisite mouth as I cried out his name again and again.

Above me, the Northern Lights pulsed and became the witness to the love between Royce and me.

CHAPTERFIFTY-FOUR

ROYCE

The weather in Fort Myers,Florida, differed from the winter of Iceland and was a much-needed contrast. I wanted something warm, bright, and colorful for Michelle. Life had been dark recently, and she needed something uplifting.

While I assisted Michelle into her skydiving jumpsuit, I remembered our lovemaking two days ago inside the dome. Her eyes had danced with wildfire as though magma stirred in the depths of her soul, and she exposed all her secrets to me that night.

I love you.

Michelle’s words rang in my ear like a song, one I replayed over and over since I heard it the first time.That night, she gave me the most precious gift.

I’d never brought a woman to the dome until her. It had been my sanctuary when I craved solitude. Being with Michelle had changed me. I wanted to show her places that were precious to me. Solitude was nice and necessary for a man contemplating his career and what he wanted in life. But now there was something else I wanted more. She sat in the center of my heart, and I’d do anything to protect her.

I prayed she’d understand in the next few weeks.

I love you.

The power of those words cracked the brick wall around my heart. For the first time in my life, I felt the rawness of my emotions leak through like the unstoppable magma that rose to the surface of a volcano, becoming lava. Nothing could stop the flow.

My heart was bare, exposed in the most vulnerable way. There was no safety net to keep me from getting hurt. The emotional numbness I was used to disappeared, along with the doubts regarding love. How could I not believe in love when it stood before me? When it flooded my brain and took over my heart?

I’d be a fool to dismiss her declaration. What she didn’t know was that I’d felt the same all along. Our love for each other had started a long time ago when we’d each found parts of ourselves along our life’s journeys.

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