Don't think I was the only reason he healed. You're his light, Marissa. Don't ever forget that.

I'm glad you like him," he murmured, his hands tugging up her shirt. "Because the two of us are yours. For as long as you'll have us." "That would be eternally," she said as she let herself go. And reveled in all the love.

...the only thing that had tethered her to the earth had been him and it was strange, but she felt welded to him on some core level now. He had seen her at her absolute worst, at her weakest and most insane, and he hadn't looked away. He hadn't judged and he hadn't been burned. It was as if in the heat of her meltdown they had melted together. This was more than emotion. It was a matter of soul.

Man, it was a good thing vampires didn't get cancer. Lately he'd been chain-smoking like a felon.

When she didn't continue, he shrugged. "Just let me bring you coffee. I want to wait on you. Makes me happy

good call. A second drag and your next stop's the wastepaper basket - and not to toss your kleenex, true.

Those deep hazel eyes held his and didn't blink. "You'd be amazed what I would do to keep you alive." Abruptly, V's mouth opened, his breath growing tight. And as the two of them stood chest-to-chest, he knew every inch of his body, felt it all at once.