I was afraid. Of getting hurt in other ways. To be truthful, I still am." His thumb stroked her cheek. "I would never hurt you." "I don't think you can promise me that." She squeezed his bruised fingers. "But it makes things a bit more equal, to know that I can hurt you, too." His gaze fell to her lips. He said simply, without any trace of irony, "You are killing me.
Tessa DareYouโre a terrible cook. That Iโll grant you. You canโt hold your liquor, either. And you have questionable taste in men. So no, youโre not perfect.โ His voice sank to a husky whisper, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. โBut youโre close. Close enough to restore a manโs faith in miracles.
Tessa DareIโm so sorry to disappoint you,โ she said, breathing hard. โBut it would take far more than that to scare me.โ A quick flex of his arms, and their bodies collided. And he whispered, just as his mouth fell on hers, โGod, I was hoping youโd say that.
Tessa DareItโs all right,โ she said. โYouโre through.โ โJesus,โ he finally managed, pushing water off his face. โJesus Christ and John the Baptist. For that matter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.โ Still not enough. He needed to reach back to the Old Testament for this. โObadiah. Nebuchadnezzar. Methuselah and Job.โ โBe calm,โ she said, taking him by the shoulders. โBe calm. And there are women in the Bible, you know.โ โYes. As I recall it, they were trouble, every last one.
Tessa DareI know how mirrors work. They're all in league with the cosmetics trade. They tell a woman lies. Drawing her gaze from one imagined flaw to another, until all she sees is a constellation of imperfections. If you could get outside yourself, borrow my eyes for just an instant... There is only beauty.
Tessa DareNo, Susanna, " he said. "I cannot love you just a little. If that's what you want, you must find a different man." His green eyes were breathtaking in their intensity. His thumb brushed her bottom lip. "Because I can only love you entirely. With everything I am, and everything I ever will be. Body, mind, heart, soul.
Tessa Dare