She reached up, unable to stop herself, and cupped a hand along his jaw. His eyes flared and his breath hitched, but he didn’t withdraw. His eyes held hers and she felt his pain, but also his need. The moment stretched out like taffy, the edges wobbly and unfocused as they stared at one another.

He shifted, cupping her face and kissing her. She felt the play of muscles in his jaw under the crispy rasping of his whiskers on her palm.

He lifted his head and stared down at her ...