"No." He nearly spat the word. "But it doesn't mean I don't want to strip you naked and fuck you every way possible. You…touched me in a way no one else ever has. If I let you get close, I'd destroy you."

Shock immobilized her. Had she heard him right?

He lifted his hands and slid them away. She felt the loss of contact at once and wanted to grab onto him, so stunned she could barely breathe or move. Did he say what she just thought? Holy shit!

"We need to ...