Bastian held out his hand, hoping Jane would come with him. It made no sense that a woman he'd met only a few days ago seemed suddenly so important. But a stirring deep inside the core of him whispered.

Take her. Protect her. Mine.

After all the women he'd been with, to not merely crave Jane, but want to possess her on some elemental, primal level confounded him. He needed her almost as much as he needed air to breathe. Every rational thought reminded him to keep away, ...