“Don’t,” he ordered firmly with a low growl but the gentleness in his words was unmistakable. “Never think that. It holds no truth in it and never will.”

I blinked, stunned by the intensity in his eyes and the honesty in his words. My cheeks grew warm under his scrutiny and my gut twisted in tingly knots.

“I’m not in pain because I’m repulsed,” he whispered, his thumb brushing my cheek with aching tenderness. “It’s because being near you makes it impossible... to ...