Gavriel’s hand gripped the back of her neck while the other anchored her waist, pulling her tightly against him as if afraid she might vanish.

Althea’s hands came up, pressed against his chest, not to push him away, but to steady herself. He kissed her like he needed to remind her who she belonged to. And for a moment, despite herself… she kissed him back. But then something inside her snapped back into place. She broke the kiss with a sharp intake of breath and shoved at his ...