For a moment, I couldn't move. Her breath still brushed my lips, her pulse still raced under my fingers, and yet she was already retreating, curling into herself like I'd burned her.

A second ago, she'd leaned into my touch like she needed my warmth, let me hold her. Now, she couldn't even look at me.

Well, she wasn't supposed to want this, not after what I was and what I almost made her do.

Hell, neither was I.

But when she looked away, it hit deeper than I expected.

I leaned back, jaw ...