*Gwen’s POV*

Darick inhaled deeply. He took a moment to reply—and even though it was a fraction of a second, the hesitancy worried me.

"Are you sure?" he finally asked.

I interlocked my fingers with his, more for my own reassurance than his. "Yes, I'm not afraid. I want to, Darick. I'm ready to give myself to you. All of me."

"It may hurt. You may even pass out," he noted with a hint of seriousness in his ...