Rose's POV

I stood there, frozen in a dilemma. The fiery passion inside me called me on, urging me to lash, drive him away. But there was something in his eyes, something that checked me, and made me stop.

“I don’t want to fight with you," he said, his voice softer and more plaintive. "I don’t want to lose you."

I stared, stunned, stinging, and with not the foggiest notion of what I needed to be doing next. I had not the least notion of what he meant. I had no idea what this ...