Dane

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When they both came back to earth, they rolled, turning to lay side by side, staring at each other. Lila traced a finger around his face, his brows, his cheekbones, and let her nails drag along his stubbled jaw.

"Never leave me," she whispered. "Never."

"I won't. Not by choice."

She nodded. "I know. Me either."

"I know," he said and kissed her. Softly. Gently this time. "Are you okay, though? That was… a little rushed."

She put her hands to his face and smiled, though the threat of tears remained in her eyes. "I needed that. I needed you. I can't explain it. I just… did."

"Me too," he breathed. He pulled her into his chest and she went willingly, plastering her body against his, leaving no space between them anywhere. They lay like that a long time, him stroking her hair, her stroking his back.

Then she turned her face just far enough to kiss his neck and his body sprang to life again. Dane closed his eyes as she opened her mouth and tongued the corner of his jaw. "You're literally the most handsome man I've ever seen," she whispered in his ear. "And so strong. Your heart… I can't believe you're mine."

Throat aching, Dane clung to her, trembling, overwhelmed with emotion, once again finding himself speechless, unable to find words that accurately expressed how he felt.

"I don't deserve you," he said hoarsely, his eyes stinging.

"But that's the whole problem, Dane: You do. You just don't realize it."

He sighed heavily and pulled her into his chest. His heart still beat too fast, and not just because of the sex. His heart had been pounding ever since he'd realized Tish was gone. And when he realized she was near Lila… he'd wondered if he'd have a heart attack. Even after he knew Lila was safe. It was… too much.

Lila stared into his eyes, searching. "I'm so glad you're here," she said in a quiet voice.

Something went cold in his stomach. He couldn't even answer, just kissed her, then kissed her more, then tilted her head and took her mouth with the desperation he'd been feeling for hours. And she clung back, kissing him with a fervor that touched his heart.

He rolled her over, hands in her hair, his whole body alight with relief—and desire. Being close to her was the only way he could express what was inside him. He couldn't even identify everything churning in him—let alone articulate it. So, he let the gentle trail of his kisses tell her how about his relief that she was safe. He swallowed her sighs and stroked her arms, her sides, her breasts to tell her how precious she was. He curled himself over her, covering her with his own body to show her how desperate he was to protect her. And when he entered her, with a cry that verged on a sob, it was the only way he knew to say that she belonged to him, with him, that she was his—and he was hers—always.

*****

Lila

Something was different. Beautifully different.

Dane had already proven to be an exciting and considerate lover—she'd heard enough stories from friends over the years to know she was lucky to have that—but after that first coupling that had been so frantic and desperate for both of them, tonight he was… tender. His kisses deep and slow. His fingers trailing so lightly. The pace of his lovemaking so much slower—but with an earnestness that stole her breath—as if he pressed every movement, every slow draw not just into her flesh, but into her soul.

Instead of taking her, consuming her, thrilling her, he was… worshipping. His body sliding against and inside her slowly, but intentionally. His eyes alight with something reverent.

It brought tears to her eyes when he took his huge hands and stroked her hair away from her face so gently the tingle in her scalp skittered all the way down her neck and sides, raising the hairs on her arms as her skin pebbled with the delicious wave of sensation.

"I love you," he whispered, and his voice cracked.

"Oh, Dane," she whispered back, her hands on his wide shoulders. "I love you so much."

He leaned down then, kissing the peak of her breast and laving it with his tongue until the jolts arched her back and her breath came faster, and faster.

But still he kept his own movements slow and strong.

His hands drew slowly down her sides, his fingers writing lines of love on her skin. He stroked her thigh, her stomach, cupped her neck, and used his magical fingers between them until she arched again, and didn't relax until she was crying out. His mouth landed on hers and he swallowed her cries, whimpering into the kiss as she clung to him, riding out her climax.

Then, as his own desire reached for its peak and he gave into the need, he covered her, one arm bent to frame her head, the other sliding under her hip to pull her into him as he thrust again and again, gasping her name over, and over, and over. His voice trembling, his eyes shining, then buried his face in her neck to bellow his own release.

They sank into each other, panting, shaking—trembling. And Lila couldn't hide the tears—of love, of fear, of relief. She sobbed into his chest, covering her face.

"I'm sorry—"

"Don't be. Shhhhh, it's okay. I get it."

She clung to him, shaking with her sobs, and he held her so close her breath misted his skin. But the tears didn't stop for a long time.

*****

Dane

Listening to her cry was heartbreaking. He stroked her back and hair and whispered comfort to her that he wasn't sure she heard. But he had to clench his teeth to stop himself giving over to tears.

He understood what she was feeling because, for once, he felt it too.

It was terrifying.

*****

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