Chapter 105

Daniel lay beside her, his hand around her, her back pressed against him and waited, waited until her breath grew slow and steady and the tension fled her muscles. He knew she was asleep.

And then he moved and rolled her over, easing her into his arms again. Her hand slipped across his chest, settling close to his heart, and her head nestled into the crook of his shoulder. She curled up against as though she’d done it a thousand times before, one leg the top his, the soft probing of her knee giving him fits.

He gritted his teeth, determined to endure.

But the final victory, the one that gave him peace enough to rest, came with the sleepy kiss she pressed against his jaw and the murmured words he shouldn’t want to hear.

Only then did he allow sleep to claim him too.

Emma woke up the next morning, feeling relaxed and happy. Daniel had held her throughout the night. Every time she awakened, he had been right there, his arms around her. It