Chapter 76

He put a hand between them to touch her cheek and then he carefully pulled her away until he looked down into her eyes.

The stark emotion there. The devastation. It was like a knife to the gut. She looked so very vulnerable.

Fragile. And scared. She looked scared to death. Was she afraid of him? Of what had happened? He couldn’t bear it if she hated herself for giving in to the overwhelming tension that had been building ever since he’d brought her to the island.

“What are you thinking?” he asked hoarsely. “Tell me you don’t regret this, Savvie. Anything but regret.”

Slowly she shook her head and he felt something loosen inside him. Relief. But it was only the first step.

He caressed her cheek, enjoying the feel of her satiny skin. No matter how much he’d told himself that he was better off without her, that he was well rid of her, he could