Her eyes widened at the rough edge in his voice, and a tremor ran through her where she lay beneath him.
He pulled back just enough to look at her and for a moment, he simply stared.
The sight of her stole the breath from his lungs.
Her chest rose and fell unevenly, her breaths shallow and quick. A soft flush had spread across her cheeks, warming her skin. The bruises that had marred her face the night before had already begun to fade, allowing her natural glow to return radiant, alive.
And then her eyes opened.
Those wide, luminous eyes bright, full of life met his, and something in his chest tightened painfully at the sight.
His gaze drifted lower.
To her lips.
Soft. Swollen. Tempting.
The urge to kiss her again surged through him, almost unbearable. As if drawn by instinct, his fingers found her chin, tilting it slightly upward while his thumb brushed slowly across her lower lip.
"We'll talk later," he muttered, his voice low, strained.
