set his parents’ smooth-running life. He was glad that things had been that way. It helped him to understand Celina. Her childhood had been hideous compared to his, nothing short of a master class in survival, so it came as no surprise to him that she felt the urge to devote her life to helping others.
Thinking he was disturbing her as she stirred, he turned to go.
“No! Don’t leave me,” she exclaimed, and reaching out, she clung to his wrist. “Stay with me. Make love to me. Help me to forget.”
“I need to take a shower—”
“No,” she said fiercely. “You need to make love to me.”
Fully awake now, she pinned him with a stare. He smiled inwardly at her courage and determination. This was Celina, he reminded himself, and she was strong. She knew exactly what she wanted, and always had.
It also turned out she was right.
~~o0o~~
Kisses, touches… Diego was the perfect antidote to mental anguish. Her body craved him, and her mind did what it was told on this occasion. It helped that his enthusiasm matched hers. Light the blue touch paper and stand well back, she thought as he stripped off his clothes. Her excitement was at fever pitch by the time he threw back the bedclothes and joined her on the bed. Every nerve ending she had fired repeatedly as she clung to him. She wanted him to cover every part of her with his hot, hard body. She needed to feel his heat. She craved the affirmation that they’d survived and could go on to enjoy a purposeful life. Wrapping his arms around her body, he dragged her close. She loved it when he pressed her against him. She loved his touches. She loved his—
“What?” he asked as she cried out. He frowned. “What did they do to you, Celina?”
“I did it to myself,” she admitted.
“What?” he said tensely. “What did you do?”
She was seeing the face his enemies must see, she realized, and that expression was terrifying. “It’s just a small abrasion.”
“What does that mean?” he rapped, still scowling blackly.
“I’ll show you.” Taking hold of his hand, she guided him to the site of her piercing, which was still a little sore. “This is where I kept the micro-transmitter.”
“What?” He stared at her in amazement, and then he laughed. “I did wonder how you smuggled it past the slavers.”
“So now you know. The gadget’s new to the market, and it fooled them.”
“This time,” Diego cautioned, but his expression had softened from battle mode to amusement.
“It will soon heal if it’s left alone,” she added pointedly.
“No chance of that. How did you get rid of it?” he asked as she sank lower in the bed.
“Crushed it beneath my heel. They very kindly gave me spiky stilettoes to wear, so I made full use of them. I could always add to my collection of decorative accessories for private viewing only?”
“At some later stage, perhaps.”
“My thoughts exactly,” she agreed.
“It’s good to see you’ve got your sense of humor back.” Laughing, he brought her into his arms, and then he was kissing her, and in between kisses, they were laughing and smiling with relief against each other’s mouths.
Making gentle, sleepy love was definitely the best way to start a new day, Celina concluded. Diego had moved to lie behind her, so he was caressing her as he made love to her. She had never felt so warm and safe, and for the first time in a long time, she felt as if the horrors of the past couldn’t touch her. She barely had to move other than to clutch the pillow as Diego moved steadily back and forth. When he touched her at the same time, she couldn’t hold on.
“Just let go,” Diego whispered.
He took her on a wild ride that went on and on as he prolonged it with long, firm strokes, but it was his kisses when she came down that finally broke her. She was glad he couldn’t see her tears. He was being so careful, it was as if he was making love to her rather than just having sex.
I love you. She wanted to say the words out loud but thought she might spoil everything.
“Stop thinking,” Diego instructed in a low, amused growl. “Just feel. Be content in the moment.”
“You want me to be content?”