Hot Surrender

'I love you, damn you. I love you.'

She began to cry and his head lifted. He stared down at her with that scary intensity.

Hoarsely, he groaned, 'I shouldn't have said it. I knew it would be a mistake to tell you how I felt I couldn't help myself. Zoe, I warn you—if you try and dump me I won't be responsible for what I do.'

Tears running down her face, she leaned on him weakly, her hands on his nape, fingers digging into his thick black hair.

'I love you, stupid,' she told him. 'Can't you tell? I'm crazy about you.'

Connel made a deep, passionate sound in his throat, then his head swooped again and their mouths met Their bodies clung so tightly that you couldn't have got a piece of paper between them.

When he finally stopped kissing her Connel gazed down at her again intently.

'Will you marry me, Zoe?'

She didn't even hesitate. 'Yes, please,' she said, and briefly imagined Sancha's face when she told her.