And for this moment she was his, his, his….Something poked at the back of his mind, and he ignored it to kiss Arden.Her soft arms looped smoothly behind his neck, hanging on to him as if for life. She sank against him, her breasts pillowing erotically against his chest, her cheek resting on his shoulder as he turned his head to follow her lips. He’d wanted this for so long, wanted her….Of everything he’d lost in his exile from the Comitatus, from his previous life, the loss of Arden really had been the worst.You’re still exiled, the little voice poked. You’re still dirt-poor.You still don’t deserve her.And even worse—you’ve got other duties.But she was still kissing him, so he had no trouble shutting out that voice with the louder one—She’s gorgeous, fearless, perfect. I could have lost her. It’s been so damned long….When she turned her face away, into his shoulder to catch her breath, he took advantage of the moment to gulp some much needed air of his own and said nothing.
