He didn’t want his mother and Dillon to notice the cracks in his relationship with Dea. They would use it and he would lose the ground he had already conquered.“Then don’t do anything that requires me to fight back,” Dea said and paused, clearly considering her next words. “And don’t give them any details about us.”          Theo tilted his head to one side as he released his hold on her.“I’m not one to confide in others.”“No one needs to know that you…”          Dea’s hands churned as she struggled to find the right word.“That you detained me at the island… And they certainly don’t need to know what happened in the wine cellar… years ago.”“I have no intentions of displaying my lack of judgm

           A week later, after the museum event and his heated discussion with his cousin, Theo cautiously approached Dea’s bedroom as he planned his next move. He felt like he was flying without a net. What he said or did next could ruin all of the groundwork he’d covered so far.          The door to her room was ajar. There was a clatter of something hitting the floor and Dea’s muttered expletive followed. Theo tapped his knuckles on the door before he pushed it open.          His eyes lit up with appreciation when Theo saw Dea. Her lime-green top and charcoal-gray yoga pants clung to her curves. She was stretching, extending her arm as she reached for something at the top of her closet.          Wisps of her dark hair were escaping from her short ponytail. It took him a moment

“‘Theo?’” He heard Dea from far away as if she was a spirit. Blackness surrounded him and he tried to kick and claw his way to the surface. He had to get to Dea. She needed him… She sounded desperate. Afraid.“‘Theo?’” Her sharp voice cut through the last barrier.“‘Please, Theo… Wake up… Follow my voice and come back…’” Theo was suddenly awake. His heart was pounding against his chest as he took big gulps of air. His eyes burned as he looked around, in every corner of the room.“I’m… here… Home…” he said hoarsely through parched lips.“Theo…” she whispered and very lightly, touched his arm. Dea… Theo turned his head to the side and saw Dea leaning over him. He was no longer in the loud and chaotic police station where his family had been irrevocably torn apart. He wasn’t the vulnerable child who couldn’t bear to be touched or held. He was safe. No one could hurt him. He wasn’t alone anymore.“What happened?” Theo a

She lay limp beneath Theo, her lungs aching as she tried to catch her breath. Through heavy eyelids, she watched him shove off his pajama bottoms. He gathered Dea in his arms, his chest hot and damp to the touch, before he rolled over. Dea straddled his hips. Anticipation pulsed through her body when she felt his throbbing erection against her. She slowly sat up, dragging her hands down his broad chest. She smiled when she saw the hungry glitter in Theo’s hooded and dark eyes, locked on her face. “Now it’s my turn to control the pace… My turn to make you scream my name…” Dea whispered.“Ride me, Dea,” he panted. “I need you.” Dea reached for the hem of her nightie and slowly removed it, inch by inch. His fingers flexed on her thighs as she stretched and rolled her hips. She barely heard Theo’s ragged breath over her pounding heart as she tossed her nightie to the side.“You’re so damn sexy…” Theo murmured. He reached up and roughly caressed he

The morning light filtered through the bedroom curtains. Dea opened her eyes and for a second didn’t know where she was. Well, she was at home. The morning after their engagement party, Theo had brought her to Saint Marie, their getaway island… their nest. Hearing Theo breathing calmly near her was so wonderful and comforting. Since they started to sleep together every night, there were no more nightmares plaguing him as they had in the past. And Dea slept comfortably against Theo’s chest. She was warm, cuddled close against his chest, her leg thrown over one of his as he wrapped himself around her. Protecting her. Lately, the security team around them was much more present, while Theo was with her as much as he could. Something was going on, but she didn’t know what. The day before, Dea heard him talking on the phone with the head of security, demanding to be kept in the loop about some matter, but when Dea approached him, asking what was that a