Page 52 of The Donor’s Dilemma

“And if it isn’t enough?”

“Then… then I’ll steal you first.”

“Steal me? And take me where, Theo. They’ll find us.”

“Not if we leave Havenshire.”

She froze, staring at him like he had lost his mind. “And go where?”

“There are places.” Treason. That’s what he was saying. He could petition the Henbrants, or travel further north, beyond a Roses reach. It was treason, and if they were found the Roses would have him killed. They’d take her anyway, but at least he wouldn’t be alive to see it. At least he would have tried. “It won’t get that far.” He promised, taking her hand and holding it to his face, her fingers warm against his cold skin. “You’re mine now.”

“Yours,” she whispered, gazing up at him.

Fuck, it felt good to hear the word on her tongue. His. His and gods he’d treat her well. His lips ghosted against her temple as he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear before releasing her.

The loss of her touch hurt, but he had to stop this. All that mattered right now was keeping Verity safe. Nothing else.

“You’re hungry,” she said, returning to the sofa and tapping the seat beside her. Her heart still fluttered, breaths a little deeper than was natural as she willed herself to calm.

He sat, taking her hand and leaning back as he massaged her palm. “You busy Wednesday morning?” he asked.

“No, you wanna do something?” She settled beside him, looking at anything but him.

“Well, we probably should, seeing as it’s Valentine’s Day. SubRosa will have something on, we can go there for a couple of hours. Mingle a bit.”

“Riiiight…”

“You don’t sound very convinced.”

“Where’s the coin?”

He followed her eyeline to find the empty frame sitting atop the mantelpiece. Fuck! Where was the fucking coin?

“Err… it’s…” Jumping out of his seat he checked his pockets, the coffee table, the kitchen counter.

“Theo?” Verity called.

“I’ve got it,” he insisted. He didn’t got it.

“Why isn’t it in the frame?” she asked as he rushed past. Bedroom. He definitely had it in there.

“I just… it helps me think…” There, sitting on his bedside table. Gods he must look like such a creep!

Grabbing the coin, he darted back into the room and shoved it back into the frame.

“Be careful,” Verity said, taking it off him. Her lip quirked as she slotted it back into the display, looking up at him before replacing the back.

“It helps you think?” she asked.

“I just… you know… busy hands.” When was the last time Theo had got flustered around a woman? The last person who made him forget how to talk?

“Well,” she said, plucking the coin from the frame. “No point putting it back then.”

Taking his hand, she placed the coin in his palm, fingers lingering, before returning to the couch.

“Sooo… what were you thinking about in the bedroom?” She smirked, offering her wrist as he took his seat beside her.

“Work.”