The Shade didn't get a chance to answer as she kissed him and slowly lowered herself onto his cock, engulfing him in her wet heat with a slowness that had him half mad by the time they were fully joined. The heat of the water surrounding them only intensified the illusion of life, making him forget the cold that awaited him when they were no longer locked together. It was frightening, to forget himself so easily, terrifying to be so helpless but to surrender to the beating heart, the warm blood, the sweet surge of emotion that clouded everything when she touched him...

As his hands slid down her body to grip her hips tight when the kiss broke, as his stormy gray eyes met hers, pleading for her to move, to give him respite from the passion she'd ignited in him...he knew in his heart, for as long as he had one, that he would face this fear for the rest of eternity just for a few stolen moments in her arms where he was free to love her.