“I trust you,” I say with quiet certainty. “You trust me to keep you safe, but what about this?” His right hand collars my throat and guides me closer to him. “Do you trust me with your body, too?” I can hear the hidden longing and anticipation feathering his words. Sensing the intensity of his desire for me helps calm my fears, though my heart continues its frantic pace. “I do.” The breathy admission is a relief. A release of sorts. Sante’s thumb ghosts across the bruise on my jaw. “I will handle this,” he murmurs almost to himself. “I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to make
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