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The moment our lips touched my body flushed with heat and my pulse raced in my veins, and everything fell into place.

Mia cara?” Dad’s quiet voice filtered through the whooshing in my head. I peered up, realizing that we were alone. He touched my cheek. “You’re cold. Take a hot bath.”

She pulled it tighter around herself and actually drew in a breath then peered up at me with a small, lovely smile. “Thank you. Your shirt smells good.”

“It smells like me,” I said as if my brain cells had left my skull

I grabbed my shirt and tugged it out of my pants, then began to unbutton it. Greta followed my movements with utmost curiosity that slowly morphed to fascination when I parted my shirt, revealing my bare chest beneath. Her eyes roamed over my pecs and abs, leaving a hot trail on my skin with her gaze alone.

She shifted her body in my direction and propped those slender ankles up on my muscled thighs. Her heels loosely rested on my lap. For a moment I stared down at them.

“You don’t have to be scared of me,” I said quietly, softening my voice, something I never did for anyone, and I wasn’t sure why the hell I did it for her, but I simply didn’t want her to be scared of me

I couldn’t stop staring at her heart-shaped face

Dad scanned my face with furrowed brows, his dark eyes cautious, as if he worried I’d bolt again

She’s dehydrated. I can tell from her skin,” Nino said as he stopped beside us. He reached for my wrist but I jerked it away. Dad’s grip on me tightened but he didn’t say anything.

“I want to feel your pulse, Greta,” Nino explained calmly.

“I don’t want you to touch me,” I said.

Nino glanced at Dad.

“I’ll take you up to your room now, Mia Cara, where you’re going to let your mother help you clean up and get dressed, and then Nino will take a look at you, and you’re going to eat and drink, understood?”

I blinked up at his dark, serious eyes, then glanced down at myself. I gave a nod.

“Are you scared of me now?” he asked in a strangled tone