Chapter 94

Shocked to the bone, Ella stared at Jason, his face close to hers as he stood naked before her, wiping her tears with such gentleness, such reverence, that she wanted to cry more. He'd called her beautiful. Had wept when he'd looked at her scars like her pain was his also. And instead of being repulsed or disgusted, he'd shed his clothes as if trying to demonstrate he was as vulnerable as her.

Bent over her while she sat at the foot of the bed, he kissed one of her eyelids, then the other. Still holding her face in his huge warm hands, he sealed his lips to hers. Not demanding. Not seducing. Not even asking. Just showing. Tender brushes and affectionate presses that seemed to reiterate he cared even if he was incapable of saying so.