The tension coiled tighter and tighter until her breath was coming out in ragged pants and her legs were shaking almost uncontrollably. She felt the wave gathering so fast and so strong, she pushed her hand over her mouth hard to hold in the cries that threatened to give them away. Tears burned behind her eyes. It was so good. That good. She’d never experienced anything like it, and she knew she never would again.
The tsunami hit in waves, powerful ones that swept her away from her life of endless loneliness, of always wondering what was wrong with her. Away from Kevin’s murder and the fact that a circle of strangers had targeted her for death because of her money. The feeling was almost euphoric, so beautiful she couldn’t believe it. She’d never had this. Never had anyone who cared enough to bother to make certain she felt this.
She jammed her fist into her mouth to keep from making any noise. He looked up at her and immediately stood up, a worried look on his face.
“Princess.” Ice gathered her into his arms, holding her against his chest, muffling the sobs. “That’s not the reaction I was hoping for.” His voice was gentle, almost tender, bringing on more tears. No one ever talked to her in a voice like that. No one held her like he did.
He had three teardrops tattooed on his face, dripping down from his eye, while she had unbelievable waterworks going. Just that velvet-soft voice, moving over her skin, made her feel more exposed and vulnerable than ever.
“Baby, look at me.”
She shook her head, trying to stop crying, but the more he was sweet, the harder the tears fell. Could she be any more pathetic? What was wrong with her? She was having a complete breakdown in front of a man she didn’t even know just because he was kind to her. She’d been more intimate with him than she’d been with anyone in her life. What was she going to tell him? Sex, without his cock, had been better than anything she’d ever experienced with one? He’d been sweeter, kinder, more wonderful than any other human being had been to her in years? Even Kevin? Her beloved lawyer?
She tried to get air in order to stop crying. She wouldn’t blame him if he just left her right there in the middle of the store and disappeared.
Ice caught her chin and forced her face up so that she had no choice but to look into his eyes. “Soleil. Stop. Right now. You’re safe. Everything is fine.”
She shook her head. “I have to go.” Suddenly she was desperate to leave. It was the only sane thing to do. She had to save him, because right there, right then, she knew if she stayed with him much longer, she would commit the worst sin possible and she’d do everything she could to seduce him into keeping her.
His smile was slow. Beautiful. Breathtaking. “You run when things overwhelm you, don’t you? That isn’t happening tonight. You’re going to see this through with me. You’re having a little panic attack, but I’m right here. We’re going to walk right over there to that table where the jeans you’ll need tomorrow are, and we’re going to grab a couple of pairs that are your size. Then we’ll find a few T-shirts. After that, we’re getting you a killer dress.”
She found herself drowning in his eyes. His smile. He was so completely confident, and he was sticking with her when she was an emotional mess. It was going to hurt like hell in the morning when he was gone, but she just needed to hold on to the promise of tonight. Instead of falling apart because she didn’t have anyone, she had to let herself enjoy the moment. Ice was too good to be true, but she was going to see this night through with him—have her fairy tale, even if she couldn’t seem to clear her brain. Give him his because he deserved it.
“Princess, I need you to say you’re with me all the way on this.”
She was in love with his voice. With him. With everything about him. Maybe he was a fantasy, and in her very emotional state, she had made him her prince, but he was asking her to stick with him for the night, and she was going to give this to herself as a gift. She’d face the mess she’d made with Winston tomorrow, but tonight, she had Ice.
“I’m in it all the way with you.” The declaration slipped out, and she meant it.
His smile was worth everything. “That’s my girl.”
She wanted to be his girl. She even needed to be. She knew he was saving her, because, God help her, she’d run out of strength on her own.