Deneve woke to Lord Red’s arm, holding her firmly around the waist. Turning her head, she looked at him as he slept. His hair was tousled about his face, and he seemed almost childlike with his long eyelashes. 

She couldn’t help but smile. Deneve knew Lord Red would not like being called adorable at all. Suppressing the urge to snicker at the thought, she laid her head down and snuggled into him.

Deneve hadn’t even realized she had fallen back asleep. Until she woke to tender kisses being placed on the back of her neck and large hands roaming her body, she shivered as one hand cupped her breast while the other came to rest gently on her hip.

“Morning,” He whispered huskily into her ear.

Desire pulsed through her as she wondered how this man could make her feel so much by doing so little. It was a bit embarrassing, really. She also had to wonder what changed. It was like he was someone different now. She frowned as she struggled to make sense of it. Only to be interrupted by a gentle bite on the ear.

“I can’t have you making that face at a time like this,” Lord Red scolded lightly as his hand traveled from her hip to the apex of her center.
She could feel his arousal pressed firmly to her bottom, sending another wave of hunger through her. Still, she couldn’t quite let the thought go, so she asked him, “What changed?”

“You changed things,” He answered, planting butterfly kisses on shoulders. “I had plenty of time to think when we separated ways.”

“And?” Deneve pressed.

Silly girl…He loves you. Arne scolded.

What? 

He wants to protect you give you some respite. He knows he can only sit back and watch you take care of the situation in this world. Marg explained.

“They are right,” Lord Red stated, burying his face in the back of her neck.

 
She couldn’t tell, but she had the feeling he actually blushed. “You can hear them when they talk to me?” 

“Yes, I can hear Arne and Marg because I am connected to them as well within a certain range,” He admitted.

She gave a shaky chuckle. “At least it’s not just me. I could hear them when they talked to you too.”

Lord Red laughed awkwardly as she realized she didn’t even address the fact that …Arne had basically spilled the beans. She wasn’t exactly sure what she was to do with the information. What did she want to do with it?

She took a deep breath to steady herself as she thought for a moment. Lord Red didn’t move. He didn’t try to cajole her in any way. He patiently waited for her to consider the information. She had thought Barhan had possibly cared for her. When the truth came out, she wasn’t even really bothered by the fact they had been intimate. What bothered her more is that he said he cared. Yes, he obviously cared, but not enough not to stop him from sending her into life-threatening danger to further his own agenda. Lord Red clearly wanted power when they had met, but he seemed to have changed his stance on such matters. He had become kind, and even at times, a generous person. Deneve turned toward him as she asked, “What really changed?”

Lord Red swallowed nervously before answering, “I realized all the things I missed. I was so focused on researching how to control more power. I had let many things I cared about disappear.”

He brushed her hair back from her forehead. “Relationships, opportunities, I haven’t really lived my life. I was living self-imposed seclusion believing that others weren’t needed. I was so full of myself I didn’t realize at the time what I lost. I don’t want to lose anything again.” 

He twirled Deneve’s hair around his finger. “Even if you don’t feel the same, I will protect you as much as I am able.”

She believed him. She didn’t feel as though he was acting this way for power. Lord Red had peeled back her defenses and captured her in a way she never remembered anyone had. The thought made her somber, though. What if someone was waiting for her?
 
There isn’t. Stop worrying. Blackie said, sounding exasperated. 

You’re sure?

Yes, good grief. I will end up giving it all up all your secrets before you find my home at this rate.

Thanks, Blackie. Deneve cupped Lord Red’s face before pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “I’m pretty fond of you too.”