He smoothed her hair again. “I couldn’t save my wife. But Nimue’s going to make it. I just know it.”
Aw.Why had he said that?
But somehow, he did know. The same way he’d known Mary and their unborn daughter wouldn’t make it, despite every false assurance the doctors had offered.
“I was so scared.” Meg lifted her head, met his gaze for the first time since the helicopter disappeared.
Moonlight turned her skin to silver, highlighted the tear tracks on her cheeks.
“I know.”
She was inches away. Close enough that he couldn’t resist reaching up, thumb tracing the path moisture had left on her face.
“If you hadn’t been there, I might have?—”
“But Iwasthere.”
Her eyes went wide, then soft.
Everything around them stilled—the night air, the distant voices, even his own heartbeat seemed to pause.
His thumb traced across her bottom lip. His pulse exploded through every cell in his body as if he’d been struck by lightning. Three years since he’d stared at another woman’s mouth. Three years since he’d breathed another woman’s breath.
When her teeth tugged at her bottom lip, all rational thought evaporated.
She leaned forward—just a fraction, but it was enough.
He closed the distance.
The moment his lips touched hers, his world detonated. Longing, hunger, need—not the hollow ache that had haunted him for three years, but something with a name, a face, a taste.
Meg.
He should stop denying what he’d been afraid to admit for…well, a long time.
He needed this woman.
Noah deepened the kiss, exploring her lips, her face, threading his fingers through her hair. He never wanted this to end. All he wanted was Meg and?—
“Whoa. Uh, sorry, boss.” Liam’s voice hit like cold water.
Noah was going to kill him.
Noah closed his eyes, tried gathering his scattered senses as Meg got up and walked a few steps away.
“Sorry,” Liam continued. “Just looking for Meg.”
“Found me,” Meg said, her voice too bright. “What’s up?” Meg started collecting the water bottles.
At least she seemed steadier. Him? Not so much.
“I need you to check some of the teenagers. Signs of dehydration.”
“Of course.” Meg started following him, but Liam paused, turned back.
“Do you really think Nimue will be okay?”
Meg swallowed hard, shot a quick glance at Noah. “Yes.”
