For a long moment, Roland just stood there, captivated by her beauty. She seemed ethereal, lost in a world far removed from his.
Anna stirred, as though sensing his gaze. Her eyes opened, and he saw at once the distant longing. Since William's abrupt departure, Anna had been holding herself together, though barely. She understood his intentions—he cared, deeply, and his departure was because he needed to protect her.
It was frustrating that he could not see what she truly needed. 'Did her eyes not convey it clearly enough? Had her body not yield to his touch, melting in his arms?' she wondered.
His presence was her solace, his touch the cure for the ache within her. Right now, all she needed to relieve her from all her pains was the heat of his lips on her skin, the weight of his arms around her.
