He's talking but the words aren't registering. She's still gasping for breath from nothing for more than a week and then Declan hot and huge in her. It's good, exactly what she needs to stop thinking, and her fingernails grip and slip and gouge along his back with every thrust.

There are other sounds. From her, loud in her ears. Kate knows he's close but she doesn't want this to stop. She doesn't want it ever to stop.