Excerpt of In Total Surrender by Anne Mallory

"You are the oddest creature."

Andreas reached forward and one finger touched her chin. Her breath caught, heart picking up speed quickly. His eyes were intense on hers, and so near.

"You are one of the most confident people I’ve ever encountered, with a core so vulnerable to hurt. Do you realize what you are doing, showing me such vulnerabilities?"

Phoebe swallowed. "Perhaps it is stupid of me. I cannot help but be interested in you. And I do little by halves."

"I do not either." He said nothing further for a moment. "But when I take something, I take everything."

She had the feeling that he was giving her an opportunity to turn tail and run.

She tilted her head into his hand, and his fingers automatically stroked her skin, holding and supporting her like some sort of precious possession. "When I give something, I give everything."

So many expressions chased across his face that she was uncertain what to even attempt to read there. Need, victory, despair.

"I know," he whispered. And then his lips were on hers, and the tinder exploded into flame.