NIALL BROKE THE kiss and watched her eyes as they flickered from blue to red and then to green. He bit the inside of his cheek when Charlotte shifted, straddling his hips without breaking the kiss, and sliding her hands into his hair. She let out a groan as she slipped her hands under his shirt and stroked his chest.

“Your hands,” he said.

“Mmm... do you like that?”

“They’re like ice.” He leaned into her touch. “They feel incredible.”

She smiled against his lips and slipped her hands under the waistband of his jeans. He couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything except feel. His body called to her. He broke the kiss with a groan, pulling her hands away. “We have to stop.”

She whimpered, shaking her head as she kissed him again.

“Charlotte, baby, we have to stop.”

“No,” she growled, and kissed his neck.

Niall stood with her still wrapped around him and lowered her feet to the floor. Charlotte whined in protest and pulled his head down for another mind-blowing kiss. She slid a frozen hand under the waistband of his jeans again and Niall sucked in a deep breath. He didn’t know how much more he could resist.

“Charlotte,” he rasped, and stepped away from her.

Her eyes were green, glassy, and frantic as she licked her lips. “Come here.”

“No, baby. We need to slow down.”

“Damn it!” she snapped as she picked up her empty wine glass, throwing it against the wall. He watched as the glass shattered and the sound startled her. She gasped, laying her hands over her mouth. “What did I do that for? Oh, Nye. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” She rushed to pick up the glass, cutting her finger in the process.

He knelt beside her and took the glass shards from her trembling hands, kissing the cut and healing it. He noticed her hands were warm again.

“What’s wrong with me?” She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t understand. I have never felt rage like that before.”

“I’m not sure I understand it either,” he admitted. “You have some very strong emotions, and I’d venture a guess, some gifts that are quite rare.”

“This isn’t me.” She swiped her tears away. “I really am some sort of freak.”

“It is you, sweetheart. But it’s perfectly normal and okay.” He stroked her cheek. “It’s because of me you’re feeling all of this.”

“Yeah, I figured.” She sighed. “Is it always going to be like this? Because I can’t go around smashing glasses and fine tableware every time I get horny. We won’t be able to have any nice things if I do.”

“We will sort this out. I promise.”

He leaned in to kiss her again, but she laid her fingers over his mouth. “Um, no. No more of that business until we can be certain I won’t go all rock star on your hotel room.”

Niall chuckled. “All right, love.” He helped her stand and guided her away from the glass. “You are going home with me, though. We can’t get any answers here.” He grabbed several paper towels and went about cleaning up the glass.

“I can’t get on a plane, Niall. I will panic.”

“Your fear is ungrounded, Charlotte.”

“Isn’t most fear?”

“You have a point.” He threw the glass shards away and closed the distance between them. “I want you to do something for me.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What?”

“Close your eyes and imagine yourself getting on the worst plane imaginable.”

“You mean like a puddle jumper?”

“Sure, if that’s your worst fear.”

Charlotte took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Panic set in almost immediately, but disappeared just as quickly when he took her hand. She gasped and opened her eyes. “How did you do that?”

“Baby, it’s what we do. We’re connected. I can calm you and you can do the same for me.”

“But I thought it was just if I was kind of upset. Not freaking out.”

He smiled. “We can calm all of it. And when we’re bound, I won’t even need to touch you.”

“Wow, that’s a cool trick.”

“Aye, it is.” He kissed her palm. “Try and panic now.”

“Seriously?”

He nodded. “Very. Try.”

Charlotte imagined all manners of horrors, but regardless of what she envisioned, she stayed calm. Niall ran his thumb across her knuckles and smiled. “See? You can get on a plane and be perfectly fine. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” He kissed her nose.

“So, you will hold my hand the whole time?” She raised an eyebrow. “What if I have to pee?”

“If you want me to come with you, then I’ll come with you.”

“Ah, no.” She widened her eyes. “That falls under ‘things,’ I think.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Things?”

“Yes. My mother always said that there were certain things my father could never see. And I believe bathroom habits were on the list.” She shuddered. “Among other things I wish she hadn’t shared. You know, being able to un-hear things would really be a nice gift to have—can you manage to get me that one?”

Niall laughed and poured a fresh glass of wine for her. “What’s the point in being married if you can’t share each other’s ‘things’?”

“Well, I suppose you have a point there.” Charlotte sat on the sofa and took the wine he offered. “I always wondered if they would have stayed together if she weren’t so weird.”

Niall sat beside her again. “How did they meet?”

“My dad works for Grace’s dad and they met through them. I think it was just as hard for Lila and Garrett when my parents split. They did a lot of stuff together.”

“I really like Grace’s parents.”

Charlotte smiled. “Who wouldn’t? They’re basically perfect... and they probably have no secrets from each other.”

He chuckled. “Well, I look forward to discovering everything about you, sweetheart. Even your ‘things.’”

She giggled. “Me too.”

“Is that a ‘yes’?”

She tipped her wine glass toward him. “To getting on a plane with you, yes, but no ‘thing’ sharing until we’re married... or bound.”

He grinned. “Fair enough.”

“I suppose I need to find out if my passport’s still good.”

“That would be a good idea. We can expedite it if we need to.”

She rolled her eyes. “Kind of expensive, don’t you think?”

“Worth the price, don’t you think?”

She pressed her lips together in a thin line.

Niall cocked his head. “What, love?”

“If this all works out, do you expect that we will live in Scotland?” she asked.

“When this all works out, I suppose we can make that decision together after you’ve visited, why?”

“Because I love America. I know Grace jokes about my card-carrying ways and all, but I seriously don’t think I could live anywhere else.” She ran her finger down his chest. “I met a lot of people from a lot of different places while I was in L.A., and they all said America was the best boat afloat. I tend to agree, even with my limited experience of traveling.”

He smiled gently. “I feel a bit like that about Scotland. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else. My people are there, so it’s comfortable. But that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to living here.”

“Really?”

“Yes, love. Perhaps we can live here part of the year, and Scotland part of the year.”

“I love that idea.” She settled her head on his shoulder. “I am totally going to get used to this.”

“What exactly?”

“Oh, I don’t know, this unlimited flow of money you seem to possess.” She grinned. “Especially, if you’re spending it on me.”

Niall laughed as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “Shall I just hand over my credit card now?”

“According to you, we won’t ever be apart, so I don’t think we need to go quite that far.”

He nodded. “Touché.”

She glanced up at him. “By the way, when I checked my balance this morning, I noticed the charge from the bar never hit my debit card. Should I assume you had something to do with that?”

“Well, the slimy little bastard you were with wasn’t going to pay up.”

Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “Were you there the whole time?”

“Not the whole time, love. Just long enough to watch him skip out on the bill.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That was kind of a dick move.”

“Aye, it was.” He scowled. “It’s a moot point now. He won’t be contacting you again.”

She sat up. “What did you do?”

“I simply let him know my opinion about what he did and suggested he make it right.” He smiled without mirth. “He quite enthusiastically offered up what was in his wallet, which was just enough to settle the bill and leave a relatively decent tip. I managed to intercept your card.”

“Nye.” Charlotte groaned. “I don’t think I want to know what your version of ‘suggested’ entails.”

He grinned. “No, you probably don’t. Halo slippage and all.”

“You didn’t hurt him, did you?”

“I didn’t touch him, love. He knew what he did was wrong, so my words were enough to drive that home.”

“See? Vanquishing the demons before I even met you. Halo back in place.”

He laughed. “He wasn’t someone you liked, was he?”

“Good lord, no.” She wrinkled her nose. “Horse teeth aside, he was one of the most irritating people I’ve met in a long time.”

“Yes, I picked up on that as well.”

“And what was the purpose of drugging me?” Charlotte continued. “It’s not like I was going home with him or anything.”

“We need to stop talking about him,” Niall warned.

She wrinkled her nose. “Sorry.”

He pulled out his cell phone and frowned. “Damn it.”

“Everything okay?”

He nodded distractedly as he fired off a text. “I have a conference call in thirty minutes. But it can wait.”

“I’ll go.” Charlotte rose to her feet and grabbed her purse.

“You really don’t have to.”

“I can’t monopolize all your time, Nye.”

“Yes, you can.”

Charlotte grinned. “Will Bruce mind dropping me home?”

“I’ll come with you, sweetheart,” he said just as his cell phone buzzed again.

“It’s fine.” She kissed him. “Do your thing. Call me when you’re finished.”

His cell phone continued to buzz, so he gave her a reluctant nod and sent a text. His phone buzzed again. “Just wait for Bruce,” he said, and answered the call. “Niall here.”

Bruce arrived within minutes and Charlotte blew Niall a kiss as she followed the driver from the room.