Mia

How long do you hang on to hope before you realize you're just prolonging the inevitable? I finally had to face facts, leave Florida and Alexei behind, and move on with my life.

It's not like I don't still ache for him though, even dripping wet and half-naked in the Hawaiian jungle.

But this Alexei isn't the sweet, calm man I left behind...

Alexei

God help me, I don't have it in me to let Mia walk away again. She doesn't know, she can't know, why I've had to resist claiming her for so long. Or letting anyone, even Mia, know how I feel about her.

Seeing her here, exposed to the elements, I'm done with waiting. She's not flirting with other men as a war games vamp. I don't give a damn whose idea it was. Only a few more weeks and the danger will be minimized. She's worth the risk.

Just my luck that's when everything goes to hell...

...