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"Cat … Cat…" Leo withdrew froainst her stomach, and she felt heat spill in wet pulses over her skin He held her tightly, groaning into the joint of her shoulder and neck

They lay together, trying to catch their breath Catherine was limp with exhaustion, her limbs heavy Content into a dry sponge For the

"It’s true," she said drowsily "You are gifted"

Leo eased to his side heavily, as if the reat effort He pressed his lips to her shoulder, and she felt the shape of his smile on her skin "How delicious you are," he whispered "It was like el"

"Sans halo," she murmured, and was rewarded by his low chuckle She touched the film of moisture on her sto, you et you with child, if you’re not ready"

"Do you want children? I mean … not because of the copyhold clause, but for their own sake?"

Leo considered that "In abstraction, not especially With you, however … I wouldn’ta handful of her hair, Leo let the pale runners sift through his fingers, playing with it "I’m not sure Perhaps because I can see you as a mother"

"Can you?" Catherine had never seen herself that way

"Oh, yes The practical kind whowith sharp objects"

"Is that how yourfar past hers "Yes And thank God for it My father, bless him, was a brilliant scholar one step re up on one elbow, he studied her He used the pad of his thuet a cloth for you"

Catherine waited with her knees drawn up, watching as he left the bed and went to the washstand He took up a cloth, da, and cleaned hi up another cloth, he ht it to her She sensed that he intended to perform the service for her, but she reached for the cloth and said bashfully, "I’ll do it"

Leo found his discarded clothing, pulled on his linens and trousers, and returned to Catherine bare-chested "Your spectacles," hetheainst the huh her, he pulled the quilt up to her shoulders, and half sat on the edge of the mattress

"Marks," he said soberly "What just happened … am I to take that as a ‘yes’ to my proposal?"

She hesitated, and shook her head And then she gave hilance, as if to indicate that there was nothing he could do or say to change herher through the quilt "I proet better for you, once you heal and have time to--"

"No, it’s not that I enjoyed it" She paused, blushing fiercely "Very much But we don’t suit in any way other than in the bedrooue so dreadfully"

"It won’t be like that now I’ll be nice I’ll let you win every arguht" His lips twitched with amusement "You’re not convinced, I see What are you afraid we’ll argue about?"

Catherine looked down at the quilt, s the peerage for the husband to take mistresses and the wife to take lovers I could never accept that" As he opened his ue, she continued in a rush "And you’ve never concealed your aversion to e your mind so quickly … it’s impossible to believe"

"I understand" Leo’s hand covered hers in a vital grip "You’re right--I’ve been against the idea of e ever since I lost Laura And I’ve invented all kinds of excuses to keep froer that you are entirely worth it I wouldn’t propose to you unless I kneithout a doubt that you could satisfy all ers beneath her chin and urged her to look at him "As for fidelity--I’ll have no difficulty with that" His sh with past sins--I doubt it could stand any more"

"You would becoht sious variety of ways a man and woman can entertain each other I won’t be bored Neither will you" He stroked her pink cheek with a gentle finger His gaze was steady "If I went to another woman’s bed, it would be a betrayal of two people--my wife and myself I wouldn’t do that to either of us" He paused "Do you believe me?"

"Yes," she ad, but truthful"

There was a glint of aive me your answer"

"Before I make any decisions, I would like to talk with Harry"

"Of course" A smile played on his lips "He married my sister, noant to marry his If he objects, I’ll tell hi over her, his dark brown hair falling over his brow, Cat could hardly believe that Leo Hathaas trying to convince her to h she was certain that he meant what he said, some promises were broken despite people’s best intentions to keep theainst his warm, hard chest "I’d tell you not to be afraid," he murmured, "but that’s not always possible On the other hand … you’ve already started to trustnow"