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The heat of his body seared her into the mattress for only a moment before he lifted hiedly "If you only knew…"

"If I only knehat?" she asked quietly, her eyes sliding over his bare chest with fe the buttons on his trousers, stilled "How ave his head a little shake, as if to dislodge the words from his throat "My life was…" He sed "I don't kno to say it"

Belle reached out and took his hand "Then show ainst his stomach and slid it up to his heart "It beats for you," he whispered "Only you"

He moved toward her slowly, as if pulled by so fell to the floor, and then he ith her, the heat of their bodies separated only by the thin silk of her che within hiy that was alh her body, whipped up into white hot heat by his hands and lips and the incoherent whisperings of histo move it up her body, but he pushed her hands back down "Leave it," he said "I like it"

"But I want to feel you," she gasped

"You can" He splayed his hand over her midriff "I can feel you And I feel silk, and heat, and desire"

Belle felt so in short little pants His hips were pressing against hers, the evidence of his desire nestled between her legs "John, I-"

"What, love?"

"I want to feel you"

A shudder went through his body, and Belle could feel the tension in his ht to control his desire

"You don't have to go slowly," she whispered "I want it, too"

His eyes flew to hers "Belle, I don't want to hurt you"

"You won't You could never hurt s, and he slowly separated the up her silky chemise in the process The tip of his ht her breath as she felt hi her It was thehirew faster,within her A force A tension It was growing, filling her

John's breathing grew ragged He sank his fingers into her hair, gasping her name as he pushed forward and back, his body lost in pri toward ecstasy She clawed at his back, trying to reach soripped her, and she screamed out his name

But John didn't hear her Her shouts were drowned out by his own as he surged forward one last time and exploded within her He collapsed on top of her, his entire body heaving with exertion

Manywith him Their bodies were now separated, but John held her close "I want to fall asleep with you in my arms," he whispered "I want to feel you, and to sled closer "I' on his lips He nuzzled his face against her hair, dropping a kiss on top of her head "My wife," he said, unable to keep a touch of wonder from his voice "My wife"

Chapter 18

It wasn't until the nextthat Belle remembered to ask John about his conversation with Alex He briefly considered hiding the truth from her, but one look into her inquisitive blue eyes reminded hie