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Aly, he seemed to have found that in Penelope

All he needed to do noasSecret remained just that A secret

Because he didn't think he could bear the pain he'd see in her eyes if she were cast out of societywColin?" she whispered, her breath quivering across her lips,him really want to kissher

He leaned in "Have her an indulgent s too much time with my sister"wWhat does thatin such a way that he knew she'd never feel any co fun at him She would keep him on his toes, this womanwYou seem," he said, "to have developed a certain penchant for persistence"wTenacity?"wThat, too"wBut that's a good thing"

Their lips were stillconversation was too strongwWhen you're persistently avowing your obedience for your husband," he"wOh, really?"

His chin dipped into the barest hint of a nod "And when you're tenaciously holding on toas well"

Her dark eyes widened so delightfully that he had to add, "Don't you think?"

And then she surprised hi her hands on his shoulders Her tone was daring, her eyes pure flirtation

Lord, he loved that she surprised hiht have to"--he ers into his skin--"hold me a little more tenaciously"wI see," she o?"

He thought about that for athat there was a deeperin her words, whether she'd intended it or not "That's exactly what I'ht his lips to hers, reer overtook him He kissed her with a passion he hadn't even known he possessed It wasn't about desire--or at least it wasn't just about desire

It was about need

It was about a strange sensation, hot and fierce inside of hi him to lay claim to her, to somehow brand her as his

He wanted her desperately, and he had absolutely no idea how he could possibly wColin?" Penelope gasped, just as he was easing her down onto her back on the sofa

He was kissing her jaw, and then her neck, and his lips were far too busy for anything other than a low, "Mently with his teeth If she could finish a sentence, then he clearly wasn't befuddling her as ?" he murmured, then kissed her deeply on the mouth, just to torture her

He lifted his lips off hers just long enough for her to say, "I just--" and then he kissed her again, reeling with pleasure when she groaned with desirewI' his hands under the he thes to her calves, "you were saying?"as?" she asked, her eyes glazed

Hethe back of her knee "You were saying soainst her because he honestly thought he would burst into flame at that veryhis hand over the soft skin of her thigh, "that you were going to say that you wanted roaned, then so to say"

He grinned against her neck "Are you sure?"