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Her ed "I’ yourself"

"Anyone" He e, but she wasn’t saying no

"Do you want ain?" he asked

"Of course not" But she said it too quickly

"Are you sure of that?"

She sed "It would be a very bad idea"

"Very much so," he said softly

"So we… shouldn’t?"

He touched her cheek, and this tiain?"

Sheher head yes or no He had a feeling she didn’t know, either

"Billie?" he h so that his breath whispered across her skin

Her breath hitched, and she said, "I said I wouldn’t marry you"

"You did"

"Well, I said you didn’t have to marry me"

He nodded

"That would still be true"

"If I kissed you again?"

She nodded

"So thiswarm and lovely unfurled in his chest This could neverAnd she knew it

"It just ether "… that there are no consequences"

He brushed his lips against her cheek "No consequences," he softly repeated

"None"

"I could kiss you again…" His hand stole around to the small of her back, but he exerted only the barest of pressure She could step away at any moment She could remove herself from his embrace, cross the room, and leave He needed her to know this He needed to know that she knew this There would be no recri herself that she had been swept away by his passion