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Then she would tell hiether different The second her husband stepped inside the bedroom, she ran to him, clasped the sides of his face, and kissed him with all the love and passion she possessed

Overwhelmed by her unbridled show of affection, he wrapped her in his arainst hientle, loving woman, and when she put her arms around his neck and shyly whispered of her need to make love, he realized his own need more than equaled hers While he had been away, an eternity it see his need until it had becoht

"If I pro while, will you let me close the door?"

Reluctant to move away from him for even aaway "Lock it against intruders," she said

Suddenly feeling uncertain and nervous, she backed away, stopping in the center of the rooazed in approval and admiration at her husband His shoulders and chest were heavily muscled, yet she remembered how tender his touch had been each ti her own pulse leap in anticipation of as to coain And found hiotten what I look like?" he asked, his left eyebrow raised only just barely To his delight, her face flooded with color

"It would see hich et you a cloth"

She couldn't seeainst the door and patiently waited for her to get past her e ti her Her hands were clasped behind her back, giving hilimpse of her bare chest and tiny waist His appreciation quickly turned to desire, and within ato throb with his need to slide the palms of his scarred hands over her smooth, flawless skin

Somewhat surprised by her own loss of coray eyes, drew another shaky breath, and tried to remember what she was supposed to do

"A cloth," she whispered, s anew because she hadn't coet one for hter followed her across the chaave hiracefully knelt down on the floor and carefullycandle so she could open the chest

In the mood to do whatever she wanted him to do, he went to the side of the bed, as she had instructed, and sat down to wait for her He knew exactly as going to happen the second she stood close enough He would wrap his arms around her, put her on the bed, andbetween his thighs, she tried to dry his hair with the cloth, but found it iain, as he had untied the belt to her robe and was noly sliding his hands down her chest He cupped her brsts with his hands, his thu across her nipples, and then he leaned into her and began to drive her out of her ue

He had to tell her to breathe While he wanted to lavish her with erotic pleasure before he entered her, his own discipline vanished when she reet him to drop back onto the bed

Neither of theether as one, and as he hs and slowly entered her, he stared into her eyes to watch the pleasure overcome her and was nearly undone by the erotic sensations her reaction evoked in him

She drew him down and kissed him, and when the pressure inside intensified and she knew she was about to shatter apart froan to silently chant "I love you" until it becae of love

He buried his face in the side of her neck, heard her soft whisper vowing her love again and again, and was shaken and humbled that such an exquisite hten around hiive her fulfilled before remained unspoken

In the aftermath, they held each other, spent, satisfied Silent now, they listened to their pounding heartbeats

As was her endearing habit, she wept because of the sheer wonder of their loveain, she flung her arms back on the bed and smiled up at him

"It would seem I missed this ant satisfaction "It would seereed He leaned down, kissed her, and then rolled onto his side "You have ive hter pleased him "Then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it? Besides, that wasn't it I have so else for you"

Several kisses later, she convinced hiift for him, and when she returned, she wrapped the plaid around her and sat down, facing him near the foot of the bed

He had already decided that no ift was, he would be happy to receive it, even if he had to pretend Her feelings were at issue now, and that was all that one to a considerable aive the gift the iainst the wall behind hi up so that he could rest his arm on top

"Cos under her before pulling the plaid up around her again

"Closer," he repeated in a gruff voice

She denied his request by shaking her head "I know that look in your eyes, Connor If I ht, he nodded agreeift before, and two in one night is ift did you receive?"

"You don't remember what you said to me when I was inside you?"

She froith concentration while she thought about it "Hurry up?" she teased

"Besides that," he said with a grin

"I don't recall Did I say soht, you told me you loved me

Perhaps she had just been carried away by the heat of their love, unaware of the words she uttered, just the way she had prayed aloud without realizing it on the day he ht it, and that was all that iven you your gift yet"

"The way you wanted ift I could ever want"

"But there's more"

"There will be, if you'llto have to wait I' to tell you two stories"

"Just one," he said

"Two," she insisted

His sigh was deliberately exaggerated "All right, lass"

"My first story concerns soirl I was too young to rehtened My father sat me on his lap and told me what had happened, and don't you dare frown, Connor; you're going to hear about "

"You were thinking about it"

He laughed "I wasn't It's all right for you to talk about your relatives now It wasn't before"

"Why?"