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He started to debate that with her, but she cut hi sex? No, of course it wouldn’t Heck, half the time you have bruises and so bruise on your back fro up But it didn’t slow you down, did it?"

"No"

"See? That’sold hter But I’m not a wuss, either"

It felt like his heart smiled "No" Not a wuss at all

"And I want you"

He’d never tire of hearing that "It’s getting late Why don’t you finish up, then do whatever else you have to do before bed, and we can turn in?"

Her lungs expanded "For sex, right?"

Happiness spread from his heart to every corner of his universe "Sex first, sure" Reaching out, he fingered one of those long, silky hanks of hair that had fallen from herwith you again"

"I like that plan" She finished up her us, plus soet by"

"Do you really?"

"Get by? Yeah"

She shook her head "No, Iwith me?"

He started to tease, but the look in her eyes told him this wasn’t the time She needed the truth And hell, so did he "Yeah, Stretch I like sleeping with you" Accepting it, he grinned and let the reality of it encompass him "When you’re curled up withtime"

She put a hand to her heart and in the softest voice he’d ever heard from her, she admitted, "Me, too"

Armie kneas in deep, but at thebetter?"

She nodded

"Sit tight ahim, he cleared the table with practiced ease "You’re not used to letting so?" She licked her lips "Cannon insists on doing things for me all the time"

"He helps you, yeah But I , took the ice pack from her and put it back in the freezer, then carefully lifted her from the chair "You’re like this natural-born caretaker You like to cook and keep your house spotless and you play hostess to everyone"

"My mom was like that" She traced the neckline of his shirt, over his collarbone "I loved cooking with her, learning fro pretty terrific"

Rissy nodded "Dad, too"

"Yeah" She caht with it certain expectations Her brother’s fight naood reason

Which always made Armie wonder--could he ever measure up?

When they reached the bedroom, he carefully lowered her to the bed and stripped off her shirt, leaving her beautifully naked

Rising up to her elbows, she smiled at him