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She came up on her knees so that their eyes were level "My last thought before I fainted was of you I knew you would come I love you, Quin"

"I never understoodher "But I do know that I love the way you hold your own against my mother, and your bad jokes, and your silly limericks, and your violet dress, and the way you can clih

"My ood thing that ere an uneerous I proved her hypothesis by falling in love with Evangeline"

Olivia bit her lip, ready to argue

"But I love you so rated and nearly broke, but he steadied it "I love youin this world, erous, then I don’t want to live in safety" His voice was rough and savage, and doubly honest for its hunger

Olivia shifted backward, still on her knees "Just looking at you makes me achehere" She put a hand on her stoed from deadly to sensual "Olivia" He breathed the word Then: "No" He tried to make the word into a command, but she was pretty sure that warriors married Amazons, which meant it was time she beca point

"I’m not afraid when you are with iven to replace her ruined travelling costume "I’m not afraid of Bessette, because I sahat you did to him back at the fortress"

Quin’s jaw clenched "Unfortunately, I think the bastard will survive If I had known that he had given you those bruises, I would have beaten him to within an inch of his life the first time I encountered him"

She smiled, and slipped free two more buttons "And I’m not afraid of French soldiers, because all the ones around here are your cousin Justin’s age, though they ht not be quite as poetic"

"I wouldn’t be surprised if Petit returns to his roooddess" He atching her hands

Olivia undid the last button and eased the gown over her shoulders "Most of all," she said, coer afraid ofonly a che to destroy all your corsets e reach England"

"What’s wrong with a corset?" she asked, teasing hi up the he "I can’t stand to see your curves confined"

She knew her se of embarrassment as she pulled her chemise over her head and tossed it aside Quin froze, a muscled, wild man crouched at her feet She simply waited in that patch of French bluebells, a ray of dusky sunshine playing on her breasts and sto as he wished

To be strictly honest, she did position her legs in the best possible fashion--knees together, bent slightly to the side She had never feltnaked in the outdoors, even though--or, perhaps, especially because--Quin was still clothed, was intoxicating Her whole body softened with desire, sang with it

Still, he didn’tto hirowled finally

"Yes?"

He may be ferocious, but she was a wo in his eyes, and the way his hands were tres apart"