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Throughout the centuries, he’d witnessed every sexual act iinable, each performed for different reasons Lust, doradation, calculation, revenge, hope, the desire to have children, the desire to cause pain Love he’d always sought to deny

But that’s what he wanted with Annabelle Love He wanted a giving and taking, a shared experience

"Zaaachaaarel," she said in a sing-song voice

"That’s a good start" He could srance that stroked hi hi?"

"You won’t"

For a long while, he taunted the her everywhere but where she needed hi She pounded those little fists, desperate for relief But did she beg? No

Finally she began to talk, telling his she wanted to do to him…

…touch him…

…stroke him…

…liiick him…

By the time she quieted, his nerves were so sensitized, he could barely stand Definitely couldn’t stand still He rubbed against her, again and again, the friction ecstasy…ined her s you will do to rit in his voice "Next ti hied at the corners of her lips "And now?"

"Now I continue " He chuckled as her pout deepened "You didn’t think I’d forgotten, did you?"

He got serious, no longer content to tease her He worked her until she was alternately gasping andwhere she needed him most, until her hands were off the wall and in his hair, her nails scouring his scalp Oh, how she clung to him in the most decadent of ways She purred She ainst her, desperate to fill her

"Please," she finally begged "I give Please, please, please!"

"I will never say no to you"

She threw a little grin over her shoulder, her eyes as bright with humor as they were hot with arousal "Good, because noant you to beg me"

He did not hesitate "Please, please, please, Annabelle" At last he lifted his robe, positioned hilorious sheath she provided "Please"

"Zacharel," she said on a moan "Faster Please"

"Or…" He went slower--before stopping altogether His legs were treive out at any moment, but he would savor every second of this, would be so careful with his woman

"Zacharel"

He inched back into motion…

…a little faster…

"Please"

Still a little faster… The pleasure was cut with agony, but he loved it, loved every sensation…faster…faster…

Her fists again banged into the wall as she shattered He was right there with her, shouting her na minutes later, when they had both calmed, he picked her up and carried her to the shower She didn’t speak a word as he cleaned her, then hilad She was composed and sated

And…he hadn’t once kissed her, he realized suddenly

Zacharel looked her over Soaking-wet hair was plastered to her head, cheeks and shoulders Ice-blue eyes watched hi at the ends of her lashes Her cheeks were flushed to a rosy pink, her lips swollen and teeth-marked She must have chewed them Her body was reddened where he’d kneaded her, and shaky, so beautifully shaky with satisfaction

He cupped her jaw Forever he si her to study hi from her He wondered if she saw the same loveliness he saw in her, if she saw the reverence and the hunger he felt for her If she saw the hope for soback at hi--and she had so hiether He wanted the kiss to talk for hiues ether, dueled, a kiss not ive

When finally he lifted his head, he stared down at her and gave voice to action "I love you, Annabelle"

She was more than his other half; she was the best part of him

"I know"

That was it? That was all? "Tell me how you knew this" When he himself hadn’t known until today, this moment And then tell me you love me back!

Her expression was so soft, so radiant "It’s the way you are with et my earlier appearance and the fact that you didn’t stab ers toyed with the ends of his hair, winding the strands into ringlets "What aive their love and expect nothing in return Zacharel wasn’t one of the Would demand it