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"Yes They’re pretty, but they--ah!" River suddenly slings me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes Gently, of course, one arainst my skin warns me that my dress is likely hiked far above any respectable level, but there’s not much I can do about it at this point Besides, it really doesn’t h, a prospect that leaves ood kind, this ti h my playful shrieks He needs no directions tohands so s, fro around the heels to flick theht Coed color--froreen to a much darker shade A fact I realize as he stretches out on top of entleone, replaced with a confidence that provokes

"So is this," I whisper, curling ers around his shirt, desperate to adain He lifts his arit on the floor Giving my hands access to his chest, his skin hot to the touch

My heart races

He simply watches my face as I roam his upper body, propped up on one elbow to allow for it "What happened here?" I trace a long, thin line over his top rib

"A scuffle between me, my brother, and a fence"

Of course I shake my head "Who won?"

"Some would say ers slide gently along the curve of us"

That elusive older brother that he doesn’t like talking about I continue ives us, and a hay wagon" His head dips, waron definitely won that one"

I start laughing--a deep belly laugh that cuts off with a light gasp the second his ation, happily roping my arms around his body

He tenses, suddenly, as ot I can’t believe I forgot

"Doesn’t hurt," hefirst ertips one at a tiers between mine and pins both of my hands abovehard against ht"

I’m pretty sure that I can’t, not with this intense ache between ue over his lips in answer, teasing hiue slides into rind against me

This connection between us is so ht, now that I’m sure

I’m so very sure that I want this, and him