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And then, light and questioning and heartbreakingly tender, his mouth touched hers

A real kiss At last

She sank into it, parting her lips for hi him in

He accepted her invitation, dipping his tongue in,her whi his big body toward her She lorious feel of her breasts pressing into his broad, hard chest Clasping his giant shoulder, she melted into him

They sank down into the bed, still kissing She pushed at his shoulder then, urging hi out on his back so that she could ease her leg across him

Her nightgown had slithered up It was a cru on top of hith of his

His big hands were on her hips, pulling her closer She could feel the hard, wonderful ridge of his arousal through the thin silk of his boxers

He wanted her

And she wanted hiht between theht

She reached up to caress his face and felt the curving, puckered shape of the scar And she moaned deep in her throat, in excitement In pleasure And also in sympathy for all he had suffered

And then, out of nowhere, he froze Shehi her

But he only shifted stiffly beneath her, tugging on her nightgown, sained the top position once more

“Rafe, what—?”

He put a finger against her lips She stared up at hi for hi

But he didn’t explain a thing After a ain, settling her head on his shoulder “Let it alone for tonight,” he said quietly “It will be all right”