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But he had risen from the bed and crept up behind her His arms encircled her, and he murmured, low and close to her ear, “I’m very, very clever”

She let out a nervous laugh “Or part cat”

She felt him smile “That, too,” he murmured And then, after a pause: “I missed you”

“I—” She wanted to say that she’d missed him, too, but he was too close, and she was too warm, and her voice escaped her

He leaned down, his lips finding the soft spot just below her ear He touched her, so softly she wasn’t even sure it was a kiss, then ?”

“Yes No I was too…” She sed, unable to withstand the touch of his lips withouta reaction “…anxious”

He took her hands, kissing each in turn “Anxious? Whyever?”

“The jewels,” she reminded him Good heavens, did every wo so close to a handsome man?

“Ah, yes” His hand found her waist, and she felt herself being pulled toward him “The jewels”

“Don’t you want—”

“Oh, I do,” heher scandalously close “I want Very much”

“Gareth,” she gasped His hands were on her bottom, and his lips on her neck

And she wasn’t sure how

He did things to her He asp and moan, and all she kneas that she wanted more

“I think about you every night,” he whispered against her skin