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‘I’ve never been in a serious relationship before…’

Rashad stopped dead ‘Never?’ he questioned in disbelief ‘But you are twenty-five years old’

Polly explained about her grand, slow decline into full-blown dementia and the heavy cost that had extracted from her freedom while her sister ay at university ‘So, if I’m a little inexperienced in relationships, you’ll have to make allowances on that score,’ she told him tautly

A frown line was slowly building between Rashad’s ebony brows His fingers se her to keep on

talking as he stared down at the top of her pale blonde head, farhim than she would have believed

Polly could feel the heat of e into her cheeks in a wave Gooseflesh was for while the warm hand at her spine had tensed and stilled ‘And I think that ht because I was a bit nervous…of course I was…and you hadn’treally!’ Conscious her voice was rising in spite of her efforts to control it, Polly looked up at Rashad in dismay and discomfiture

And for the very first time, Rashad understood his bride without words and he felt like the biggest idiot ever born because he had been guilty of rounds on which to do so It had not once crossed his ht be less experienced than he was Indeed he had even worried just a little that he h to please her With a sidewise glance at the guards studiously staring out at the desert and the beach, Rashad bent down, scooped his surprised bride up into his arms and carried her indoors Doors were helpfully wrenched open ahead of him by the staff as he strode back to their bedroom

‘What on earth are you doing?’ Polly exclaiiant bed in which she had slept alone the night before

‘Giving us privacy,’ Rashad advanced with a sudden s ‘I don’t wish to offend you but I had made the assumption that you would have enjoyed at least a few lovers before me—’

‘And why the heck would you assume that?’ Polly demanded with spirit

‘Your values areadults now tend to choose their own partners, it is still the norins when they marry That would be more unusual in your society’

‘I suppose so,’ Polly conceded reluctantly because she knew her sister fell into the sa admitted that she had yet toto cross that sexual boundary ‘But ht up in a very strict hoitimate and until she fell ill she policed our every move because she was afraid that ould repeat what she saw as our nant and unmarried’

‘I know very little about your background’ Rashad settled fluidly down on the edge of the bed in a relaxedunrealistic expectations of you—’

Polly flushed scarlet ‘My…grandfather? Please tell —’

‘There was no discussion, Polly, but I guessed what he meant Henaïve in that line I am not naïve,’ Rashad completed ry emphasis ‘But Haki that intimate, so he could have formed no idea of my attitude in advance’