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"Selena?" He said her name, whispered it, and she let out a low, breathless moan

Slowly, not wanting to, but unable to stop herself, she opened her eyes He stared down at her, barely breathing, his ht line But it was his eyes that destroyed her So blue, so sad

If she leaned forward just a little, tilted her chin, he would kno much she wanted hiht now, aarden that smelled of the last white chrysanthemums And she would let him God help her, she would let him

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I shall be honorable, Ian

"Ah, Selena, you're killing er left his eyes, his breath released in a ragged sigh, his shoulders rounded His hold on her eased, entleness

He looked beaten, so sad and utterly without hope, and suddenly she couldn't stand it anymore, couldn't stand his pain, or her own She loved him, loved him more than life, and she couldn't hurt hiht she could?

"Is it gone so quickly?" shethe moist hair from his eyes "Already you worry that I do not love you?"

It took him a moment to answer, and when he did, his voice was hoarse "I don't knohat to think"

God forgive her "Then feel," she whispered

His hands slid down the ool of her cape and circled her waist, drawing her close, so close She tilted her face up and pressed against hi Overhead and all around, the sky blustered and blew, sending raindrops splashing down their cheeks

They ca, passionate kiss that tasted of sweet raindrops and bitter desperation She clung to him, whispered his name, moaned her surrender, and knew suddenly that she'd never had a choice, not really, not in the face of this

He drew back, gazed down at her greedily His fingers ,He pulled the starched white cap froround

"Ah, Selena," he breathed, "I've missed you"

"I've missed you, too, Ian So much "