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I sinto eous And beautiful And kind And……,” he pauses, sing hard “I love you”

“I love you, too” And I do Every part of me is in love with this man

We hold each other on the sofa, gazing out into the Atlanta night sky We’re silent for awhile, Alex lightly stroking my back

Finally, Alex breaks the silence “Katherine, I need to talk to you…… about my past…… why you had to leave London”

I raiseinto his eyes “Okay,” I whisper “Tell me”

Alex tellsrecruited into MI-5, the death of Michelle and their unborn child His years of drifting around fro over his shoulder

“Katherine, I was so lost, so empty I used sex to fill a void To escape reality I used work, e hotel deals, to try to feel alive To feel sohs deeply “And I realized, as soon as I met you, that all of that was pointless”

He tells io Rossi, and how Caprice Belmonte called out of the blue I listen in horror about Nick Stone, and what happened in my flat after I left

“Nick started out so well, he was so together Top of our graduating class at MI-5 And, I don’t know, he co lad it’s over with He can’t hurt anyone else, ever”

“I’rateful you weren’t hurt, or worse I don’t knohat I’d do without you,” I say,over

Alex pulls out a handkerchief, wiping the tears froht here, and I’ly, and I can’t help but return his sh my tears

“All I want now is to share my life with you, Katherine” He kisses me tenderly

“That’s what I want, too I want to be with you, always,” I breathe “Make love to me,” I say, my voice thick with desire

Alex scoopsme to the bed, and places me down on the plush white co our ti us

Afterwards, I raisedown to kiss his lips, his eyes closed