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hingness Then he went over—plunging doard, his piercing screa away as it ed up by the rushing currents

A heartbeat of silence

Abruptly Julian bolted to his feet, stalking over to Aurora and dragging her into his arht," he commanded

The pistol slid to the ground and Aurora nodded, gazing up at Julian as if to verify that he was indeed here, safe, as was she "I' up to touch his face, to lay her pal ht you were … that he had…" Two tears slid down her cheeks "That I was about to lose you"

"You'll never lose nited her husband's eyes "Not now—not ever" He gathered her close, pressed her head to his chest "I love you," he proclaiht, his lips buried in her hair "God, how I love you"

Chapter 15

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They spent all that day and night at a Fal their bodies with food, then bathing away the dirt and horrors of the past hours, and—finally, finally—cli into the warm, soft bed

"This is heaven," Aurora h

"No," Julian ainst his "This is heaven" He caressed the delicate line of her spine, his hands gliding down to cup her bottoher shoulders, her neck, her throat "But I can't I need you God, I aled back her head, and buried his lips in hers

"We can sleep later" Aurora twined her ar his need to reaffirm their life, their love "Much later"

He kissed her deeply, hungrily, possessing her hness and an equal aht?" he demanded between kisses "That son of a bitch didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No, he didn't hurt me" Aurora's palaze directly into his eyes "As for how I am, I'd be totally renewed if you'd repeat those three wonderful words you said to me on the cliff"

A spasm of emotion crossed Julian's face, passion te deeper, more profound "Gladly," he said, his voice husky with emotion "I love you You can't kno much God help " He sed, cradling her face between his pal o; that I could control how much I allowed you to permeate my existence, my heart—that I even wanted to try The truth is, ed the ed And I wouldn't undo that change for all the world's adventures combined"

Tears glistened on Aurora's lashes "When did you realize you loved me?"