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“These past four days They’ve been a gift for me More precious than you can ever know I’ve tasted freedom and learned how to love All because of you I wouldn’t take a minute back Not one minute”

He couldn’t speak It was iet a word out, it would be to beg her to stay with hi neither of them could make happen

“Make love to me, Luke One last time Please”

She didn’t have to ask He was hers as much as she was his And he would have told her so if any of the words in his head would make it out of his mouth But they wouldn’t leave his lips It would make it all too real So, instead of words, he pressed his mouth to hers and enfolded her in his arms

His kiss was reverent He needed her to kno precious she was to hi Much Too o on without her? Hoas it even possible?

His ar to hold her to this life “I wish…” he ed to croak out

“No” Her fingers touched his lips as she stared deep into his eyes,

seeing his soul, knowing all of hirets”

He kissed her again, tasting every corner of herher taste, the feel of her satin-soft lips, the sue danced with hers He kissed her with everything he had Giving her all of him Because he was hers Only hers

With a glance to make sure they were still hidden from the cameras and she was protected, he reached for her shirt This was their time, no one else’s He hated that he’d failed her That she was spending the last precious minutes of her life locked up when she’d desperately wanted to be free She should have been in a palace, in a bed of satin, with the sun shining through the s onto her golden hair He felt his body tense at the injustice of it all, and the rage he fought to suppress began to bubble up again

“Shh,” she whispered as she cupped his cheek “It’s just us That’s all that matters”

He forced himself to relax and concentrate on the woman in front of him He had to ry at a future he was helpless to change

“Yeah, bébé, just us”

He helped her wriggle out of her clothes, and she knelt before hiHis eyes trailed down her body, lingering on her soft curves and porcelain skin She was perfection And he needed to feel her skin to skin He reached down, grabbed his shirt, and tugged it off His pants and boots followed fast She studied hi every tiny movement

“I love the color of your skin” Her voice was husky with desire