Page 100 (1/2)

His smile tilted “Takes a lot of determination, I’ll bet”

“A thick skin, is what it takes You catch people looking at you when you do so dumb, and you want to just shut your eyes and pretend you’re not there” She sighed “You were joking, but I really did have to learn which fork to use Which spoon I even had to learn how to dress”

Gray ran his hand down her back, cupped her bottom “As far as I can see,” he said, his voice a little husky, “you dress just fine”

“I’ht “What are you doing?”

“Just checking what you’re wearing Mmm Feels smooth Silky”

“Gray”

Her voice was breathy; he loved the sound of it, the way it changed when he touched her, like now

“What?”

“I didn’t know… I never thought a man would touch a woman where—where… Gray Oh God, Gray…”

“I like to touch you there” He moved down on the bed, kissed her breasts, her belly, traced the faint line from her navel to the soft curls beloith the tip of his tongue “I like to look at you there, too,” he whispered, slipping his hands under her thighs, lifting her, opening her to him

“No Gray, you can’t—”

“You’re beautiful, sweetheart Every part of you Your face Your breasts This This perfect blossom, with such soft petals and this hidden within it…”

She o blind, felt the answering tug of his own need shoot through his body He whispered her name, put his mouth where his hand had been, and Dawn cried out in shock He kissed her Nipped her Tongued her until she forgot everything but hiht…and felt only how deeply she’d fallen in love

The pale gray of early es of the curtains when Gray awoke Dawn lay sprawled half across him, her head on his chest, her hand splayed over his heart

I love her, he thought, and the realization came so easily, so joyously, that he smiled