第37部分(第5/7 頁)

r。　If　she　hadn't　already　gotten　the

message；　he　did　then。　There　was　a　vow　in　his　kiss；　a　declaration；　a

promise。

〃I　love　you　。。。　love　you　。。。　love　you；〃　she　whispered　at　the　very　first

chance；　loving　being　able　to　say　it　at　last。

When　his　hands　moved　down　to　frame　her　face　and　tip　it　up；　she　savored

the　devotion　she　saw。　His　eyes　asked　a　question；　hers　answered。　Then　he

lifted　her　into　his　arms　and　carried　her　back　down　the　narrow　staircase

to　the　room　with　the　large　bed；　his　bed。

This　time；　when　he　lowered　her　and　reached　for　the　hem　of　her　sweater；

she　caught　his　hands　and　stilled　them。　〃Let　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　need　to

know　you。〃

He　searched　her　eyes　for　a　minute。　Then；　silently；　he　sat　back　on　the

bed　and　let　her　undress　him。　When　his　big　body　was　bare；　she　could　only

marvel　at　its　beauty；　at　the　beauty　of　the　love　she　felt。　She　explored

his　every　sinew；　touching　him　with　innocent　wonder　from　his　shoulders　to

his　thighs；　skimming　lean　planes；　tracing　manly　swells；　delighting　in

his　arousal。

When　his　patience　was　exhausted；　he　made　a　gutteral　sound。　〃That's　it；

honey。　That's　it。〃　With　bullet　speed；　he　flipped　over　her　and　removed

every　stitch　of　her　clothes。

They　lay　naked　then　on　the　cool　sheets；　facing　one　another。　Their

breathing　was　heavy　with　need　and　want；　but　he　held　her　off　for　those

last　few　infinitely　trying　seconds。　His　eyes　ran　the　length　of　her　once

more　before　searching　her　soul。

〃Are　you　sure？〃　he　asked　softly。

〃I　love　you；〃　she　replied。

〃But　it's　different　for　a　woman；　isn't　it？〃

〃Not　when　she's　in　love。〃

〃Then　you'll　be　mine？〃

She　grinned。　〃If　you