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More handsome, eh? “Well, my face thanks you. If it were not for you, it may not exist at all.” She giggled, which was charming. “It’s the beard, isn’t it?”

“Definitely the beard,” she replied with a laugh, reaching up to caress his beard. “It tickles when you kiss me.”

He turned towards her, his heart hammering. “Does it? And do you like that?” Please let the answer be yes.

Elena’s eyes lifted to his. “I do.”

“Do you want me to kiss you again, Elena?” He realized after he asked how hopeful he sounded. Truth was, he was desperate to kiss her again.

Now she was really blushing. “I do,” she said softly.

Thomas didn’t need to be told twice. He lent her way and with one arm, pulled her towards him, pressing his lips to hers. She tasted of wine, sweet and perfect. Intoxicating.

She broke the kiss and moved to sit in his lap, facing him so that he could feel all of her beautiful, luscious body against him. The kiss deepened, and Thomas could feel his body tightening in reaction to her wriggling about above his nether regions. They needed to slow down. He broke the kiss. She looked disappointed, and that was the last thing he wanted.

“There is no rush, Elena.” He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her nose. That made her laugh again. Kissing her behind her ear made her shiver and clutch him closer. Moving his lips down the column of her neck to the hollow of her shoulder, he placed his kisses strategically to see where she liked them best.

“You are so beautiful, Elena. Every part of you is so soft, and I want to kiss every inch of you.”

“Si, por favor, Tomas.”

The sound of his name on her lips, said in that wanting tone, made him grow harder still. He used his fingers to push her gown off one shoulder, kissing the exposed flesh. She arched back so that he now had access to the tops of her breasts as well. Elena Diaz was glorious, letting him explore at his leisure while keeping her fingers in his hair.

How would he keep his hands off her for the journey? How would he let her go when the time came? He pushed that thought away. All he needed to do right now was give her pleasure. He cursed his broken arm as it stopped him from embracing her fully. It prevented him from carrying her to their pallet and laying her down reverently as she deserved.

“Elena,” he said. His heart thundered in his chest like a wild animal wanting out of its cage.

She opened her eyes, and for the first time, looked directly into his. “Si,” she replied.

Elena hopped off his lap and put out her hand. He took it and followed her up the stairs and into their room.

Making it absolutely clear what she wanted, she pulled his shirt off over his head and spread her hands over his chest. Only the scars remained now. His ribs were still tender, but her fingertips explored his chest with soft caresses, as if mapping every rib and scar for later.

Thomas helped her with her gown, and when they were both standing naked in front of each other, they kissed. Softly at first, their hands roamed each other as their kisses became more urgent.

Pushing him down onto the pallet, she straddled him, his hands reaching for her breasts, squeezing and kneading them. God’s blood, but he wanted her. His body was ready, but was hers? He brought his hand down her belly and through the dark curls at her apex. He slipped a finger in, and she threw her head back. She rocked against his hand as he probed softly.

“Tomas! Agradar.”

That was all the confirmation he needed. He brought her forward for a kiss and guided himself inside her. She seated herself on him with a sigh and began to move at her own pace. With her hands on his shoulders and her hair cascading over them both, it was like they had created a reality where only they existed. Where all time stopped. All the tension of the last few weeks, all the pain he had endured, seemed unimportant at this moment. Her moans of pleasure matched his own as they rode higher and higher. She came first, a mix of trembling twitches and the fractured sound of pleasure that rang out from her beautiful lips. He soon joined her as she collapsed on top of him. Thomas held her to him, never wanting to let her go.

Sadly, not too far in the distant future, he would have to do just that.

Chapter Seven

Christina did very well on their behalf. Her dear neighbor had acquired a nice sturdy cart and an old but healthy-looking donkey. Though her friend had given Tomas a thorough inspection, when he thanked her in Spanish and complimented her omelet of the other day, Elena saw that Christina thawed a little towards him.

By the time they had packed the cart with all their supplies, there was room for only one of them to sit in the back while the other led the donkey. After hugging Christina, Elena and Tomas waved goodbye and walked down the road. She did not look back.

“Are you all right?” he asked her after a few minutes.

“Si.” Inside, her heart felt dull, and her throat and lungs pained her. Suppressing tears would do that. She would not cry.

“There is no shame in feeling sad. It was your home.”

“Not anymore. The French made sure of that.” Her voice came out hoarse, and she swallowed convulsively to control her emotions.

Tomas studied her for a moment and wisely left her alone. They had a long day ahead. Instead, she thought of happier things. Like Tomas’s lips on hers, his hands roaming her body. They both had needed the release that came with making love. To feel for a while instead of the constant tension they had both been under. It had certainly improved his mood. Remembering back, she pictured him walking out of the room naked. He had a nice culo which she’d admired as he left the room. Would they dare make love out in the open while they traveled?