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"Oh wait," Melissa begged as she backed out of his embrace. "I'll need another nightgown. The one I had on last night was stained so badly I had to throw it out."
Ian looked puzzled for a moment, but then understood what she meant, and believed that when he had made love to her, the nightgown had been soiled rather than the bed. He brushed her request aside. "You won't need a nightgown tonight, anymore than you did last night. Now come back here, and I'll help you out of your gown."
"But I'll need something to wear in the morning, after you're gone," she reminded him.
"Wear your chemise."
Relieved by how easily she had been able to refer to the stained nightgown, Melissa ceased to argue. Very pleased with herself, she turned her back and lifted her hair out of his way. His fingertips brushed her nape, and she shivered slightly. As always, he was very gentle and sweet, but she stopped him when he reached her chemise.
"Now you must help me," he suggested.
"What? You can't reach the buttons on your shirt, or unhook your belt buckle?"
"No, I'm much too tired to undress myself tonight."
"You certainly don't look tired. How's your headache?"
"It was gone by mid-afternoon, but I still need help in getting undressed."
"You can at least remove your boots, can't you?"
Ian shook his head. "That would be much too taxing for me."
"You scarcely look incapacitated, Lieutenant."
"Humor me."
A teasing wink convinced Melissa to do just that. "Sit down, and I'll help you with your boots. After all, I can't have you sharing my bed while wearing them."
"I agree. That would be ruinous to the linens." Melissa gave his right boot a hearty yank and then, remembering Alanna was directly below them, she set it down carefully rather than dropping it, and reached for his left. "I think you must be very spoiled."
"Terribly." Ian waited until she had peeled off his socks to stand. "The buttons on this shirt are so tiny, I have difficulty finding them."
"I don't recall your ever being this clumsy, Ian."
"It's the strain of marriage, madam. It will do that to a man."
"How tragic. It's not permanent, I hope."
"It could be, if I don't receive the proper care."
Melissa had his shirt unbuttoned now. His chest was covered with crisp red curls, while Hunter's golden bronze skin had been hairless. Why had she again thoug
ht of him? she wondered. Hunter was gone, and he ought to have been forgotten. She reached up on her tiptoes to kiss Ian. When he wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her close, she relaxed against him.
"How marvelous," she exclaimed. "You've recovered from your clumsiness."
Ian stepped back and made an ineffectual pass at his belt buckle. "No, I'm still all thumbs. You'll have to keep helping me."
Melissa unfastened the buckle. "I may be able to help you undress tonight, but you'll have to dress yourself in the morning."
"You'll not get up to help me?"
"There's no reason for me to wake up before dawn."
Again Ian pulled her close for a kiss. "I'll give you one then."
Melissa slipped her arms under his open shirt to hug him. His skin had an inviting warmth, but still no magical tingle. She rested her cheek on his chest for a moment, but when she closed her eyes, Hunter's bright smile flashed in her mind. Startled, she clung to Ian all the more tightly.
