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As soon as his thoughts were wholly his own, he began to worry. Without shielding in place, she could unknowingly broadcast her thoughts. Worse yet, she could be prone to mistaking others' thoughts as her own. He would protect her when they were together, but he needed to start training her as soon as possible.
He closed his eyes, dreaming of Rebecca as a trained telepath, and the ecstasy they could share. Now he recognized the feeling her kisses inspired, the feeling he hadn't been able to name before. It had been the merest hint of this profound union. While they made love, he'd actually lost his mind for a moment. She surrounded him, filled him. He was nothing without her.
He had to have her by his side always. It wasn't love. It was more primal than that. He needed her. She was his other half. And he would never let her leave him.
DESMOND WOKE to Nurse Peters's startled gasp. She stood in the doorway, her mouth rounded in a comical "O" of disbelief.
He couldn't stop an idiotic grin from covering his face. "You may be the first to congratulate us. We're to be married."
She blinked, assimilating that fact, then smiled broadly at the pair in the bed. "Congratulations. But Ms. Morgan needs her rest."
"Of course." Desmond turned to Rebecca, or where she'd been until the nurse arrived. A huddle of blankets confronted him. His bride-to-be was shy.
"Rebecca. Darling. If Nurse Peters was going to censure anyone, it would be me. So poke your head out and accept her congratulations."
Rebecca mumbled ascent and pushed aside the sheet, revealing her crimson face.
"Thank you," she said softly. But her internal monologue carried clearly to him. How could I be so swept away by passion that I'd agree to something so stupid? This is all a terrible mistake.
The shock snapped his mental shields up, cutting off Rebecca's unwanted revelations. Second thoughts? They were perfect for each other. She had to see that.
A chill premonition doused the lingering warmth of his happiness. She'd already proved how far she was willing to go in order to escape from situations she found untenable. If she felt that way about their engagement, she might take desperate steps to correct the situation. He couldn't risk losing her.
"Mr. Lacroix?" Nurse Peters asked. "Is something wrong?"
"I just realized that I'll be separated from my fiancee when I go home to look after Gillian. Is there any reason why she can't be released now? I promise I'll look after her very well."
"We have to talk," Rebecca whispered.
"I'll check with the doctor," the nurse answered, gifting them with a knowing grin, "but I'm sure there won't be any problem. In fact, I'll go get him now, and be back in a few minutes."
She hurried from the room, rattling the door knob after she left to make sure the door closed securely.
"I believe that's my cue to get dressed," Desmond said, slipping out from beneath the covers without touching Rebecca. He gathered up his clothing, putting it on as he found it. Although his shirt had lost two buttons during their frenzied disrobing, he'd lost his soul during the aftermath, the first time they'd made love. That loss couldn't be put right with a tailor's needle.
Rebecca didn't say a word during his search, didn't even look at him. She disappeared under the covers, resurfacing with the hospital gown crumpled in her hand.
"I can't wear this. It's torn."
"Nurse Peters hung your clothes in the closet. I'll get them for you."
"Just the shirt should be fine."
He opened the closet door and pulled out her shirt, the soft cotton reminding him of the way her hospital gown felt as it parted beneath his hands. He could convince her of their rightness for each other if he made love to her again. But there had to be a way to convince her when she wasn't half mad with pleasure, some argument that her rational reporter's brain would accept.
"Here you go." When he handed her the shirt, his fingers brushed hers in a soft caress. She snatched her hand away as if he'd burned her.
"Thank you." She waited, glaring at him. "Well? Aren't you going to turn around?"
"Rebecca, I just kissed every inch of you. There is no reason on earth for you to be bothered by my seeing you."
"You took advantage of me." Her soft voice chilled him, a finger of doubt insinuating itself deep into his heart. Then his anger flared up to burn away his fears.
"And how did I do that? I told you I wanted to wait, for fear of hurting you. You're the one who insisted."
"That wasn't me. It was the drugs."
"Liar. You wanted us to make love as much as I did. If you're upset now, it's because you wanted sex with no strings attached."
