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She opened her eyes, prepared to defend her decision against her persuasive, relentless lover.
“Then we must rise,” he said quietly first, his acquiescence surprising her. “I woke you with no time to spare. You were…spent.”
His satisfied smile spurred her own. She stretched, her arms flying above her head. Her head turned to the side. She blinked, frowning. The flame of the taper flickered so because it was guttering.
She sat up.
“How long have you been awake?”
“For some time,” he admitted after a moment, looking up from her lips.
“What have you been doing?”
One of his big shoulders lifted and fell. “Dreaming. With my eyes open.”
Clara huffed out a self-conscious laugh; it caught in her throat.
He stroked the hair at her temple gently. His eyes dropped to her neck; his mouth followed, pressing a warm, wet kiss against her pulse. Her hands closed over his shoulders.
“You’ll return to me?” he asked against her skin, his voice stark.
Absurd laughter nearly bubbled from her before she tamped down on it. The man actually sounded worried that she might not seek him out again!
“Yes,” she replied simply.
His body relaxed against hers. “Tonight.”
“Not tonight,” she whispered.
“Tomorrow.”
She sighed. “I have the theater. The following day,” she decided. “I shall call in two days’ time.” Her fingers trailed reassuringly over his shoulder blade.
“That’s not soon enough.”
“We must be measured in how often we meet.”
She dropped her gaze to the jumble of bedding covering his immense mattress. She’d clutched handfuls of the sheets as she climaxed; their long, entwined legs had twisted them further.
In the candlelight, shadows dwelled in the dual indentations their heads made on a single pillow; they’d slept so close together. She swallowed, traces of his taste still on her tongue.
A shiver ran through her, and his warm hands ran down her back comfortingly.
“Are you cold?”
She shook her head. “I’m frightened.”
His large hands stilled on her. “Of me?”
“No!” Clara searched for how to describe her discomfort. “I’m not supposed to be acquainted with you at all. And I’ve—I’ve shared your bed now. I wanted to, and I want it again. The decision has been taken. But how many rules can I ignore? Where is the line?”
“What line?”
She shrugged, her unbound hair tickling her shoulders. “Where I have ignored so many rules that I destroy my own world.”
“Remember your terms? Your demand that I please you? Did I fulfill my promise?”
Eyes burning, she could only nod.
