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“I know.”
“Pride is a family trait,” she added unnecessarily.
He smiled. “I noticed. I know something about that as a Sideris, too. You know my family, Helen. I’m accustomed to strong feelings, and I love yours. I loveyou.”
Her hands covered his over her cheeks. “Your mother shared with me some of your losses. Your grandparents. Your sister Alexandra. You’ve mourned, too.”
Tightness nearly closed his throat. “And I nearly lost you. Do you know how it went against almost everything I am not to fight for you by holding you close and not letting you go? Iwantedto.”
“This might sound mad, Nicholas, but it was by letting go of me—with grace—that you showed the full measure of how you love me. That I wasn’t collateral to you. You aren’t going to control me like an object. Only when you let go did I know for certain I could trust you. I’m sorry it took that. I’m sorry I’m so…broken!”
He shook his head. “If you’re broken, we all are. My God”—his thumbs stroked the tears from her cheeks—“I can’t believe you’re truly here.”
“I’ll have you know I’ve been lookingall overfor you! Even before that man from the bank brought the papers. I checkedhereearlier. Then your home—oh, Nicholas, your house!”
“Youare where home is, Helen.”
Her hands tightened on his shoulders. “Until you, I never could have imagined making England home. But it is. You’re home for me, Nicholas.”
Minutes later, panting, he pulled his mouth from hers. “I believe we have revealed some exaggeration in our words. We’re both here, yet this is decidedlynothome.”
He swallowed and leaned back into the high-blacked chair, Helen straddling him, her skirts pooling over his trousers. Though they remained fully dressed, their hands had fully explored each other's bodies, reveling in being reunited.
She groaned, pressing down to rub herself against his unyielding erection.
“We need more privacy,” he said, but his hands closed gently over her breasts again. Through narrowed eyes, he watched the pleasure soften her face as he—
Rat-tat-tat.
Nicholas pressed his head back into the chair and closed his eyes. “Clear the office! All employees are to go home for the day!”
After a long pause, Tate replied. “Very well, sir!”
Helen’s lips, pressed against his neck, curved into a smile.
