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She jabbed his chest playfully.
He grabbed hold of her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss, a tender, loving kiss. “You and I were meant to be. Fate decreed it, and we can’t fight fate.”
She smiled. “I keep forgetting. You’re always right.” Her smile faded. “But what if—”
“No what-ifs.”
“But if fate decrees otherwise?”
“Then I defy fate,” he said, with a shake of a fist to the heavens and a grin. “And fate learns I’m always right.”
Her chuckle was broken by a yawn.
“Sleep,” he urged, stroking along the length of her back.
“I love when you touch me.” She sighed.
“Then I’ll touch you to sleep.” And his hand began to work magic over her, caressing and kneading along her back, her shoulder, her arm.
She sighed aloud. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
He nipped at her ear. “Never, Tara. Never will I stop touching you.”
Chapter 28
Exhaustion crept over Reeve, but he couldn’t sleep. He closed his eyes, but they soon drifted open. He tried to calm his mind, but it soon filled with thoughts. Try as he might, sleep eluded him. All through his restlessness, he had kept Tara snug against him. She hadn’t moved since falling asleep over an hour ago, which meant she was content, and he intended to see she remained that way.
He hadn’t considered how they would avoid the obstacles already in their path or those to come. He only knew that he would protect her with his life, even against fate if necessary.
He yawned, had been for the last hour, though it hadn’t helped him sleep. It more tormented him, letting him know just how tired he was but that nothing would come of it. He’d lain there awake, his musings haunting him.
Then there was his mission to consider. It would soon make more demands of him, and there would be times he would have to leave Tara and see to his duty. He and his brothers knew that, and it was the very reason why they had planned not to fall in love ... just yet. They had concluded that there was no time for it, but as he had learned, love doesn’t consider time. It arrives when and where it pleases.
The next yawn had him squeezing his eyes tight and spreading his mouth wide. Lord, he was tired and wanted to sleep. Here he could finally sleep, feeling safe, not worrying about someone bursting in and stealing Tara away from him. He was glad for the snowstorm that raged outside. It meant they would have time alone together. They would have time to talk, to plan
And—to make love as often as they liked.
Tara stirred, stretching as she turned away from him. He almost didn’t let her go, turning to take hold of her, but she snuggled her back against him. And he, in turn, draped his arm and leg over her, cuddling her tight.
Warmth and the scent of their lovemaking drifted around them, not to mention the sweet aroma of her hair. He took a deep breath, breathing in her rich scent. And he smiled as his eyes drifted closed, and this time they didn’t open.
Reeve opened his eyes slowly. He lay on his side, hugging the edge of the bed, and he smiled when he thought of who lay behind him. His eyes opened fully, and he was about to turn and take hold of Tara when his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
She stood completely naked in front of the fireplace, her backside to him. She was washing herself from a bucket by the hearth. Her pale skin glistened from the fire’s light dancing across it.
Good Lord, she was a beauty. He loved the fullness of her hips, the roundness of her backside, and the slender strength of her legs, which he was thinking would fit quite nicely around his waist as he slipped comfortably inside her.
The image had him slipping out of bed as quietly as he could to sneak up undetected behind her though he wasn’t as subtle as he had thought. She went eagerly into his arms as they wrapped around her, and her damp, shimmering skin was like quick fire to his loins.
“I thought you would never wake,” she said, resting her head back so that their cheeks met.
“And imagine my surprise and delight when I caught a beautiful water nymph washing in front of the fireplace.” He nibbled hungrily along her ear, and she tilted her head, offering her neck to him. He kissed along the silky column, enjoying the fresh taste of her.
She rubbed her backside against him, and he ran his hand down between her legs to tease, but she turned quickly in his arms.
“No time,” she whispered, nipping at his lips. “I want you inside me now.”
Reeve didn’t waste a minute. He threw his arms around her and hoisted her up, her legs swinging to wrap around his waist. Once she settled, he eased his way into her, not wanting to jab into her like a rutting animal. But she wanted none of his gentleness; she plunged down on him, taking the full length of him inside her. She threw back her head with a sensual moan, and all thought of tender lovemaking vanished.
