An unbearably hot, sweet pressure mounted within her. “Julius, what’s happening to me?”
“I have you, love. Let yourself go. You’ll always be safe with me.”
She knew this, had always felt it was true, and this allowed her to give herself over to these sensations because she trusted him so completely. Starlight and sparkles burst all around her as she lost control and tumbled into a splendid oblivion. How else was she to describe this incredible feeling? Perhaps not so much tumbling as floating, because now that he had her wrapped in his arms, she was gently being carried upward toward the heavens. Nor was it oblivion so much as a newly discovered place within her own body, a place that was beautiful and freeing.
In trusting him, she felt the long existing tangles of her heart unravel.
And she was making those cooing sounds again.
Julius kissed her, his manner gently soothing the rampant beats of her heart. “Better now, love?” he asked, his expression smug and conquering as her breathing calmed.
He stared at her with mirth in his eyes.
Had she just made a fool of herself? “Julius, I am so sorry.”
“Whatever for?”
“This…this ridiculous, wildly out of control response. I didn’t know what I was doing, or what I was supposed to do.”
“Gad, Gory. You were perfect.” He propped on his elbows, for he was still atop her and trying to keep his full weight off her. “So beautiful and perfect. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”
She could not resist laughing. “That is an understatement. It was thrilling.”
“For me, too.”
“But I did not touch you.”
“Love,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose, “you touched my heart as no one else ever could.”
“Well, that is all right then,” she murmured, nestling against him and resting her head on his chest when he eased off her and rolled onto his back.
After a moment, he tucked a finger under her chin and tipped her face up so that their gazes met. “It was the best. Never doubt it.”
He then cast her another conquering smile.
Perhaps she had done something right, after all.
He seemed quite pleased.
“Yes, the very, very best,” she agreed, falling asleep with his arms wrapped around her.
Sometime nearing dawn, a movement startled Gory.
She realized it was Julius shifting closer to rest a hand atop her hip, as though feeling the need to hold onto her even in sleep.
His touch felt wonderful and warmed her.
She did not care that the fire had died out in the grate or that there was a slight chill to the night air.
Julius was beside her and it was paradise.
She turned slowly toward him, wanting to study his handsome face in repose. The graying light of approaching morn filtered in through the windows, allowing her to make out more than mere shadows.
As her eyes adjusted to the dim threads cast upon their cozy bed, she could see the outline of his firm jaw and patrician nose.
She ran her hand lightly along the muscled length of his arm, the good one that was uninjured, and held her breath as she trailed her fingers along the breadth of his chest.
This elicited a soft growl from him. “Is it morning already?”
