Page 104 of Plain Jane Wanted

“The leaves on the ground,” he said, his voice suddenly husky, “are mint and lemon verbena and camomile, I think, and some other things. I chose anything soft enough that smelled nice. Think of it like a herbal carpet. What else did you ask me?”

Both his arms were around her, pressing her against him. his arousal, like an iron fist inside his trousers, pushed against her, and her knees nearly buckled.

George breathed into the side of her face. “Oh yes, the rest of my suit is on the back of a chair inside your cottage. Which, incidentally, is where I think your dress should be, because I’d hate toruin it.”

In the end, the dress was hung on a branch of eucalyptus.

The herb carpet was thick and soft, and it released a different wonderful fragrance with eachmovement.

They made love with aching tenderness at first which built up into a storm. She gave herself up completely to him, to his hands and his lips and to the forceful rolling of his hips into her. And he gave himself up to her too, let her taste him and enjoy him as they both took their needs from each other againand again.

They lay panting side by side, slick with sweat on the fragrant carpet, leaves sticking to their skin. It was a long time before they could speak.

“Millie?” Her name sounded beautiful when he said it. But she wanted to say something first.

“George. I only found out tonight that this used to be the cottage where your mother grew up. I would never have taken it if I knew—”

He kissed her, and the wordswent away.

“I’m glad you didn’t know,” he said later. Much later. “I was trying to keep it like an empty shrine, a mausoleum. You made it into a place of beauty and life. Something worthy of my mother. Thank you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain last Easter. I’m sorry I mistrusted you.”

“Millie.” His voice roughened. “Can you get up, please? I need you tostand up.”

His eyes were on her as she stood up. He remained on his knees, his head tousled, stray bits of lavender tangled in his hair. Millie smoothed her fingers through his hair, and she couldn’t let go. She wanted to keep her hands in his hair forever. Please. Because he was up on his knees, she pulled his head into her stomach and stroked his hair with both hands.

“I don’t think this will work out like this.” He stood up. Taking her hand in both of his, he kissed the tips of her fingers. She stoppedbreathing.

“I forgot to answer one of your questions earlier,” he said.

She waited, still not breathing. This man was going to kill her if he didn’thurry up.

“I came here tonight to ask you something,” he said, eyes shining in the moonlight. “Will you be my friend? My lover? My equal?” He kissed her fingertips. “Millie. Will you bemy wife?”

Millie started breathing. This magnificent naked man. This brave-hearted, amazing, surprizing man who not only had her fingers but her entire heart in his big warm hands.

“Do you have an answer for me?” he asked, reaching for her other hand. He held both of them against his heart. Millie could feel it hammering insidehis chest.

“I was waiting for you to finish talking,” she said, her voice a half whisper, half sigh. “I will never, ever again interrupt you.” The scent of fragrant trees was all around them.

“So?”

“I take you, George. As an equal, a lover, a friend. I take you as myhusband.”

In the end, they decided to lie down on the herb carpet again because it was easier to make lovethat way.

The End