Charis’ eyes filled with tears at his words. “OhSinjun.”
“I mean it.” He kissed her softly. “You’re a special woman. We’remeantto be together. Can’t you feel it? It’s right, us being like this. As if fate arranged our meeting.”
She nodded. “Yes. I feel it too.”
“Then marry me. Say yes. Take a chance on a man who isn’t a lackwit?” His eyes twinkled as laughter shone in their depths.
“Yes.” She smiled back, her heart full of joy and her lips curving even as he kissed them again. “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I’ll marry you.”
He hugged her so tightly her eyes watered.
“Wait. One thing.” She held him away. “How do you feel about breeding horses?”
“They can do it themselves. I’m planning on breeding withyou.” He chuckled. “But yes, I think I’d like that.”
“Then it’s a deal. Iwillmarry you, darling Sinjun. My not-a-lackwit husband-to-be.” She paused. “I wonder what thereallackwit will say about all this.”
Sinjun cuddled her close, kissed her thoroughly, and then said the oddest thing. “I doubt he’ll mind at all.”
*~~*~~*
Some miles away, Louisa Lloyd-Jones stretched languorously in bed and wiggled her toes against her husband, Professor Owen Lloyd-Jones. “D’you think Sinjun will work out his problems?”
“Still worrying about him, sweetheart?” Owen turned his head on the pillow. He was panting, happily immersed in sexual satiety. It was always thus with Louisa. Always had been and, God willing, always would be.
“He’s a very nice person. He deserves better than he’s had.” She sighed. “I do hope he took my advice and spent some time thinking about his future before letting it all be arranged for him.” She nuzzled Owen’s shoulder. “He struck me as being a very passionate man, Owen. The mere thought of him shackled to someone he doesn’t care for in the right way—well, it makes me shudder.”
“Trouble is,” Owen paused. “Once men meet you, they start looking for someonelikeyou. They don’t realize there isn’t anyone else like you in the whole world. If he’s off somewhere hoping to find another Louisa, he’s engaging in an exercise in futility.”
As Owen had guessed, that flattering but true comment was productive of some delightful responses. Quite some time passed before he could gather his thoughts, since he found himself again surprised at the rapidity with which his wife could arouse him to full hardness.
“That was quite lovely.” She sighed later. “But getting back to our earlier topic, there are plenty of women like me in the world. Women who believe that they deserve every bit as much pleasure from the sexual act as men. Women who aren’t afraid of their bodies and how they respond.”
“I’m sure you’re right, darling.” Owen dragged the covers over them, agreeing with words, but doubting them in his thoughts. There wasn’t a woman alive like his precious Louisa. There couldn’t be.
Of course, if he’d had chance to speak with Sinjun Randall at that moment, he’d have learned otherwise. There was indeed another woman who resembled Louisa in a variety of wonderful ways. And Sinjun had nabbed her before anyone else even knew.
Charis washis. He’d compromised her, ruined her and intended to spend the rest of his life repeating his wicked deeds.
And as for the woman herself? Well, she was far too content to think about anything other than the wonderful man lying beside her. Who happened to be gazing hopefully at her as his fingers wandered over interesting places on her body.
Without hesitation, she returned the favor, letting her own hands roam freely, her lips curling into a wicked grin when she found acertainspot…
THE END
