He sighed.She wasn’t going to let this go as easily as he hoped.“It intrigues me.”
She snapped the book closed.“It’s depressing.”
“That too.”
She pulled away from him, scooted up in bed and to his great disappointment, pulled the covers over her breasts.“Most people believe the seven seals were opened when Rome fell.”
“I’ve heard that theory.”They were wrong, of course.None of the seals were opened because only one person could open them and that person had yet to reveal himself.The key,Michael had said.Christien’s gaze went to the key at Madelaine’s neck.A trinket no farmer could afford.
“You don’t believe Rome was the opening of the seals?”
She was far too perceptive for her own good.“No.I don’t.”
“So you think the Apocalypse is yet to come?”
Not if he could help it.“Hopefully it will never come.”
A crease marred her brow and he wanted to growl in frustration.He had a naked woman in his bed, a woman he loved to distraction, who was distracting him with her hidden breasts and all she wanted to talk about was the Apocalypse?
“I’m trying to remember the story.Something about seven seals and four horsemen.”
He leaned against the headboard.He wasn’t going to get what he wanted until she finished this conversation.Much to his regret.“There are seven seals.The first four are the horsemen of the Apocalypse representing conquest, war, famine and death.Alone they will destroy civilization.The remaining three seals will devastate the earth and all other living creatures.”
“Like I said, depressing.”
“Exactly.”He pulled her down on top of him and pressed his erection against her stomach.Her eyes darkened and a mischievous smile played around the corners of her mouth.
“You don’t want to discuss the Apocalypse?”
He growled and kissed her, trying to erase all thoughts of the Apocalypse, the horsemen and the Book of Revelation.
“Cool tattoo.”Lainie touched the Celtic cross above Christien’s heart, surprised he had a tattoo.Then again, she shouldn’t be surprised.Beneath the designer suits and hand-woven shirts lurked a soldier, a man with a warrior’s mentality.
He rubbed the tattoo.“A whim.I got it in Scotland a long time ago.”
She raised her eyebrows.“Scotland, huh?”She’d never been out of Wisconsin let alone the country.Scotland was a fairytale land to her.Just another of the big differences between them, but she wasn’t going to allow the thought to diminish her good mood.
Right now she was sated, her bones barely solid after making love to Christien twice.He was an unrelenting lover, unsatisfied until she fell apart screaming.Not just once but over and over again.She’d had orgasms before with other lovers, but they were nothing compared to the heights Christien had taken her.It left her breathless and, surprisingly, wanting more.
He was lying on his side, his hand idly playing with the ends of her hair.His body was loose, the normal tension gone from him.
“I know you are determined to return to work tomorrow.”
She closed her eyes, praying he wouldn’t ask her to give up her job because at this moment she wasn’t sure she had the strength to fight him and she had to be strong.She had to think of her father.Without a paycheck, he would lose his place in the nursing home.
“Will you come back to me after work?”He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes.“Move in with me, Madelaine.Live with me.”
“Oh.”Oh.She didn’t quite know what to think about that.A little scared, a little excited.He wasn’t asking her to marry him.If he had, she probably would have bolted off the bed and run away.Marriage was way too big of a commitment way too fast.But living with him?She’d never lived with a man before.The thought of returning to her apartment alone didn’t appeal to her.But moving in here?
“You sure you want me under your feet all the time?”
His eyes darkened to a stormy gray.“I want you under me, over me, any way I can get you.”
His words had her squirming.Surely she didn’t want him so hungrily again, but she did.She could have this every night.He was offering it to her.And much more.The chance to be with him, to learn about him.The other Madelaine and Christien never had the chance to explore their love, to see where it could take them.To justbewithout the fear of discovery.This would be like giving them a second chance.And maybe that’s what the dreams were about.Second chances.Righting a wrong.
A do-over.
She smiled up at Christien.“As long as you know what you’re getting into, I would love to live with you.”
