“Yes, love, he is wonderful.”
Her smile faded. “What of Geneva?”
“They’ll hold her in Baltimore until they can see to it that she’s shipped off to England.”
“It was her all along!”
“Well—almost all along,” Eric said.
Amanda flushed. “All right, I was guilty, somewhat. But you sent me to France because of her! You—”
“I most humbly beg your forgiveness, my love.”
“Really? You?” She smiled. “I cannot imagine you humble at all. Nor begging.”
“Well, maybe not.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “But the words sounded sweet anyway.”
“Would you like to hear more words that sound sweet?”
“Mmm…”
He stood up, cast aside his cloak, and quickly stripped down. He ripped away the blanket and she was cold, but then his body settled over hers, and she thought that she had never know such sweet and beautiful warmth. He caught her face between his hands and began kissing her.
“It’s over,” she whispered between trysts with his lips.
He paused, looking down at her very seriously. “Amanda, it is far from over.”
“The war. It seems so very grim, doesn’t it? Dark and grim and frightening. But for us, my love, it is over. Our war is over.”
Eric smiled. “Aye, love, our war is over. No matter what time and distance should take from us again, we can never really be parted because we have found our peace. Love—and trust.”
She smiled. “Love—and trust.”
He started to kiss her again. She caught hold of his shoulders and forced his eyes to hers. “Did you really love me from the very beginning?”
“Mmm.”
“Liar!”
“Well, I coveted you with all of my being. How is that?”
“You said—”
He twined his fingers with hers, bracing her hands tightly at the sides of her head. “Amanda!” he wailed.
“All right!” She closed her eyes. She felt the pulse of his body naked against hers, the heat, the wonder of muscle and sinew and hard masculinity. She wondered if it was all right to pray, to thank God, in the midst of such sweet splendor.
She opened her eyes. “I do surrender!” she promised him.
“You do?” Silver mischief rode his eyes like clouds dancing in the night. “Then, my love, I gladly conquer all.”
“Eric!”
His laugh warmed and roused her, his breath taunted her ear wickedly. “Love, I surrender all that I am, my heart and my soul, this night! Life has been tempest, and will be again, but through any of my rages and storms, my love, you will know: I have surrendered.”
She sighed, and she felt his kiss.
