She was going to be the undoing of him—in all ways. Elise was tearing apart his doubts, his regrets, even the arrogance that had forced him to run from all that he had once loved.
And now, she was rebuilding him. Molding him into a man he respected.
He wanted to give her everything. All of him.
Kit felt her tighten. She seemed lost, so he guided her. Paced her. And when the time was right, when he knew she was close to the pinnacle, he thrust deep and let her go.
She did. Her cry reaching fulfillment vibrated around him. Her body held him tight, tighter, and then he too was flying into his own release—and the two of them... the two ofthem...became one.
One. The thought brought the sting of tears to his eyes. He’d never grasped until this moment what it meant. But she was his; he belonged to her. Never again would he be alone. Ever. Their bodies had been joined with a force that was mystical. Wonderous. Shattering.
They lay very still. Kit’s heartbeat racedthrough his veins. Where their bodies were still connected, he could feel the pounding of her blood. It mirrored his own.
Elise moved first. He slid off her, suddenly aware of how heavy he might be to her. He rolled, taking her with him so she lay on top of him as languid as a cat. She looked down, her eyes slightly bemused, her lips well kissed.
“Is it always like that?”
Gently, he slipped her hair back from her lovely face. “Elise, it has never been that way before. Not since the beginning of time.”
Her laugh was soft. “It was perfect, Kit.” And then she added, “My ruffian.” She laid her head down on his chest and he enfolded her in his arms.
Above them were the stars in a cloudless night sky. He stroked the point where her spine met her hips. He didn’t know what the future held, but he did know he would never give up Elise. Never.
***
Elise felt at peace. At last the world made sense.
Fate had not set her on this trip to reach Ireland or find her father. No, she was here to fall in love with Kit.
He had not said he loved her.
Resting her head against his chest, her hips onhis, she decided it didn’t matter. She wasn’t reserved like Gwendolyn. She didn’t measure everything like Dara.
No, she was the Lanscarr sister who plunged into life. And she had to be true to herself, no matter what the outcome. She loved him enough for both of them. She also knew the truth—he loved her as well. She’d just have to wait for him to say it.
There was stickiness between her legs. Probably blood and the life force that meant she was now a part of Kit.
He appeared to be studying the stars. She eased herself to his side and focused on them as well. “There are a million of them up there,” she said.
“If the moon wasn’t so bright, we could see more. This is unlike London. No one can see as many stars as possible in the sky there.”
“So, you’ve been to London?” She drew a line back and forth on his chest, admiring the hard planes in the moonlight.
“I have.”
“Another clue to the mystery of Kit Cox,” she said. When he didn’t offer more, she continued, “This sky is very much like Wiltham, except we have more stars.”
“Of course you would believe there were more stars in your precious Ireland.”
“Because it is true,” she assured him. Her lover was a well-formed man. She ran her hand down his abdomen and going to parts lower—
Kit caught her hand. “What are you doing?”
“Investigating.”
He laughed. She liked when he laughed. His teeth were strong and straight.
She was also mesmerized by the freedom to explore his body. There had been times when she had marveled at the way he’d moved, at his strength, and quickness. His muscles were long and lean, his arms and legs perfectly formed. Any woman would admire him, but he was hers. She’d marked him this night, just for her.
