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I swallowed. “Yes.”

Her hand moved to the ties of my pajama pants. “Should we take it all off then?”

I sucked in a breath at the thought of being naked with her.

“If you’d like?” she whispered.

“I… I would very much like to.”

She giggled into my neck. “Can I take off yours, then?”

“Yes.”

Her fingers pulled at the tie, and my pants loosened. She slipped her hand up under my shirt, and a shiver of want ran through me at the softness of her touch. I sat up, and she drew it over my head. Then came the pants. Getting those off was harder, but soon they landed on the floor as well. Her hand caressed my side.

“Should I take off yours?” I asked.

“I’d like that.”

Hers was simpler because she was only wearing the one garment. I slid her nightgown up over her hips, and she sat so I could pull it off. Lying next to each other, she pressed herself against me, the length of her naked body against my own. Not a single part of her was cold now. I ran my hand up her back, caressing her neck.

“Can I touch you anywhere?” she asked.

“Wherever you want.”

Before she laid her hand against my stomach, I knew what she intended. I held my breath as she moved lower, letting it out finally when her fingers parted me. She caressed me ever so gently, and I closed my eyes as something I couldn’t name tightened my throat. She was so lovely, so gentle, so wonderful, and I could hardly believe she was mine.

“Will you touch me as well?” she whispered.

“Would you like me to?”

Her answer was already breathless. “I want you, Selma. I’ve… I’ve never wanted anything more.”

I turned on my side so I could reach her better. I slid my hand up her thigh, my fingers fumbling a lot more than hers. Her skin was as warm and smooth as polished wood in the sun. She didn’t seem to mind my clumsiness because she lifted her hips, pressing herself against me when I reached her center. I parted her, feeling her smoothness against the tips of my fingers. She was slick and hot, and my own center tightened just at the feel of her, at the way her breaths hitched at my touch.

She kept moving her fingers, circling my most sensitive spot. I moved mine in rhythm with hers. The smooth, wet feel of her, the sound of her staggered breaths in the dark… It was sweeter even than I had imagined, and I had imagined a woman in my arms many times. Those were like a faded daguerreotype compared to this.

Nothing compared to Lilja.

“You’re so very lovely,” I whispered.

“You… you are too.”

“My darling.”

“I… I want to kiss you again,” she stuttered. “Will… will you kiss me?”

In the dark, I found her lips with mine. She thrust her tongue into my mouth and I came then, panting my breaths into her mouth. Just as my climax faded, her body tensed, her thighs tightening as she came as well. Moving my fingers gently as her hips jerked, as her chest rose and fell rapidly against me, I held her with my other hand on the back of her neck.

We caught our breaths lying close together in the darkness, her cheek on my shoulder, my arm around her, holding her tight. The amber heart around her neck rested against my chest. I couldn’t believe that she was mine. Fully mine.

“Selma,” she whispered. “I… I think I’m in love with you. Do you feel the same?”

“I don’t,” I said. “I know I love you. I’m certain of it.”

She pressed her face into my neck. A moment later her tears landed hot against my skin. I ran my fingers through the hair by her temple. “You’re crying?”

“Only because I’m happy,” she whispered. “I’ve waited so long for this.”