Page 67 of Harvey

Her face was buried against his chest, her body still trembling. They did not speak because words would have been superfluous and not necessary. He had not declared his love for her but had shown it most profoundly.

His fingers wandered lazily up and down her back. A smile curved his lips as he relished her being in his arms. They were still intimately joined, and there was nothing better as far as he was concerned.

Chapter 15

He did not fall asleep when she did. He knew he had exhausted her by his frantic need for her. He allowed her to rest a little before retaking her, and when they went into the bedroom, he had made love to her the third time.

His passion for her escalated instead of diminishing, and it confounded him. He would like to think it did not bother him that much, but it did, a little or more than a little.

She was curled into his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, and snored slightly. Her slender body pressed against him was making him hard again, he thought with a rueful chuckle. Who would have thought he would be brought to this?

A frown touched his brow as he reflected on his early years. He had a lot to be grateful for. His beginning had been unsure and rocky with parents who had left him at home and never looked back. He had wondered then if life would pass him by if he would ever find someone to love him.

After several rejections, he resigned himself from being part of the system until he could escape it. The abuse had added to the misery and made him hard and cold, not wanting to let anyone in. Until the Blackwoods who had shown him more love than he dared even hoped for.

Tilting his head down, he gazed at her exquisite face and felt the tenderness surging inside him. She was his now wife, and there was nothing he would not protect her from.

Ironically, his brother had engineered what he thought was a fake marriage, which had become so real that he had no idea what to do without her.

He loved her. Shaking his head at the marvel of it, he bent to kiss the top of hers. She consumed him entirely, and he could not breathe when he thought of her.

Closing his eyes, he settled her more on his shoulder and succumbed to the most peaceful slumber he had had in years.

*****

The scent of very excellent and robust coffee hit her nostrils and made her open her eyes. Rolling over onto her back, she gazed at the log ceiling and sighed blissfully. He was making coffee, but she wished he was still in bed with her. A smile curved her lips as she recalled last night and this morning.

Harvey loved her! She knew it as much as she knew she adored him. It would take him time to say the words, but she did not care. He loved her—that magnificent, infuriating man loved her, and she felt she would burst from it.

Shoving the sheets off her, she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and repair her hair before getting dressed. She had work but was not going to mention it, and she hoped he was not going to either.

He was seated at the table, a cup of coffee cradled in his hands. He sensed her standing there and lifted his head, a smile curving his lips.

“Hey, sleepyhead.”

“I missed your body next to mine.” She told him as she went to pour a cup for herself and brought it to the table to sit across from her.

“You are not eating?”

“Breakfast is not my thing.” He nodded towards the basket. “I made you a roast beef sandwich.”

The delight on her face had his heart turning over. When she rose to get the sandwich, he snagged her wrist and brought her on his lap.

“For that, I think I deserve a proper greeting.”

“I completely agree with you.” Her hands came around his neck. “What do you have in mind?”

“I think you already know that.” Cupping her face, he bent his head and kissed her with drugging intensity, causing her body to melt against his.

Ending the kiss, he drew a careful breath, his forehead resting on hers as he tried to control his rampaging desire.

“I thought we could go and take that walk we started last night after you finish eating.”

“I would love that.”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I called to let the men know I won’t be in today. I also asked Silas to contact your place to tell them the same.” He stared at her thoughtfully. “I would like this to be a kind of honeymoon.”

Her heart flared, and she felt the tears welling.

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