Page 77 of Wyoming Tough

“I love you,” he whispered back, and kissed her hungrily. “My brave, beautiful, unbelievably sexy wife. I’d die for you.”

She hugged him close. “I’d die for you.”

His mouth crushed down over hers. “I’m spent, baby,” he whispered against her lips. “But I can last a little longer. I’ll pleasure you as long as I can, okay?”

She wasn’t hearing him, or understanding him. She was in the grip of a fever so hot she thought she would burn to death. But finally, finally, she shuddered one last time and the tension snapped. She collapsed under him with a trembling sigh.

He rolled over beside her and gathered her close. “Satisfied?”

“Yes. I don’t understand,” she whispered into his throat.

“Women take longer than men do,” he explained. “But a man spends himself and it takes time for him to be able to go again. Women last a lot longer in passion.”

“Oh.”

He lifted his head and searched her eyes. “You were right.”

“I was? About what?”

He kissed her eyelids. “About waiting.” He looked at her solemnly. “Right now, I’m sorry that I ever had a woman in my life before I met you.”

She touched his mouth gently. “I’m not sure I’m sorry,” she whispered drily.

He lifted both eyebrows.

“You are very, very good in bed,” she mused. “From a beginner’s standpoint, I mean. I was afraid,” she confessed. “I’d heard some horror stories from other women about wedding nights. Especially about men losing control and hurting them badly.”

“Oh, I couldn’t hurt you,” he replied softly and kissed her again. “I love you too much. It had to be good for you, or it wouldn’t have been good for me at all.”

She smiled lazily and moved against him, but suddenly she winced.

He lifted an eyebrow. “Sore?”

She flushed.

He laughed indulgently. “It’s a side effect of headlong passion and abstinence. Not to worry, a couple of days’ rest and we’ll be back to normal. Meanwhile,” he added with a chuckle, “we might consider ordering food and watching something on pay-per-view. What do you say?”

She sat up, gingerly, and nodded. “That might be a good idea.”

He stood up, stretched and then grinned at her admiring gaze, picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. “But first we can have a nice relaxing shower and play doctor!”

She burst out laughing. Not only was marriage a passion feast, it also seemed to be the most fun she’d ever had.

AWEEK LATER, THEY WEREdoing the tango in an exclusive club in Jamaica, right on the beach.

“I told you I’d learn quickly with the right teacher,” Mallory teased, kissing her ear as they moved around the room.

“Yes, and you did.”

“So did you,” he whispered outrageously.

She peered up at him mischievously. “I bought this book today.”

“You did? A book?” He leaned down. “What sort of book?”

“It’s a detailed book about how to, well, how to do stuff. With your husband.”

“I don’t have a husband,” he groaned. “What about me?”

---