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and establishing a rhythm that made him groan. |
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He pulled away then, but only long enough to draw himself on top of her. He remained still at first, as though afraid he was hurting her. "Please," she whispered, her hands at his hips. |
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That was all the encouragement he needed. He entered her, taking up the rhythm that she had started and adding to it a more powerful one of his own until her gasps became small moans and, quite suddenly, she exploded into a galaxy of sensation. She heard his cry as he gripped her sides, and he, too, climaxed. |
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He lay on top of her as his breathing quieted. Though she became aware of the slight throbbing of the wounds at her shoulder, his weight was wonderful on her, and she held him tightly against her. |
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But soon he rolled off her. They lay on their sides. Her chest nearly touched his, and she ran her fingertips up the crisp line of hair between his pectorals. |
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He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth. She felt his lips kiss it ever so gently, and then he held her hand against his cheek. She gazed into his brown eyes and found them looking at her with sweet, caring intensity. |
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She couldn't help it. She had to tell him how she felt. "I love you, Thorn." She braced herself for him to pull away, to give her excuses and disclaimers. To tell her how foolish she was. |
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But he didn't. Instead, he squeezed her hand all the more tightly to him. "I love you, Mariah." |
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Thorn could hardly believe the bliss he felt with Mariah. They spent the next days together, learning more of each other's minds and bodies, making love with an abandon he had never imagined. His happiness grew to such a magnitude that he felt as though he had taken wing on one of her machines of the future and soared to paradise. |
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They left his home to eat now and then. The fire in the inn went out, but they dined on meat from the smokehouse and fresh beans and carrots from the garden Mariah had tended with Holly. |
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