every particle of his physical and emotional being.
As his body surrendered to the ecstasy of an intimate joining, Nick felt at once the profound pleasure of genuine sexual gratification, and the profound bond forged with his wife. The moment was erotic, spiritual, passionate, and tender, all the wonderful things he’d thought to deny himself joined in a single, perfect procession of instants.
And the perfection did not end, though his sexual pleasure eventually spent itself in Leah’s body. Afterward, he took some of his weight on his forearms but kept his torso laid along hers, his arms snug around her.
Peace settled around him—peace and gratitude and a comprehension of the great depths to which love might grow with the woman sharing his bed.
Sharing his life, his heart.
“I could not love you more,” Nick whispered against Leah’s neck. He shifted to kiss her cheek, finding the dampness of her tears with his lips. “Lovey? Did I hurt you?”
Leah shook her head and found his hands on the pillow with her own. Lacing her fingers through his, she strained up to be closer to him.
“Love you, too, Husband,” she whispered. “So very much.”
She was as shaken as he, Nick concluded, reassured and moved beyond measure. He gathered her close and rolled to his back, so she could rest on him and he could keep his arms around her. His hands traced lazy patterns on her back, and a sweet, wondering silence came down on the sunbeams around them.
“Tell me again,” Leah said on a soft sigh.
“I love you. I love you. I love you,” Nick obliged, finding the saying of it more satisfying than he’d realized it would be.
“The other, too,” Leah instructed, her tongue grazing the pulse at his throat.
The other… Nick cast around, distracted by that hot, pink little tongue, then his mind seized on its quarry.
“I will never, ever leave you again,” he said, “unless you cast me from your side, and then I will importune you the livelong day to forgive me and take me back and let me sit penitently at your feet, gazing worshipfully at the hem of your gown.”
Leah’s nose wrinkled. “What if I’m not wearing a gown? My husband likes us to sleep as God made us.”
“I’ll gaze at your toenails.” He wanted to put off what came next, and he needed to get it behind them, regardless of the consequences. “Seriously, Leah, there are things we need to discuss that will put you out of charity with me.”
Leah sighed mightily and rubbed her cheek over Nick’s sternum. “Must we discuss them now?”
“To be honest, I would rather order us a bath, work my wiles on you, and keep you naked for the next week, at least. But, lovey, I am in earnest when I say there are things we have yet to deal with.”
Leah peered up at him. “Such as why you took it into your head that we should not consummate our marriage?”
“Such as that very thing.” His countess was both bright and brave. “Much as I’d like to dodge that issue, I will not. I owe you the truth.”
“You do. I’m not up to a recitation of your paramours, Nicholas. Not now, not ever. I promise in return not to bore you with tales of my blessedly forgettable experiences with poor Aaron.”
“We have a bargain on that score, but there’s more to be resolved than our respective amorous pasts, Leah.”
“You are sounding oppressively serious, Nicholas. Why must you go hunting serpents in paradise now that we’ve finally found our way here?”
“Because we cannot stay in paradise, my love.” Nick’s hands shifted up to cradle her jaw. “Not with anything less than complete trust between us.”
“I trust you, Nicholas.” Leah spoke with her lips against his palm, and they were sweet, sweet words. He wanted to close them in his fist and hold them tightly.
“And I am humbled to agree, though it is I who must demonstrate my trust in you.”
“Isn’t that what you just did?”
In her words, Nick heard a whole separate universe of reasons to love her—not just for the passion and ferocity of her sexual loving, but also for the feminine wisdom and generosity that sustained her regard for him when he was too unworthy. Too pigheaded, too stubborn, too…
“Nicholas.” Leah shifted up on his chest and regarded him steadily. “Whatever it is, you must not fret. We’ll deal with it together. I’ll not abandon you just when you’ve found me.”