Page 44 of Conail

"Let's go in now. I'm freezing." Turning away, she marched towards the cabin.

Okay, she was going to make him crawl, he mused. Well, so be it. He followed behind her and admired the view.

Slamming the door shut at their backs, he headed towards the fireplace to get a fire going. Within minutes, the rosy glow lit up the area and there was no need to turn on the lamp.

"Well?" She folded her arms and stood by the worn sofa. "What is it?"

"Will you sit?"

"I prefer to stand."

"Dammit Maddy. I need to get some things off my chest, and I would prefer us sitting."

"Too bad. We don't always get what we want. You've shown me that repeatedly."

"Okay, fine." Her breath whooshed out as he crossed to her and dragged her towards the sofa, holding her effortlessly as she struggled to free herself.

"Let me go."

"No." She was on his lap and her squirming was costing him dearly. "Stop." He broke off with a groan as her shapely derriere rubbed against his crotch.

She felt the evidence of his arousal and went very still, eyes flying to his face.

"I'm not having sex with you."

"I didn't come here for sex. At least not initially." He bowed his forehead to hers and inhaled. "I came here to talk. To vent -- say what's on my mind." He held her against him and inhaled her scent. Lifting his head, he stared at her. "I've never loved anyone except you." The admission was torn from him and had her heart turning over. "You alone have the power to rip me to pieces, andyou did." He shook his head as she opened her mouth. "I'm not going to rehash the past; I'm just stating a fact. When you left, I swore I would never give anyone that power over me again. It broke me and I could not function." He closed his eyes briefly and struggled with the pain. "I love you. Always will. You're the beginning and the ending for me. I wanted to punish you for leaving me, but I ended up punishing myself."

Her heart simply melted, and the anger drained from her. Framing his face between her palms, she blinked at the tears.

"I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for what I did to you. I love you Colin, so much that it hurts. I have never loved anyone but you. I thought I wanted the big city -- thought that making a lot of money and going to fancy restaurants and galleries was what I wanted. When all along, the only thing I wanted was you." She leaned into him. "I love you, please believe me. I want you to believe me."

"I do." He tilted her chin up. "Baby--" He brushed his lips on hers slowly, feeling the tremors. Back and forth, back and forth, until they were both shaking with need.

"I want you in my life." His tongue teased the full bottom lip. "For always." He nibbled at the skin and sent her blood racing. "I was a fool." He peppered her face with kisses, inhaling her scent until he was going mad with desire. "I spent the last week in agony." He came back to her lips and sipped from them. She opened her mouth, her hands going around his neck.

"Colin."

Her voice was whisper soft against his lips.

"Love me."

"I do." It had to be now. With a groan, he swept her in his arms. Grabbing the throw, he spread it in front of the fire and laid her down gently. "I was prepared to grovel." He told her as he stripped off her sweater.

"No."

"To go down on my knees." The firelight played over her smooth skin. "To do anything." He passed his hands over her small breasts. "Let me have you."

"Yes." She reached for him and very soon was lost in his masculine scent.

*****

He was not going to force her. He could and had been prepared to do just that, but the doctors advised against stressful situations, and she insisted she wanted to go home. "No offense to your mother, but I am yearning for the farm."

He had not suggested that she come home with him. That would have made it too personal as if he was inviting her to come and live with him. Which wasn't the case. He simply wanted to look out for his investment. But he had insisted on picking her up from the hospital. Now he was having a damn difficult time not touching her. He wanted to touch her. Christ, when had all of this happened?

"The doctors said complete rest."

"I was there, remember?"

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