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.

"Harvey."

"If you continue to look at me that way, you know what will happen." He warned thickly.

"I do." Bending her head, she brushed her lips against his. "I am going to make you so happy; you won't remember the awful details of your past." She promised shakily.

"You already do. Now eat before I find a better use for our time."

*****

The simple joy of walking with her surprised him. She found pleasure in the simplest things, pointing out flowers still blooming despite the cold and squirrels scampering up the various trees. And she insisted on them stopping and staring at the stream, the water bubbling over the smooth rocks.

He took her to the river, and her delight at the quaint bridge made him smile. Her animated expression enchanted him and made him want to snatch her into his arms and kiss her until she was reeling from it. She took his hand in hers as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and he allowed it.

She would turn in his arms and press her lips against his. She was so petite that he could lift her with one hand, yet her personality had a life of its own.

"Do you think there are any fish in there?" Dragging him toward the edge of the bridge, she looked down into the murky water.

"Maybe. Why? Want us to try and find our meal?" He asked her teasingly. He felt relaxed around her, as if he could completely let down his guard and not be afraid to show his feelings.

"I will not tell you that I will be the good and obedient wife, gut the fish, and remove the scales. I love you, but I must draw the line somewhere." She warned.

Moving behind her, he wrapped his hands around her narrow waist and placed his chin on her head.

"I thought loving me meant that you are prepared to do anything."

"There are limits."

"I don't think I like that. You are supposed to love me unconditionally." He pointed out.

"I do, darling, but I am not an idiot."

"I am disappointed." His voice had roughened, and he was getting hard. Turning her to face him, he brushed back tendrils of the hair the breeze had teased loose.

"How can I make it up to you?" Her hands were on his broad shoulders, her face a mixture of adoration and intense desire. "Just tell me."

"By doing this." Tilting her chin up, he teased her bottom lip. "And this." He moved to the seams and spent time there.

"How about this?"

He gasped, his body going rigid when she cupped him and squeezed gently, feeling the fullness of his sex in her palm.

"That too." He moved his lower body against her hand, his heart shuddering inside his chest as she squeezed even harder. He was wearing faded denim and had not bothered with any belt, making it easy for her to reach in. Her head jerked up, and her eyes widened when she encountered bare skin.

"I do not sleep in underwear." A smile tugged at his lips at her unspoken question. "And there was no need to Kendra!" He bit out when she started to move her fingers up and down the thickened length of him until she was circling the tip.

"Baby- "Bowing his head to hers, he took a deep breath, his hip circling towards her fingers. "Oh, sweetness." He laughed hoarsely when she started to pump him.

"Do you like it?" She whispered.

"You know I do. You have the proof in your hand. But we cannot – Baby, I need to be inside you; this is not enough." He was feverish with need. "It has to be now."

*****

He took her as soon as they cleared the doorway, and without waiting until they were in the living room or the bedroom, he simply tugged off her clothes. Wrapping her legs around his waist, he pressed her up against the door and drove himself into her. He had been rough, and his climax had come almost instantly.

Realizing that she had not achieved her relief, he went on his knees and used his tongue to accomplish that. Now, she was curled into his arms, her body still trembling. Their clothing was strewn across the floor before the door, and they had finally made their way into the bedroom.

"I want to stay here forever." She murmured into his neck.

"Why is that?"

"It's peaceful and lovely, and there is just us." Her fingers toyed with the hairs on his chest. "And I am afraid you are going to. "Her voice tailed off, but he knew what she had been about to say.

"Revert to being the jerk you are so familiar with?" he concluded quietly. Lifting her chin, he stared into her eyes. "I have been that person for years, and it will be difficult to shed that persona. It's a defense mechanism I use, and I have used it for years. I will hurt you, Kendra. It does not mean it will be deliberate, but it is instinctive.

I want to protect you and everyone, including myself, from everything. I- you mean everything to me, and this is new – I never had relationships before, never felt the need to put someone's feelings ahead of mine. But it's different now." He bent to press a kiss on her lips. "I want a life with you, and it's that simple, do you understand?"

"Yes," She whispered, her heart singing with joy. "I do."

"Good. When we leave here in the morning, we will go home, and I already asked the maids to move your things into my suite. I have no intention of sleeping away from you again."

Her body trembled at that, and the emotions swelling inside her could not be controlled. "Harvey." She breathed his name. "Harvey." Pulling her chin away, she covered his face with kisses.

She kissed his forehead, his eyes, the tip of his straight nose, his hair roughened cheeks, his chin with the deep indentation and moved to his throat. When she slid further down and started torturing his small nipple with her tongue and teeth, he had to intervene.

"No, baby," With a groaning laugh, he hauled her on top of him so that she could straddle him. "Enough." He whispered as he drove deep into her.

*****

They arrived back at the manor after nine the following day.

"I am afraid I have to go." He told her apologetically as soon as they were inside their suite. The family had already left for the day. "There was an accident on the site, and I am needed."

"Nothing too bad, I hope."

"I am not certain." Taking her into his arms, he kissed her deeply. "I will try to be home for dinner."

"Am I allowed to call you? I have to go to the store myself."

"Yes. You are allowed to call me." He kissed her again before putting her firmly away from him. Later."

Leaning against the doors, she closed her eyes and felt her knees buckling. She had done it – No- Shaking her head, she gazed upwards.

"You did it, Lord. I cannot take the credit. It's you, and I am so grateful and blessed that I cannot stand it. I know there will be problems, but I am prepared to face each one calmly because I love him. Thank you."

Easing off the door, she went to get ready to go to the store.

But he was the one to call. She had jumped in as soon as she arrived and had been busy dealing with several issues that had cropped up during her absence. A regular Monday morning delivery to the cemetery for a man who had lost his wife two years ago had not been done, and she could not blame the people working for her.

For some reason, Mondays were always extremely busy, and the order had slid through the crack.

Mr. Johnson had been understandably furious and disappointed, leaving her with no option but to offer to send the bouquet of red, yellow, and white roses, including oleander and rosemary sprigs, as an apology to appease the irate customer.

It had taken some time to calm him down, but she managed to do so. The bathroom had a leak, which led to the plumber being called, inconveniencing them even more.

She was behind the counter when the phone rang. Plucking it from her apron pocket, she felt a jolt when she saw his name.

"Marge, could you take over? I have to take this."

Moving away, she went to the back and answered the phone.

"Hi."

"Hey. I was about to hang up, figured you were swamped."

His deep voice had her settling. "I am, but I can talk. How about you?"

"Carter broke up his ankle, falling from the bloody roof. His damn fault because he was told not to venture up there. Look, I wanted to take you out to dinner or something, but I have no idea when I will be through here."

"It's fine. We can go another time. I will wait up."

"I appreciate that." There was a pause, and she waited. "I don't do fancy words or anything like that, but- "she heard when he took a deep breath. "I miss you. Christ! I left you a few hours ago and am missing you like crazy. This is crazy; this entire thing is bizarre."

She had to laugh at his disgruntled tone.

"It's not funny." He grumbled. "Anyway, I got to go and look forward to seeing you later."

"I love you so much." She told him softly.

There was a pause again, and she waited. "I know you do." He said roughly. "See you later, baby."

She hung up and pressed the phone to her jittering stomach. It was a few minutes before she was composed enough to return to work.

*****

"Why don't you join me for coffee in the blue salon?" Julia suggested that her husband and son excused themselves after the meal as soon as the table had been cleared.

"It's better than going upstairs to wait for Harvey," Kendra admitted ruefully as she pushed back her chair.

Giving the signal to the maid, Julia led the way out of the dining room and along the passageway until they were inside a lovely blue-and-white room with a medium-sized fireplace and several blue-and-white-patterned sofas. "This is my favorite room in the entire house."

She gestured for her daughter-in-law to have a seat and waited for the tea service to be rolled in before she spoke.

"I guess everything is all right between you and your husband?" Julia poured tea into delicate cups and handed her one.

"Amazingly well." Kendra agreed with a smile. "We made a breakthrough, and he called me twice today."

"I am so happy, my dear." Julia beamed at her as she sipped her tea. "I have been praying for this since he became an adult. He would find a wonderful woman who would love and appreciate what he offers. And the good Lord sent you most mysteriously."

Kendra laughed and shook her head. "It must be him. I never liked Harvey. The few times I saw him when he visited Silas at the chapel, he was rude and abrupt, and I thought they could not be brothers; they were so unlike.

I also prayed that the Lord would provide a man who shares my love of the church and would be with me whenever I serve."

Julia gave her an anxious look. "Is that a problem, that Harvey is not?"

"No." Kendra shook her head immediately. "I love him, and it does not matter if he accompanies me. I am not going to force my beliefs down his throat. I love who he is, and I Admire his qualities greatly."

"Wonderful."

They both looked up at the sound in the doorway to see the man under discussion coming into the room.

"Mother."

"You look like you are ready to drop." She exclaimed.

His eyes went to his wife, and Julia saw the incredible softening of his expression.

"I am a little tired." Moving towards Kendra, he bent and kissed her softly on the mouth.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, touching his arm.

"I already ate. Finish your tea and come up. I am going to take a shower. Goodnight, Mother."

"I should go pour him a drink or something. He looked so tired." Kendra said worriedly. "Or perhaps he does not want me fussing over him."

Julia waved a hand and rose. "You go and see to that husband of yours. Fussing is what we do for our men."

*****

He stopped short as he stepped from the bathroom and into the room, the towel arrested on his head.

"I thought you could use a drink."

He stood there unmoving, silver eyes wandering over her exquisite face and the wispy black lace clinging to every contour of her body, and he felt the tiredness slipping away to be replaced by surging desire.

"Playing the dutiful wife?" he asked huskily as he approached her.

"I am." Taking his hand, she led him towards the bed. "I don't like to see you that way. When you came in, you looked like you were about to drop. Stretch your feet out." Handing him the drink, she got behind him.

"What now?"

"Just enjoy the scotch, and let me do my thing."

"I don't think I am going to be able to stand feeling your breasts pressing against my back."

"You are going to have to endure it," she told him smoothly. First, she toweled his hair, slowly massaging his scalp until he felt his body relaxing.

Putting the towel away, she started on his shoulders, running her fingers over the bronzed skin, loving the feel of his muscles flexing beneath her touch. Working upwards, she smoothed her fingers over the corded muscles of his neck.

Putting away the empty glass, Harvey leaned back and closed his eyes as she continued.

"Is this what I must look forward to every night?" he asked huskily.

"Maybe not every night, no." Bending her head, she brushed her lips over his skin, sending heat flaring through his body. "Special occasions and when I notice my husband is bone tired." She was nibbling on his neck, and he knew he would soon have to take over.

"Sounds good, something to look forward to. I am starting to like this marriage deal."

"Hmm." She trailed kisses down his neck, her hands moving over his chest and going to his flat stomach. "I spent the day thinking about you."

"What a coincidence." He whispered raggedly, stopping her hands before they headed further down. "I spent time thinking about you, too." Twisting his head, he captured her lips in a sizzling kiss. He drew his lips from hers and took a ragged breath before changing position.

"Aren't you tired?" Her hands came around his neck, and her dark brown eyes were slumberous.

"Suddenly, I am feeling very energized." He whispered against her mouth as he drove into her. "You are a miracle worker."

"Aren't I just?" Lifting her legs, she wrapped them around his waist, her body trembling as he drove into her slowly.

"Kendra." He felt the lump forming inside his throat. "Kendra." Her name was like a melody, a song inside his heart that would not be silent. "Sweetheart, I love you. Oh, Christ! I love you so damn much!"

His first declaration, the words she had been patiently waiting to hear from him, brought on a climax that slammed through her body with the force of a gale storm wind and had her crying out his name!