LITMIR.BIZ

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while Danny and he couldn’t wait to go back to bed.

      They went about the business of settling the horses as thoroughly as they always did, but with a careful speed. They didn’t speak—they didn’t have to—but each time they brushed against each other in the confined space he knew they felt the same bolt of electricity.

      ‘So what do you think of the grey?’ he demanded as they strode briskly across the courtyard to the house.

      ‘I’d keep her, if I were you.’

      ‘Really?’ he said, opening the door and standing back to let her in.

      ‘Definitely—she’s responsive and intelligent. What more could you want?’

      ‘What are you saying, Danny?’ There was laughter in his voice. ‘Are we still talking about the horse?’

      Dragging her close, he stared deep into her eyes.

      ‘That didn’t require an answer, by the way,’ he said as he led her towards the stairs.

      * * *

      She was breathless by the time they reached the bedroom, and that had nothing to do with the speed at which she’d climbed the stairs. Catching hold of her, Tiago swung her round and eased her down gently onto the coverlet.

      ‘Are you sore after our excesses? Do you need me to go easy on you?’

      She smiled. ‘What do you think?’

      Grabbing hold of Tiago by the front of his shirt, she pulled him down beside her. He didn’t lose eye contact for a moment as he tugged off his shirt and quickly unlatched the buckle on his belt.

      ‘You’re beautiful,’ she said as he pulled off his jeans.

      ‘And you’re overdressed. No—let me,’ Tiago insisted.

      He undid each of her buttons slowly, and after unfastening the zipper on her jeans eased them down. Each brush of his fingertips was surely intentional; each pulse of pleasure was certainly real.

      ‘Let me touch you,’ he whispered, holding her gaze. ‘Let me pleasure you, Danny.’

      ‘Don’t you always?’

      Tiago’s mouth curved, and she was already so very sensitive that she exclaimed with excitement the moment he touched her.

      ‘Don’t look away. I want you to look at me, Danny, and I’ll tell you when—’

      ‘Now!’ she wailed, unable to hold on.

      ‘Greedy.’ He laughed as he held her in his arms and she convulsed with pleasure. ‘We do have all day and all night,’ he reminded her as he kissed her.

      ‘Is that all?’ she complained.

      ‘Believe me—I’m here for as long as you want. And I have no complaints.’ He swallowed the last of her satisfied groans in a kiss. ‘We have a lot of time to make up.’

      ‘For every night apart?’ she suggested.

      ‘And every night going forward,’ Tiago said.

      * * *

      It was a long time later, when they were stretched out dozing, with their limbs entwined, that Tiago murmured something Danny wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.

      ‘Say again?’ she murmured groggily.

      ‘I said I love you, Danny, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you—so will you marry me?’

      ‘No can do,’ she said sleepily.

      ‘Why not?’ Tiago prompted huskily.

      ‘I’m already married...my husband wouldn’t like it.’

      ‘Would he approve of a blessing in the local kirk?’

      She stirred, properly awake now. ‘You’re serious?’

      ‘I’m absolutely serious. I was thinking we could have our blessing at Rottingdean, so everyone can share the day. That is what you wanted, isn’t it?’

      ‘Yes... Yes, of course is it. But I do have one condition.’

      ‘Name it,’ Tiago growled.

      ‘We spend our entire honeymoon in bed.’

      ‘I’m sure that can be arranged,’ he agreed as he gathered her into his arms.

       EPILOGUE

      THE TINY CHAPEL in the Highland village of Rottingdean was filled to capacity for the blessing of Danny and Tiago’s marriage vows. Tiago had flown everyone who mattered over from Brazil, and had even persuaded Lizzie’s mother to make an appearance—though she had scooted off to meet up with her toy-boy some time before the end of the ceremony.

      That apart, he was determined nothing would stand in the way of Danny’s happiness. He had left nothing to chance—even buying Danny a more ‘job-appropriate’ ring to jostle alongside the jewels he loved to lavish on her.

      ‘I intend to work you very hard,’ he murmured as he slipped the simple platinum band on to Danny’s wedding ring finger.

      ‘I love it,’ she whispered, glancing at the ring and then meeting and sharing the humour in his eyes. ‘And as for working me hard—both in and out of the bedroom—I wouldn’t have it any other way. Though I may have to take some time off...’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Shh...’ she warned him as the minister began to address the congregation once more.

      ‘Are you going to make me wait before you explain that comment?’ Tiago demanded, with his usual force.

      ‘Tiago, I am going to make you a daddy. Now, please be quiet.’

      * * *

      She had never seen Tiago so happy. He couldn’t wait to tell everyone their news when they arrived at the hotel where they were holding their reception.

      ‘So you tamed the playboy?’ Lizzie commented, giving Danny a hug. ‘And I couldn’t be more thrilled that we’re both expecting our babies in the same month.’

      ‘Hello, you two!’

      ‘Emma?’

      Danny couldn’t have been more surprised to see a chirpy young girl with the same bright red hair as Lizzie wearing a chambermaid’s uniform.

      But why was she surprised, when Lizzie’s cousin Emma had always worked hard and had always loved working with people? Danny only had to think back to the garden parties the three of them had used to organise under Lizzie’s grandmother’s supervision, to raise money for local charities, to remember that. With her bubbly personality, Emma Fane would be an asset wherever she worked.

      ‘No wonder you hardly recognised me,’ Emma exclaimed, giving Danny an enthusiastic hug. ‘It has been almost ten years since I last visited Rottingdean.’

      Emma had been little more than a child then. ‘Of course I recognise you...’ Danny was still computing the information. ‘But I thought you were at college...?’

      ‘I was—hotel management,’ Emma confirmed, ‘but then this—’

      She stroked her stomach lovingly, which caused Danny to exchange a fast concerned glance with Lizzie. Emma was a lot younger than they were, and seemed too young to be having a baby.

      ‘And now I need the money,’ Emma admitted bluntly. ‘But don’t worry about me,’ she added brightly. ‘This job at the hotel is great experience, and I love it here. Lizzie told me about the vacancy for a chambermaid, and here I am.’

      Emma opened her arms wide, as if embracing the world and everything in it, with the infectious joie de vivre Danny had always

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