Part 40 (1/2)

This time her smile revealed a glad heart. ”Yes,” she said simply, ”I am.”

His deep, throaty response was part laughter, part growl. Before she could suspect what he would do, or even that he could do it, Grey raised his injured leg over both of hers and trapped her under die wooden splints.

Berkeley looked up at him, her eyes wide as a startled fawn's. ”What do you thinka””

”Does it hurt?” he asked. ”Have I hurt you?”

She felt the extra weight the splints lent his leg, but they were wrapped in thick bandages, and while heavy, were not uncomfortable against her. ”No, buta””

”Because it doesn't hurt me,” he said. ”And I find I very much want to make love to my wife.”

Berkeley frowned. It was not that they hadn't been intimate in the weeks following Rhea's birth and Grey's slow mending. It was just that there were limitations. Berkeley's hand slipped between their bodies and found the edge of the towel that was wrapped around his waist. Her fingers began to tug on the knot that secured it in place. ”Grey, you know I'lla””

”In the more traditional way,” he said. ”I want you all around me.” His breath caught as her hand went under the towel. She circled his p.e.n.i.s with her fingers. Grey lowered his head until his mouth hovered just above hers. ”I want to be inside you.”

Her mouth opened. ”Yes,” she said. Just that. Yes.

He kissed her deeply then, and she lifted her arms around his shoulders. His skin was warm and smelled faintly of soap. At the nape of his neck there were still some damp strands mingled among the dry ones. His jaw was clean-shaven. Berkeley smiled, tasting peppermint on his tongue.

His brothers had helped him, of course. While she slept in the sitting room they talked and drank and laughed. They had probably cried again, the three of them, separately and together, and laughed some more. They shared their pasts, their secrets, and their hopes for the future. It was then that Grey must have been moved to tell them that he hoped to seduce his wife.

She imagined Colin and Decker had made it their mission for baby brother to succeed. They sobered him, washed him, buffed and polished him, and fed him peppermint for good measure. She would have to find a way to thank them for their efforts without being obvious or coa.r.s.e, but they really needn't have gone to so much trouble.

The truth was, she was easy.

Grey felt the outline of Berkeley's smile against his skin. ”What is it?”

The closeness of his mouth tickled hers. ”Hmmm. I'll tell you later. Lie on your back.”

He was easy, too. When he rolled over she followed him.