A giggle escaped. She started to rise.

"No, stay here," he commanded sleepily and traced the line of her ear with his tongue.

Warm and drowsy, Tess whimpered and felt his lips curve into a smile. He bit her shoulder, a little nip,

and then soothed the spot with his tongue.

She turned her head and found her lips captured by his. The doubts and questions of last night

evaporated. His tongue teased hers, opening her to him. Almost timidly, she answered, copying his motion.

His response was immediate. With a low, satisfied growl, he leaned over her, the better to claim her

mouth.

Once again, Tess found herself devoured by his kiss. And she was kissing him back.

The palm of his right hand ran down along the line of her abdomen. His fingers circled her belly b.u.t.ton. It

was a playful gesture and she started to laugh and he used that moment when she let her guard down to

drive the kiss deeper.

Tess could kiss him like this all day and never let up. When his hand dipped lower and his fingers stroked the most intimate part of her, she parted her legs for him.

He pulled her back against his chest. "Yes, Tess, this is the way it should be. Don't fight it, sweetling. Let

me in." He slid one finger into her body.

She gasped at the pressure. His thumb began drawing small circles even as his finger moved in and out in a steady rhythm.

"Brenn!"

"Yes," he purred in a satisfied voice. "Let me show you how it can be."

He touched her in places she hadn't known existed. Tess feared she might die from the sheer pleasure of

it. She tried to close her legs, afraid of feeling so vulnerable and open to him.

His lips brushed her neck. "My love, my dear, dear love," he cooed. "Take that fierce pride of yours, Tess. Turn it to pa.s.sion."

She was slick and hot. A yearning for something more built inside of her. She struggled with this terrible

wanting even as her body began pushing against his hand, urging him on.

Brenn took the nipple of her right breast in his mouth. She cried out. He licked it, matching the strokes to

the movement of his hand. The warmth of his mouth went straight to her soul.

She no longer fought him. She couldn't. Her whole world centered on him. This was good. So, so good.

She closed her eyes, letting him have his way with her.

And then he shifted. His hand left her.

She made a soft moue, disappointed, but then, her b.u.t.tocks against him, he slid himself deep inside her.

This time, there was no pain. No shock.

In fact, this was much better than his hand.

He filled her. Her body stretched to accommodate him.

Brenn was whispering love words in her ear. His large hands began touching, caressing. Slowly, surely,

he pulled himself back and then thrust again, going even deeper. She could feel his body reaching into hers.

The next time he did it, she moved instinctively to meet him-and he was the one to gasp in astonishment.

The sound made her feel powerful. Something feline unfurled inside of her, something that delighted in this newly discovered power.

They moved together now. He cradled her with his big body, his hands on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. His voice had gone husky with desire. He whispered that she was lovely, that she felt good, that this was what she was meant for. She couldn't speak. She was too involved in sensation.

He rested one hand against her mound, his fingers stroking with each thrust, and it was her undoing.

One second, she was searching, aching with need-and in the next, it was as if one of those Chinese

fireworks had gone off inside of her. She felt it through her whole being. Hot, tingly, sparkling, shattering.

It radiated through her in ever increasing rings of pa.s.sion.

Brenn must have felt it too. His arms came around her. He held her tight as he made one last deep thrust.

He called her name and then released himself inside her.

They collapsed together on the bed. Neither could move. Her heart raced and the blood pounded through her veins.

"Can we die from such a thing?" she managed to ask.

His answer was a feeble laugh. Kissing the back of her neck, he said, "I could." He kissed her again.

Tess covered his hands, still around her, with her own. "It was incredible."

"But was it wonderful?"

Wonderful.

The word hung in the air between them.

"Almost," she answered.

He grunted his dissatisfaction. "I shall have to try harder."

"Oh, I hope you might." With a sigh of contentment, she closed her eyes.

A few hours later, Tess woke to find herself alone. She reached over to Brenn's side of the bed. The sheets still smelled of him. She heard the splash of water and looked up to see her husband standing in the golden sunlight of the room's single window. He was dressed, with the exception of his dark blue jacket which was on the chair where he'd tossed it the night before. His broad shoulders stretched out the confines of the shirt and his buff leather breeches did nothing to hide the manly shape of his legs.

She'd married well.Brenn glanced over at her as if he'd read her thoughts and grinned. "Good morning." He cleaned the razor off in the basin and wiped the soap off his face. In two steps he was by her side on the bed. He propped his head on his hand. "Why are you smiling?"

Heat rushed up to her cheeks.

He laughed, lightly touching her nose. She liked the clean, bold scent of his soap. Then his expression

turned serious. He was staring at her lips. "Do you remember earlier?"

She didn't have to ask what he meant. Hooking her legs together at the ankle, her hands behind herhead, she pretended to consider his question.Brenn gave a sharp bark of laughter. "You're not that good of an actress, Tess Owen." He nuzzled her with his razor-smooth cheek. His lips brushed her ear. "Now what do you say?"His voice vibrated through her. "I won't ever forget it," she whispered, wanting him to say the same.But he didn't, although his dark eyes flashed with pride. His lips found hers. She brought her hands up around his neck. This time when his tongue teased her, she fearlessly touched him back. She wanted him. Already her body tightened in antic.i.p.ation, so she was surprised when he was the first to break off the kiss.

He stood. "We leave in an hour. You need to be up and dressed."

Tess let her irritation show. She wouldn't have minded a repeat of their lovemaking. "I can't get dressedwithout my maid."He raised an eyebrow."I a.s.sure you, I've never dressed myself in my life. Last night was the first time I'd undressed alone.""Ah, Tess, you have a lot to learn.""Are you going to teach me?" She didn't know where such cheeky words had come from. They'd just popped out of her mouth.

And she was glad she'd said them when he answered, "There are many things I want to teach you." Hekissed her again. This kiss went all the way to her toes.Tess could barely breathe when he was finished with it."I'll send your maid in," he promised and left the room.

Tess dropped back on the bed, praying her thumping heart wouldn't fail her. How silly of her to have

avoided marriage all these years...but then she must have been waiting for Brenn.

She only wished that she had a fortune to give to him. The thought wiped the smile from her face. Neil had promised that her lack of fortune would not be a problem if she gave Brenn what he wanted.

She'd certainly done that this morning!But was it enough?Tess understood with a woman's instinct that whereas she had been completely lost to pa.s.sion, Brenn had maintained control. He'd enjoyed himself, but he hadn't lost control.

That thought was sobering.

She told herself not to be a goose. In neither word nor deed had Brenn ever acted like a fortune hunter.

Besides, with a magnificent house like Erwynn Keep, he couldn't lack for money.But still, how could such an honest, forthright man forgive Tess for such a deception?The question didn't have an answer.A moment later, Willa entered the room and Tess pushed her doubts aside. Still, last night had changed her. Brenn had changed her.

"Willa, do I have any copybooks packed in my luggage?"

The maid looked up from refilling the washbasin she'd just emptied out the window. "I don't know, my