Page 67 of Nigel

"There is that.We should get some sleep. I am certain you have meetings lined up fortomorrow. And I have Jenny to deal with."

He shifted to look ather. "How is she?"

"She was treatedat the hospital and sent home. He tried to rape her."

His mouth tightenedat that. "He has always been a piece of work."

"I have onerule, well there are others, but this is an important one. That theowners are not there when the maids go to do their cleaning."

"It worked outfor us, didn't it?" A smile played around his lips. "Ithank Christ for that day when I was incapacitated and you had totake care of me. If I had been myself, I would have gone in asusual."

"And if Jane orsome of the other maids had not been struck down by the virus, Iwould not have had to fill in." She stared at the flash ofdiamonds on her finger. "I would have missed out on this- on usand because of my prejudice, I almost did."

"But you came toyour senses," he teased her.

"I did. I havemy brother Kyle to thank for that. And the fact that I could notfunction. I could not believe I had fallen so quickly. I told myselfthat it was ridiculous. I just met you and I am a grown ass woman,not some teenager.

I never had a firstcrush, not even in high school. I have never been in love before, sothis hit me like a ton of bricks." She was struggling not to cryagain. Because this was getting ridiculous. "Nigel-" Shemoved in and buried her face into his neck.

"My sweet."He was humbled by her admission and the emotions storming throughher. It was the same for him too, this overwhelming need for her. Itwas not just the sex, but the need to be with her all the time. "Ifeel the same way. You are not alone."

"It'sfrustrating," she whispered against his neck.

"Is it?" hemused tenderly. "I would like to think of it as a miracle. I wasdrifting through life and just concentrating on the job and at myage, I am given this wonderful gift." He tilted her face up andused the pad of his thumb to wipe the tears away. "I have beenwaiting for you all my life and now you are here."

"You should havebeen a poet." She sniffed. "And I hate the fact that I amleaking like a damn sieve."

He kissed her wetcheeks and made her want to tear up again.

"Damn you,"she whispered.

"I adore you,"he whispered back, lips brushing against hers. "You are myheart."

"Nigel."She moved in, one hand drifting down to cup him.

"My sweet,"he groaned. "I thought we had decided to get some sleep."

"That was beforeyou started making me all hot and bothered. There is no way I can goto sleep now." She was stroking him, the tip of him and sendingheat throughout his body.

"You are rightof course." Pushing her back, he covered her body with his andentered her swiftly. His teeth gritted as she closed around him likea vice. "What you do to me." Mashing his forehead againsthers, he took several shaky breaths.

"The way youmake me feel." He started moving, sliding in, long measuredstrokes that sent him deeper into her. "You undo me," hewhispered, before seizing her lips and ravishing her.

*****

He left herreluctantly the next morning. “I would suggest we spend the daytogether, but we both have responsibilities.” He finished hiscoffee and came around to her. She had already received a call fromRichard Thomas and he wanted to meet with her. She had yet to callLionel to let him know.

“We do. Wecould make an early evening of it and go out to dinner.” Shespread her hands over his chest. They had showered together which hadled to further delays.

“You want us togo somewhere?”

“I want to showoff my ring and alert all of those women to the fact that you are nowtaken.” Her eyes glittered. “And I have to warn you thatI am very territorial.”

“Willing tofight for your man, are you?” His deep voice was teasing, butshe gave him a sober look.

“Damn straight.You are mine.”

“I am happy tobe yours. And the same goes for me. I am extremely possessive all ofa sudden.”