Page 94 of The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth

“It wouldn’t be very respectful to the tale if I just kept going, now would it?”

She chuckled. “I suppose not.”

He turned off the light and slid down next to her. “Do you like being held when you sleep?”

She did, but it seemed needy to say so. “Do you like it?”

“I do,” he said, his velvety voice rolling over her in the dark. “Get comfortable.”

Veronica curled up on her side, and he fitted himself around her, his arm draped over the curve of her waist, his chest against her back. His skin was hot. “Good?”

“Very.” Veronica drew his hand up to her cheek and kissed his knuckles. He kissed her shoulder. With the sensation of his body behind her, his skin against hers, she felt safe and sexy, and deeply, deliciously satisfied. As she closed her eyes, her last thought was simply,Henry.

When she awakened, Veronica found herself alone in the bed. She sat up, looking around. “Henry?” she called. But there was no answer. Maybe he’d gone to call for some breakfast. It would be like him, and they didn’t really want to reveal anything to Mariah at the moment.

Given the little space of solitude, she piled up the pillows and tugged the covers over her naked breasts, a smile curling her mouth. The moments of the night came back to her in flashes—his calf sliding over her leg; the feeling of his hands on her waist, her breasts; his kisses. Had she ever known anyone who kissed so well?

She sighed, the luxury of good sex easing all the molecules in her body. This morning she was enfolded in the cloud of satisfaction, of having given and received pleasure, admiration, release, and it was easier to forgive the woman who gave in to emotionally unhealthy sex to give herself some relief. A person could manage the physics on her own, but it was hardly the same thing as sex with another body.

Henry, though. Not just a body. His warm voice, those big hands, his delicious lips—

Good God,a voice said in her mind.Don’t get all wrapped up in a holiday fling! How many women do you think he’s had sex with? Hundreds?

At that moment, he opened the door a crack. “Can I come in?” he said quietly, which made her think Mariah was still asleep.

“Of course.” When he entered, carrying a tray of coffee and pastries and yogurt, the mean voice in her head dropped away. “I haven’t gotten up,” she said, laughing. “And here is my breakfast! Which is only fitting for a room where royalty dwells.”

He smiled, carrying the tray to the bed. Veronica felt delightfully wicked pulling the covers over her naked breasts, aware of the small, precious injuries on her body from sex, the slightly sore muscles, the little bruises. He kissed her, and that was somehow arousing all by itself, that she was naked and he was dressed. “How are you?” he asked.

“So good.” Veronica laughed. “Also ravenous. How about you?”

He kicked off his shoes and settled on the other side of the tray, reaching for a cube of melon. “Same.”

“It seems rather imbalanced that you’re dressed and I’m not.”

“If I get undressed, we will not eat our breakfast.” He offered her a small plate.

“Sensible,” she said, gobbling a handful of almonds, then a date and a glass of water. “And hot.”

He, too, ate eagerly. “This might not be enough, actually. I’m starving.”

“We’ve stretched out our stomachs with all the pigging out!”

“Or we’ve just expended a lot of calories.”

“Or that.” She buttered a slice of bread. “Should we rouse Mariah and go down for a bigger meal?”

“She’s awake. She just didn’t want to get up yet.” He lifted a shoulder. “It’s Christmas.”

“Oh my God, I forgot!” She chortled. “I can’t believe I’ve been dreading this so much and now I forgot.” She slapped her forehead in the classic gesture, and the sheet fell to her waist. She grabbed it, embarrassed. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry on my account.” He reached over and tugged with one finger. “Maybe I’m not that hungry for food.”

“But what about Mariah?”

“She’s hiding away for a little longer.”

The sultry expression in his eye ignited everything all over again. Carefully, unconcerned with the sheet falling way, she picked up the tray and set it aside. She opened her arms.