Thorne Brothers: With All My Heart Part 40

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.

Grey watched her, fascinated and aroused by her lithe, graceful movements. She sat up and straddled his thighs. Leaning forward, she placed her palms fiat on his chest and gradually drew them downward. He sucked in his breath when she removed the towel and then let it out slowly as she raised her nights.h.i.+ft. She placed his hands on her hips and felt his fingers press into the taut flesh of her bottom. She was lifted, partly by his efforts, partly by hers, and then she drew him into her.

It was sometime later that they slept and much later when Grey finally woke. Beside him, Berkeley didn't stir. Pale sunlight had replaced moons.h.i.+ne in slanted beams across the bed, and the brightest of these glanced off her shoulder. Another beam caught the pair of earrings lying on the bedside table. The gold crowns glinted, and the delicate engraving was visible on one.

From the dressing room he heard the small snuffling sounds that Rhea made as she rooted through her covers. Usually this preceded a wild bansheelike cry which she had perfected to announce her hunger. Grey prepared himself not to start when it came.

What came instead was blessed silence. After a minute he dared believe that she had fallen back to sleep. Grey's eyes traveled over Berkeley, imagining his daughter was slumbering very much like her mother, her face turned to one side, long lashes shadowing her cheeks, one arm slightly under her body, the other flung awkwardly toward the center of the bed with her palm up and her fingers lightly curved as if around an invisible object.

Grey folded his hand over Berkeley's fingers and closed them with great care. There was a corresponding pressure in his own chest. His faint smile deepened. It required no special sighted gift to see that she held his heart.

Dear Reader, The publication of With All My Heart represents the end of the Thorne trilogy. Colin, Decker, and Grey have amused and frustrated, and in some ways, enriched me. It has been through the Thorne brothers that I have been privileged to hear from new readers as well as had the opportunity to thank some old ones. It was a reader from Was.h.i.+ngton who helped me recognize that Colin's search for his brothers had a parallel in my own family. It was a subconscious influence that I only understood as I responded to her letter. It allows me to correct an oversight by honoring the memory of my brother Olaf and his courage for searching out the father (and the family) he never knew. My Steadfast Heart should have been dedicated to him.

September, 1999 will bring the reissue of Crystal Pa.s.sion, originally published in 1985, the first of three books about the McClellan family. The adventures and fortunes of the McClel-lans closely follow the twists and turns of the American Revolution through the writing of the US Const.i.tution. It will be followed by Seaswept Abandon in September, 2000.

Readers can also expect More Than You Know in March, 2000. At this time I'm only thinking of a brother and sister but families have a way of growing once I get started. That's all I can tell you. Anything else is, I'm afraid, More Than I Know.

Readers who wish to write me should send their letters with an SASE care of the publisher or e-mail me at net. As always I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy Reading!.

Jo Goodman.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

Jo Goodman lives with her family in Colliers, West Virginia. She is the author of eighteen historical romances (all published by Zebra Books) including her beloved Dennehy sisters series: Wild Sweet Ecstasy (Mary Michael's story), Rogue's Mistress (Rennie's story), Forever in My Heart (Maggie's story), Always in My Dreams (Skye's story) and Only in My Arms (Mary's story), as well as her Thorne Brothers trilogy: My Steadfast Heart (Colin's story), My Reckless Heart (Decker's story) and With All My Heart (Grey's story). In September, 1999, Zebra books will be repackaging and reissuing Crystal Pa.s.sion, Jo's second historical romance (originally published in 1985), which is the first book in her three-book McClellan family series. Jo is currently working on her newest Zebra historical romance, which will be published in March, 2000. Jo loves hearing from readers, and you may write to her c/o Zebra Books. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish a response..

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