Randall Wedding (19 page)

She looked as if that was a novel concept. “Enjoy undressing?”

“Yeah. Come here and I’ll show you.”

The next half hour was a revelation to Izzy. And Russ was right. She did enjoy it. So much so that she got a little impatient with his dillydallying….

In the end she found making love with Russ to be incredibly enjoyable, incredibly satisfying. So much so that she wondered what her first husband had been doing. It certainly wasn’t making love.

When her trembling had stopped and she lay peacefully against his chest, he stroked her bare back and asked her if she was all right.

“All right? I’m feeling wonderful. Can we…can we do that again?”

Russ chuckled. “Now? It takes me a little while to recover, honey.”

“How long?”

He laughed. “A couple of hours.”

“Oh. I was afraid you would say a week. That’s usually how often my first husband—”

“I think we need to wash him out of your memory. I don’t think he was a good husband.”

“Mmm, me, neither.”

“So you’re willing to stay as long as we do this a lot?”

Her cheeks flushed, but she met his glance. “Yes, but really, Russ, if you think I need to go, I will. I mean, I don’t want to, but I don’t want to ruin your life.” She snuggled closer. “If it weren’t for the snow, I would’ve been gone this morning.”

“Not permanently.”

“Yes, Russ, I was seriously going to leave.”

“I know. But I wasn’t going to seriously let you go.”

“You wouldn’t have known. I was all packed and everything.”

“But you wouldn’t get far.”

“Why not?”

“Because I siphoned most of your gas out of the SUV.”

She sat up, startled. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything as beautiful as Isabella at that moment, the covers gathered around her waist, her
breasts full and rosy, her hair tumbling over her shoulders.

But her mind was on other matters. “You did what?”

“I wanted to make sure I didn’t lose you.”

“But that wasn’t fair!”

He was still smiling, but his voice was serious. “When it comes to you and Angel, sweetheart, fair isn’t what matters. Holding the two of you close is what matters. I love you, and I love Angel, too. I want to share my life with you.”

“I love you, too, Russ. I didn’t know men like you existed. I don’t ever want to leave.”

“Good.” He reached for her. “You know, Izzy, you inspire me. I seem to have recovered faster than I thought.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you,” she said, concern in her voice.

“The only way you could hurt me would be to leave, sweetheart. Don’t ever leave,” he said, pulling her back to his side, kissing her.

“No, Russ, I won’t,” she promised, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Then we’ll be happy forever, Izzy, my love.”