The Heart Has Reasons (65 page)

“Uh-uh. 
Have you?”

She
shook her head.  “Not even close.  And it’s strange because it seems
like the more we do it, the more I want.”

“I
know the feeling.  Hell, I didn’t even know I was
capable
of doing
it this much.  At this rate, before long it’ll be worn down to a nub.”

Laughing,
she reached down to encircle his penis with one hand.  “Let’s hope
not.  I kind of like it the way it is.”

He
turned on his back and gathered her to him, cradling her in one arm with her
head on his shoulder.  They lay there for some time, not speaking, simply
enjoying the feel of each other, both sore but content.

Finally,
she broke the blissful silence to ask, “What are you thinking about?”

He
sighed.  “Moving.  On the one hand, I want to get it over with; on
the other, I don’t want to leave.  And I’m trying to decide what to bring
and what to sell.  My motorcycle’s definitely coming.”

“You’re
not planning to ride it back, are you?”

“Normally,
that’s exactly what I’d do.  But since I don’t want to be gone one moment
longer than necessary, I’ll have it shipped.”  He gazed at her
curiously.  “Will you let me take you for a ride on it?”

“Actually,
I was hoping you might teach me to ride.  If I like it, I might buy a motorcycle
of my own.”

“You
see?  You were never a coward.  Just overly cautious.”

“I’m
beginning to believe you may be right.  What about the van?”

“Already
sold.”

She
propped herself on her left elbow and ran her right hand lightly over his chest
and stomach, tracing the muscles of his abdomen with the tips of her
fingers.  “That was fast.”

“Too
many disturbing memories.  I’ll sell my furniture and buy new when I get
back here.  It’ll probably cost about the same as shipping it.”

She
pulled back so she could see his face.  “Why would you need to buy
new?  Aren’t you moving in here with me?”

“Well,
you never mentioned it, so I assumed I’d be getting my own place.”

“No! 
I want us to live together.  But only if
it’s what
you
want.”

“Of
course it’s what I want.”  He paused for a moment.  “Larissa … I have
a cat.”

She
frowned.  “The night of the storm, you claimed you didn’t have any pets.”

“Do
you remember the little calico?  When I got out of jail, I went back and
got it.”

She
swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.  “You know, it’s things
like that that make me love you so much.  The cat can keep the puppy
company when we’re at work.”

“Then
all I have to do is sell my furniture, arrange to have my bike shipped out, and
pack up my clothes.”

“Don’t
forget the handcuffs.”

His
eyebrows rose.  “I’d have thought you’d had enough of handcuffs.”

“They’re
not for
me
, they’re for
you
.  Once you return, I intend to
keep you in this bed.”

Chase
rolled atop her and kissed her long and passionately, until she was once again
breathless with desire.  “Larissa, you will
never
need handcuffs to
keep me at your side.”

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Martine Marchand