He paused and gave her a blinding smile. "Two of the most important are named Maggie and Casey. Maybe saving them makes up, just a little, for not being able to save Tyler. So if you insist on running away from me and make me follow you, consider yourself warned. I'm going to have to drag you home again because those little girls need their aunt. And their uncle. And I need those little girls."
A huge ball of tears lodged in her throat as she held him more tightly. "And I need you, Damien. I love you so much," she said fiercely. "I don't understand the miracle that happened, but I'm not going to give you another chance to get away from me."
He leaned away from her and smoothed the hair away from her face. "As if I would want one. And there's nothing to understand. There was only one miracle all along, and that miracle was you, Abby."
"Are you sure you don't mind about this baby?" she whispered. "Really sure?"
"I'm thrilled about this baby," he assured her, laying his hands on her belly. "The best things in life come along when you least expect them." His smile was infinitely tender, and she knew he wasn't talking only about their child. The two of them had been gifts to each other.
He kissed her once, a long, lingering caress, then said, "Given a choice, I would have preferred to wait a while to have children, but only for selfish reasons. I'd like to have you to myself for as long as possible."
Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "We have about five months," she whispered. "So we'd better make the best of it."
"Shall we start right now?" he murmured into her ear.
"You must have read my mind." She pulled him closer and kissed him again, pouring her heart into him. In answer he swept her up into his arms and climbed the stairs, not stopping until he came to the bedroom. He lowered her onto the bed like she was a precious, fragile treasure, following her down and covering her body with his.
She tried to go slowly, to let the fire build gradually, but all the need and desire she'd suppressed for three months came roaring into life. Frantically she pulled at his clothes, needing to touch him, to make sure he was real. When all their clothes lay on the floor, flung in every direction, she pulled him to her.
"I need you, Damien. I've needed you for so long. Don't make me wait any longer."
"Abby," he groaned, trying to resist her seeking hands. "I wanted to be careful, to go slow."
"We have the rest of our lives for slow," she whispered, drawing him into her. "I can't wait."
As he surged into her, the tiny ripples of desire exploded into a huge fireball, blinding her to everything but the taste and feel and sound of Damien. Somewhere in the flames their souls touched and twined together, fused into one by the heat of their love. Wrapping her arms around him, she held him tightly as he murmured her name, over and over.
They lay on the bed for a long time, arms and legs tangled, sunshine warming them. Finally Damien moved, easing away from her and studying her face. "Are you all right?" he asked.
Focusing her eyes, she saw the worry on his face and smiled. "I don't think I've ever been better in my life."
"I mean the baby. I wasn't exactly careful. We didn't hurt the baby, did we?"
Her heart moved in her chest as she watched him. Then she felt an answering flutter in her abdomen. Smiling through the mist that filled her eyes, she took his hand and laid it on her belly. "The baby is happy, too," she whispered. "Can you feel her?"
Damien was motionless for a moment, then suddenly looked up at her, awe and wonder in his eyes. "Yes," he said, his voice barely louder than a single breath. "She kicked me."
"I think she's saying she's glad to meet you," Abby whispered, pressing her fingers into Damien's. Through his hand she felt the faint flutter and roll of the baby, binding them together. It was the feel of forever.
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FOR THE CHILDREN Page 25
