herine groaned and threw her arm over her eyes. A warm arm tightened around he

nto her side and came face to face with the sleeping Sean Blair. Her head spun-wha

n the morning sunlight, and she reached up to stroke his jaw without t

r. She wrapped her hands around him, feeling the tension in the muscles on his back. His muscles s

hot. She pulled her hand away and fel

sped. I'm stil

eck hard. She squirmed wit

red. "Or I can't guaran

blood either, but the embarrassment would kill her. What if he was disgus

How can you do this t

organ, pressing her palm against its length. It jum

you do to me,"

to anger him by refusing, but she didn't want to encourage him e

she couldn't help but notice the powerful lines of his shoulders and arms. She wanted to reac

e night here?" sh

t notice?"

d usually exhausts me. If the pain doe

Sean said. "Even if we couldn't make l

ushed. She tugged the sheets around her, try

" he said. "It

licked shut, and she exhaled, realizing she'd been holding her breath. She climbed out of bed and rushed toward the closet, choosing a pair of light wash jeans and

d, "Good morning, Mrs. Bla

or Catherine. Some smiled warmly at her, and others glared

dining room. Sean already sat at the table, sipping

aid a servant. "What would yo

er my husband is

ermission, Catherine reached out and grabbed his mug from the ta

ed. "You don't put any

d took his mug back, "Don't d

herine selected a narrow crystal glass filled with fresh orange juice and took a l

r," the servant said,

with that?" Se

" the servant stammered and fel

and what had just happened. She'd just taken a small sip of her

o much black coffee," she said to

felt her face grow hot, and she looked down at t

ve no right to tell you what to do.

of her omelet and saw Sean regard

d. "I'll try t

she sai

es. Though she didn't have much of an appetite, she forced herself

vants, Catherine said, "M

en he bustled through the swinging door and down to the kitchen. A moment

erine said. "I was in so much pain, and

fused, "But Mrs. Bl

the chef with a cold glare. "

n and Catherine. Finally, she nodded and mumbled, "It

tter now?" Sean

d, "Much

. "You certainl

the corner, "Mr. Blair, Madis

ened, "I don't w

ed between Sean and Levi. Finally, she cleared h