Can Mary and Luke find true love...

Outside, sheets of rain hit the metal roof of the barn.  The hay in the loft muffled the sound, cocooning them in a world all their own.

He watched her for several minutes as she rubbed her arms against the chill in the air.  Finally he tugged her into the V of his splayed legs, warning her flesh himself.  He relished the shudder that ran through her.

His body tightened as he noted the contrast of the color of their skin and the compatibility of their sizes.  He had always felt uncomfortable around Debbie and most of the other women he dated.  As if at any moment he might break them in two if he held them too tight.  He had never once allowed his passion to become uncontrollable for fear he would hurt them.  With sudden insight, he knew those feelings had contributed to his performance – or lack thereof – on his wedding night.

But with Mary, he could see himself completely losing control.  His instincts told him she would be the perfect lover in so many ways.

“You’re going to freeze to death,” he muttered.

“Oh, why did it have to rain?” Mary’s voice held a breathless quality which he hoped resulted more from his touch than the short ride.

“It’s just as well,” he answered, his own voice a husky drawl.  “If you’d ridden much longer, you’d have been too sore to move in the morning.”

Instantly they both became aware of the double entendre and his fingers tightened about her waist.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he commended.

“Like what?” She sounded confused.

“You don’t know much about men, do you?”  Luke tugged at the clip that bound her hair, freeing it to his touch.  The long, blonde strands fell in waves about her shoulders.  He wanted to bury his face in the silky softness.  “I think I deserve a thank you for teaching you how to ride, don’t you?”

“I don’t think that would be such a good idea,” she said, trying to draw away.

“That’s the second time you’ve said that.  Don’t you know what you want?”  Luke’s hand cupped the back of her head, holding her still.  “I know what I want.”

He wanted to kiss her.

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