Page 44 of Dangerous Encore

I groan into hismouth.

I tug at his hair. Really, it's the only thing I can do to contain all the weight of mydesire.

We make out like horny high school students until the limo pulls toastop.

The driver knocks on the door. "Whenever you're ready, Mr. and Mrs.Strong."

I melt. "I'm Mrs.Strong."

His voice is thick with desire. "Itsuitsyou."

"Hotel room.Sex.Now."

He smiles. "You want to stop and pick up morechampagne?"

I shakemyhead.

"Somethingtoeat?"

"No."

"We didn't get a bite to eat atdinner."

"Ethan." I tug at his suit jacket. "Sex now. Foodlater."

It's hard to believe, but, somehow, he manages to smile wider. He pulls open the door and helpsmeout.

I take my husband's hand, and I follow him into the hotel. It's a big, modern chain, one where we can scream at the top of our lungs without getting calls from thefrontdesk.

Ormaybenot.

I'm not watching the volumeeitherway.

Ethan charms the receptionist in that classic Ethan kindofway.

She smiles at us as she hands over our room keys. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." I smile back. It's the four hundredthcongratulationsof the day, but it feels every bit as good as thefirstone.

Ethan slides his arm around my waist. The bodice of my dress is so thick I can barely feel the pressure of hishands.

But I can feel the change in his posture. There's something about the way Ethan walks when he's holding me. It's softer. Stronger. Like he's wrapping me in a hug and like he's ready to defend me withhislife.

He leads me to the elevator and presses thebutton.

The silver doorsslideopen.

I clap my hands together as I step inside. This is it. We're almost to our hotel room. We're almost to the part where we strip each other out of our fancy clothes and fuck likerabbits.

Ethan punches in our floor. He watches the elevator doors slide closed then he turns to me. He slides his hands over my hips and pins me to themirroredwall.

I stare into his piercing blue eyes. "Say itagain."

"You'remywife."

"And you're my husband." I dig my hand into his hair. "I don't think I'll ever get tired ofhearingthat."

"Yeah?"