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He took the glass from my hand, and put it down on the bench where we sat He stood and took me by the hand and without another ent across the lawn and around the house to the garden entrance We saw a few people in the garden, but everyone was engaged in conversation, and did not notice us He led ate Across the lane was the tiny guest house

A lantern was hung on the porch; candles were lit inside He opened the door and I went in Rabbit was dozing in a chair; she started up

"Here is your irl; help her to prepare for bed," said Robbie

I hurried Rabbit with ; when she would have brushed ht I crawled onto the bed infor Robbie; before I could think ofoff his cravat He took off his shoes and ca inand steady The knoithinobscured by the darkness of pain and doubt, now resurfaced, and I held out my arms to him

He knelt on the bed and leaned toward me, and we kissed I looked up into his dear face and saw a light in his eyes which I had never seen before; all derision was gone, and I saw that he had at last opened his heart to e

"Jessie, lass," he said, his voice deep and soft, and at last I knew that his words meant love All the times he'd called me "lass," even when he was in delirium, was his way to say that he loved me

"Robbie, rew deeper and I drew hiether upon the soft fresh linen of the bed He kissed my mouth, my throat, my breasts, my belly I kissed him every place that I could reach His fine hands roved over htly brushing the softness of my skin His touches enflamed me; I felt the moisture flow in me When he took me I looked into his face and before I closedhian to ether slowly, and soon I was carried away I called out his naan to move more quickly and the intensity of hts of ecstasy to which I had never before been; I felt as though I was rising aboveinside me I heard his voice rise into a cry as he said, "Jessie, oh, Jessie, lass, lass," and I cried out again as his flanks shuddered against mine; and then he was still