He couldn’t resist. Hank leaned closer and kissed her. Not a light, polite kiss but a tender kiss.

For a moment, she didn’t move, then she opened her mouth and let out a little sound of pleasure.

Hank kissed her again. A bit deeper but just as tenderly. When he finally pulled away, she closed her eyes and went to sleep with a smile on her lips.

He couldn’t stop staring at her as he fought the urge to kiss her again. He’d given up fear a long time ago, but when he’d known she was in danger, his whole body shook. He cared about her.

As he lightly moved his finger down her neck, he whispered, “When I get back . . .”

He couldn’t promise anything. He didn’t know how to be with a woman like her. He’d decided he’d go very slowly, but now he was the one newborn to her world. He wanted to make love to her one day. He didn’t want just a roll in the covers and a goodbye in the morning.

Hank had worried he’d frighten her if he went too fast, but going slow scared him like nothing ever had.

“Watch over her,” Hank whispered as he lifted Rambo atop the bed. “She’s precious to me.”

As he made sure all the doors were locked and headed out, he looked back at her one last time and thought, When I get back you’re going to teach me how to love.

Monday

Monday

Chapter 22 - Jenny

Chapter 22

Jenny

Professor Virginia Clark sat at her cluttered desk pretending to be hard at work on the survey. She didn’t miss the fact that Benjamin had left the door between their offices ajar.

They were almost working together. After their night of loving last week, she wasn’t sure he’d ever speak to her again. He didn’t call or talk to her more than necessary. She’d thought about asking him to come over for another house call, but they both needed time to think.

He was a loving man who’d pressed all emotions inside. Her midnight lover who needed to step out into the light.

She fought down a chuckle. She’d never tell Benjamin that she cared little about the chemistry-of-mating research or winning the award. From the day she’d accepted the teaching assignment at Clifton College, all she’d wanted was her Benjamin back.

All fall she swore that only the shell of him was left, but last Wednesday he’d proved her wrong.

She’d given him up long ago in favor of adventures. Then she’d traveled the world, but in her mind, Benjamin had always traveled with her in those dark, predawn hours when she’d held her pillow and thought of how they had made love.