He raised his head to look at her, and she was surprised to find his eyes wet with tears, too. His lips were soft and gentle as they glided over hers. What had earlier been frantic now became sensual. Cradling her face with his hands, he kept his eyes open and fixed on hers as his mouth slid back and forth, denying her the deeper possession she craved.

She sent her tongue to seek out his, but still he held back. All at once she realized his hips were moving again.

He withdrew almost completely, then went deep again.

“Oh, this is what I get…”

“For?”

She raised her hips to meet his. “Robbing the cradle.”

He laughed, a rumbling sound that shook them both. “We young guys have lots of stamina. Now that you’ve taken the edge off, I’m all set.” As he spoke, he looked down at her, keeping up an easy in-and-out motion. He touched his lips to hers. “So I’m waiting for you.”

She groaned. “I don’t think I’ve got anything left.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?” His hand slid down between them.

Her gasp was one of surprise and then shock when he set out to prove her wrong.

“Oh, God,” she sighed. “Note to self—no more younger men.”

“Note to you—no more men, period.” His fingers kept up a persistent, determined stroke. “You’re all mine.” When he dipped his head to draw her nipple into his mouth, the orgasm tore through her, sucking the air from her lungs.

The power of her climax milked another from him. He shuddered against her, his face tight with tension that she soothed away with her hands and lips.

By the time they finally took the stew upstairs to eat in bed, it was after nine.

“Hi, honey, I’m home,” Clare joked when she snuggled up to him after they ate.

Aidan laughed. “See what happens when I’m away from you for just a few hours?”

“What will you be like after one of those twelve-hour days?”

“You can only hope I’ll be tired.”

Clare was relieved to see the light back in his eyes. He’d been withdrawn after the trip to the cemetery, and she’d worried about him. He seemed much better after a few hours alone, but it didn’t feel like the right time to get into the emotional discussion she needed to have with him. Since she’d made up her mind to tell him the truth, she figured it could wait another day or two until the time was right.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asked with a mysterious smile.

“I don’t know. What am I doing?”

“Going out with me.”

“Are you finally going to buy me dinner?”

He laughed. “Yes, I am.”

“Well, it’s about time.”

“You have a very sassy mouth, you know that?”

“You love my sassy mouth.”