She moistened her kiss-swollen lips. “You know I do. I’ve trusted you with my life more than once.”

“Then trust me with your body. Trust me to make everything come out right.”

The uncertainty faded from her eyes, turned into a flash of the confidence that was so much a part of her. Reaching for the hem of her sweater, she pulled it off over her head and tossed it away, shook out her heavy dark hair. A lacy pink bra thrust up pale twin globes like a feast he couldn’t wait to devour. He moved closer, pressed his mouth to the soft swell of one and then the other.

Skye unhooked her bra and tossed it away, and Edge groaned as the fullness spilled into his palms.

“Beautiful,” he said, kissing her again, trailing kisses lower, till his mouth replaced his hands. He could feel her trembling as he suckled and tasted, laved and savored each delectable mound.

Things progressed more rapidly after that. Both of them stripped off their clothes and stood facing each other, Skye holding her skirt in front of her, the last barrier to her nakedness.

Edge eased the skirt from her hands and tossed it over a chair. Conn hadn’t lied. The leg wound was severe, the burn scars ugly. Skye looked at him as he caught her hips and began kissing his way down her body, from her breasts to her naval, along her left thigh, crouching, moving lower, trailing kisses all the way to her scarred ankle. She made a little sound in her throat.

Edge rose and very gently kissed her. “Do you know what I see when I look at your leg?”

Skye swallowed but said nothing.

“I see a badge of courage. A mark of heroism. I see a woman who sacrificed herself to save the life of a fellow soldier.” He drew her closer, till her body pressed the length of his. “You feel that?” He was hard against her belly. “That’s how much I want you. Nothing is going to change that.”

With a quiet sob, Skye went into his arms. He held her a moment before his mouth came down over hers. The kiss lingered, deepened. It didn’t take long before both of them were panting, their hearts racing. Lifting her against his chest, he settled her in the middle of his big bed and eased down beside her. He spent time enjoying her breasts, ran his hands over her narrow waist and flat belly, began to stroke her.

Skye shifted restlessly, her arousal strengthening, growing hot enough to match his own. “I want you so much,” she said. “Please, Edge.”

“Soon, I promise.” He kissed her again as he moved and settled himself between her legs. Soon, but not yet. Not until he had her stirring impatiently beneath him, not until her thighs parted even wider, urging him to take her.