Sarah sobered. 'But he didn't know you wanted to marry me. Will he . . . approve, do you think?'
It was Max's turn to laugh. He slid an arm around her velvet waist and hugged her against his hard body. 'Approve. Darling, you've been signed, sealed and delivered by his own fair hands. You've domesticated the tiger, of course he approves.'
'Hmm, I always was good with wild animals,' Sarah murmured, tremors beginning to build up in her body as the strong, sensitive hands began to wander.
'Don't distract me,' came the order. 'I'm unwrapping my birthday present.'
Before she realised what had happened Sarah was flat on her back on the bed, being ruthlessly kissed. With practised economy of movement Max neatly extracted her from her dress, so obviously eager that her mischievous streak was awakened. Secure in his love, she pushed him' away, wide-eyed when he slid his hands over her lacy red bra.
'No, Max, not until we're married, it woul
dn't be right.'
He looked stunned. 'You want to wait? It'll be at least three days before—' he choked to a stop as Sarah's eyes began to dance.
'Vixen,' he growled, threateningly. 'For that bit of heresy I shall make love to you until you beg for mercy.'
'Try and make me,' she teased provocatively, enticing him with her lace-clad body, and trying half-heartedly to escape as he lunged for her.
They wrestled playfully until it was no longer play, until desire caught up with them, overtook them, and the rhythms of love established themselves in soft, sighing sounds.
Sarah gave herself with delight, with love and uninhibited joy and was rewarded with unimaginable pleasure when he finally took her, with infinite skill and a kind of gentle savagery that carried her with him to the far peaks, breathing as one the thin, rarified air of ecstasy, sharing a passion that was pure and white and blindingly fierce.
And afterwards when he held her trembling body against his, and licked the sweet salt tears from her cheeks, she knew at last the peace of utter contentment. That this love she had found was not a trap, but a door to a new, exciting and enriching life.