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a glow of hope and happiness beamed from within and made him
look years younger. 'It's good to be alive,' he said cheerfully, then
grinned at Jared. 'How does it feel, now that you know you're going
to be a father?'
From that moment on, the visit proceeded along more natural lines
and even gathered the sense of a family being together. Naomi
startled everyone by saying that she and Rafe would certainly be
visiting Bendeneer Downs in future to see their grandchild. It was a
declaration that the past really was over, and the future was going to
be completely clear of it from now on.
Laura felt a deep pleasure in the thought that it was finally finished
with... that the generation of pain was giving way to a new
generation... one in which love and family and respect for each other
came first... and their child who would be born and nurtured in that
atmosphere. What more could anyone want? And nothing would
tear that love apart. She wouldn't let it happen. Ever.
Nevertheless, Laura was privately amazed at the way Jared handled
himself when he was released from hospital and was faced with
normal society again. He didn't seem to mind the covert stares at all.
He tossed his head high and walked tall. He was a man, not a child,
she reminded herself a man among men and her pride in him
knew no bounds.
When they returned to Bendeneer Downs, it was he who put
everyone at ease with his good-humoured acceptance of his scarred
face. Shock and sympathy were quickly erased by everyone's
genuine pleasure that he was alive and well and in their midst again.
Jared broke open a new case of champagne. Life resumed its normal
pace and business as if it had never been interrupted by anything of
consequence.
The weeks rolled into months and Laura bemoaned the fact that she
was losing her shape. 'I'll have to buy a stack of maternity clothes
when we go down to Adelaide for your next operation, Jared,' she
declared one morning, failing miserably at trying to zip up her
loosest pair of jeans. 'I'm getting positively lumpy.'
He came up behind her, slid his arms around her waist, and caressed
the lump in question with tenderly erotic purpose. 'Well, at least you
still want me,' she sighed happily, leaning back to savour the warm
intimacy between them.
'I'll always want you,' he murmured, teasing her ear with delicate
little nibbles.
'Even when I'm all blown up?' she asked anxiously.
He swung her around to face him, but it was not to kiss her. His eyes
were not smouldering with desire, but burning with intense emotion.
His hand lifted and stroked softly down her cheek.
'No matter what you looked like or what you ever look like
you're my woman, Laura. The wife of my mind and heart and soul.
And no one could ever take your place, because it's so very deeply
your place. I couldn't untangle myself from you any more, even if I
wanted to. And I don't want to. I know you don't need me to say
these things, but sometimes I need to say them, Laura.'
And the need swirled around her, engulfed her, merging her with
him more intimately than any physical act could ever do.
'I want you to know that I felt it too the something in you which
called to me,' Jared continued, the intensity of the moment glittering
in his eyes. 'It was why I married you. Why I couldn't hold myself
apart from you even though my own self-preservation dictated it.
You answer everything I've ever wanted. To say I love you it's
too simple, Laura. I'll love our child. But you...'
He wrapped his arms around her and crushed her to him. 'You I hold
on to. You I'll never let go,' he whispered through the soft tresses of
her hair.
And she felt his heart beating against hers, with hers...and knew that
all the doors were open at last. They would never shut again. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]