Chain Lightning (26 page)

Sutter’s whole body froze in the instant before his breath came out with a husky, ragged sound.

“I love you, Mandy. I must have loved you since I carried you off that damned plane. That’s why I couldn’t get enough of you no matter how many times we made love.“ As he spoke he kissed her womb, her breasts, the pulse beating beneath her throat, her trembling lips, smoothing his words into her skin as he slowly joined his body to hers. “You’re my life and I didn’t know it until you walked away. But I know now. I’m going to spend my life loving you.“

Mandy tried to tell him that she loved him in the same way, but he was moving within her, stealing her thoughts, her breath, her words. With a cry she gave herself to him and took him in the same instant, moving with him, chain lightning weaving between their bodies, ecstasy calling a passionate rain from the depths of their love until they could bear no more and slept deeply in each other’s arms.

Within six months a son and then a daughter were born from Mandy’s body into Sutter’s gentle hands. Later, as he put each babe to suckle against her breast, she smiled and wept and whispered her love to the man who had returned to her twice what the sea had once taken.

When the babies were full of milk and love and sleep, Sutter put them in their bedside cribs before sliding into bed with the woman he loved. Even as he gathered her into his arms, she came to him, holding him. They slept as they would always live, body to body, breath to breath, love to love…complete.