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Gaelic before slowly opening his lids and focused, dazedly towards Kate.
She heard the rustle of excited movement and whispers as Mally and Tim
reviewed the whole incident, caught forever on videotape. She had seen it all once,
watched Alex with horrified amazement, as he had fallen into a deep, semi-conscious
sleep and reemerged as another man. Even his face seemed to change, the jaw sagging,
the round lips thinning to form heavily accented words. And when the unfamiliar eyes
had opened she had shuddered because they rolled to her in recognition and the mind
behind them was not Alex s. There was too much torment within the glazed expression,
yet the stranger searched for her. He spoke of loss, failure, a promise that had to be filled
and a fear that his true love had finally forgotten him. She had watched as the possession
grew, lifting Alex s body to mechanically wander from the house, through the garden and
finally to collapse on the tomb. Then it was over. Alex came back to her.
But the agony in the voice had shaken her. It echoed such desolation she had felt
her own heart would crack in response. And despite the vacancy uttered from another
man s tortured soul, there was a frightening element of Alex within its deep expression.
Like a bolt shattering the scene around her, Kate knew she was incapable of dooming
their love to the same isolation and failure: she would never part with him. Never.
Kate stroked Alex s cheek, tucking the blanket around his middle as he twisted to
find comfort on the couch.  How are you feeling? she asked warily. Still pale and limp,
she knew the answer but wanted to hear his voice again, reaffirm the other man was gone.
He smiled weakly and finished the drink, handing her the glass before slumping
into the pillow.  I have a smashing headache, he whispered, wincing as he spoke,
confirming that the slightest vibration was torturous.
Alex folded his fingers around her wrist and closed his eyes again.  I m no doing
that again, he said quietly.  Tell them.
 You won t have to, Kate assured.  I m certain that they got all the answers
they needed.
Alex nodded, tenderly placing his forehead on her shoulder as though it would
shatter with mere contact. The fingers round her waist tightened. Without opening his
eyes he whispered,  Marry me, Ceitag.
Kate perched precariously on the edge of the couch holding him as assuring as her
strength would permit. His palm inched up the nape of her neck and softly tugged her
hair. Like butterfly wings his lips fluttered to her ear.  To say that I love ye is no
enough. I canna put to words how much I want ye. And need ye.
She felt him swallow as though nervous but the beating within his chest was
steady, and strong and true.  Yes, she whispered, her own throat so dry the word
LOVE NOT FORGOTTEN Ellen Ashe 163
croaked.
He flinched, grasping her shoulders.  What did ye say?
Kate lifted her head from his chest and peered into disbelieving, fluid pools that
shimmered with hope.  Yes, I will marry you.
Except for a sudden intake of air Alex s body had solidified.
 Yes, she repeated.  Yes.
She hadn t realized that his whole frame was steel until the release of air from
exploding lungs weakened every muscle. A flicker of arousal washed through her
stomach as the expression instantly reminded her of their lovemaking; the face, contorted
as though in pain, would relax violently in the ecstasy of release, just as it had done now,
and she felt her own body weaken at the very sight.
 Oh, Ceitag, he sighed, clutching her into his chest with a new power surging
through each arm.
The relief was too much and Kate was shocked to find that he collapsed into tears,
emotionally drained. Burying his face into the curve of her collarbone, she tried to calm
him now, brushing her fingers through his mane of black hair and gently rocking his
shuddering shoulders. His fingertips dug into her back, clinging to her for life, and
bathing her skin with a flood of heat. She was shocked and embarrassed, quickly
glancing to the others to beg patience and a few moments of privacy. They were smiling
knowingly and already inching towards the door.
Kate squeezed him as tightly as she could, his wet cheek against her breast. As
though drunk, muddled words flowed fast and furiously into her cleavage, half of which
she barely understood. Through it all he confirmed his devotion and a promise of
euphoric happiness.
 Alex, she laughed, making a valiant attempt to hold the trembling at bay,  I
know. Calm down. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]