She nodded, then shifted her legs to the end of the bed so she could stand next to him. Reaching for the bottom of her nightgown, he held out his hand to stop her once more. His fingers took over, bunching the black satin in his large fists and lifting the material slowly upward.

She felt the cool air on her legs, and her thighs, and then her stomach. He paused, glancing down, then continued at the same measured pace.

When the bottom of the gown reached her breasts, she thought about how she'd been so worried about him hours ago. Now, she realized all that fretting was for nothing....