She touched his cheek. “You won't hurt me.”

“I don't want to, but I—” He couldn't finish the sentence. He'd pushed forward into her—just an inch, but it felt so perfect that he lost the power of speech.

“Oh, my,” Victoria breathed.

Robert just grunted. It was all he could manage. Intelligent speech was clearly beyond his capabilities. He forced himself to hold still, waiting to feel her muscles relax around him before sinking himself deeper into her. It was damned near impossible to hold himself back; every nerve in his body was screaming for release. It took clenched teeth, clenched muscles, clenched everything to keep his passion in check, but he did it.

All because he loved her. It was an awesome feeling, that.

Finally he moved that last inch and let out a shudder of complete and total pleasure. It was the sweetest of embraces. He was overcome by the most intense desire in his life, yet at the same time he had never felt more protected and content. “We are one now,” he whispered, brushing a sweaty strand of hair from her forehead. “You and I. We are one person.”

Victoria nodded and took a deep breath. She felt very strange. Strange, and somehow complete at the same time. Robert was inside her; she could scarcely fathom that. It was the oddest and yet the most natural feeling she had ever experienced. She felt as if she would surely burst if he moved even a quarter of an inch, and yet she was hungry for something more.

“Did I hurt you?” he whispered.

She shook her head. “It's so…odd”

He let out a little laugh. “It will get better. I promise.”

“Oh, it isn't bad,” she said, trying to reassure him. “Please don't think—”

He chuckled again as he pressed a gentle finger to her lips. “Shhh. Just let me show you.” He replaced his fingers with his mouth, distracting her so she wouldn't notice when he started to move within her.

She noticed. The first brush of exquisite friction made her cry out, and before she knew it she had wrapped her legs around his.

“Oh, Victoria,” he moaned. But it was a very happy moan. He moved forward again, then pulled back, slowly creating a rhythm as beautiful as it was primitive.

Victoria moved with him, instinct carrying her along where experience could not. Something began to build within her—a mounting pressure. She didn't know if it was pain or if it was pleasure, and at that moment she didn't particularly care which. All she knew was that she was on a road to somewhere, and if she didn't get there soon, she would surely explode.

And then she reached her destination and she exploded anyway, and then, for the first time in her life, she knew what it meant to be totally at peace with the world.

Robert's movements grew frenzied and then he, too, shouted his release and collapsed on top of her. Several minutes passed before either was able to speak.

Robert rolled to his side, pulling Victoria along with him. He kissed her gently on the lips. “Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head.

“Was I too heavy?”

“No. I liked feeling your weight.” She blushed, feeling very risqué. “Why did you lock the door?”

“Hmm?”

“The door. It was locked.”

He turned and looked at her, his blue eyes warm and thoughtful. “Habit, I suppose. I've always locked my door. I certainly didn't intend to keep you out.” His lips spread into a lazy, contented smile. “I rather enjoy your company.”

She giggled. “Yes, I believe you've demonstrated that.”

His face grew serious. “There won't be any more locked doors between us. Barriers have no place in our relationship, be they doors or lies or misunderstandings.”

Victoria swallowed, feeling too emotional to speak. All she did was nod.

Robert slid a leg over her, drawing her close.

“You won't leave, will you? I know it's the middle of the day, but we can take a nap.”

“Yes,” she said softly. Then she curled up in his arms, closed her eyes, and drifted off into peaceful sleep.

Chapter 20

When Victoria woke from her nap an hour later, Robert's beaming face was only a few inches from her own. He was propped up on his elbow, and she suspected that he'd spent the entire nap time watching her.

“Today,” he announced with great cheer, “is a superb day to be married.”

Victoria was certain she'd misheard him. “I beg your pardon?”

“Married. Man and wife.”

“You and me?”

“No, actually I think that the hedgehogs out in the garden need to be joined in holy matrimony. They have been living in sin for years. I can no longer stand for it.”

“Robert,” Victoria said, giggling despite herself.

“And all those little illegitimate hedgehogs. Think of the stigma. Their parents have been breeding like rabbits. Or like hedgehogs, as the case may be.”

“Robert, this is a serious matter.”

The levity left his eyes, and they burned hot and intense into hers. “I have never been more serious.”

Victoria was silent for a moment while she chose her words. “Don't you think today is a bit sudden? Marriage is a very serious matter. We must give it sufficient thought.”

“I have been thinking of little else for the better part of a month.”

Victoria sat up, pulling the sheet along with her to cover her nakedness. “But I have not. I'm not ready to make this kind of decision just yet.”

His face hardened. “You might have thought of that before you knocked on my door this afternoon.”

“I wasn't thinking beyond—”