“I wish this moment could last forever,” Demelza murmureddreamily. “Just like this…forever and ever.”
Ross was curled around her, pressed against her, legs and armstangled with hers, his face tucked into the crook of her neck so she could feelevery breath he took. They were both naked beneath the blankets, but Demelzawasn’t cold, though it was the middle of December and the air smelled like itwould freeze again overnight. She was warm, inside and out. Ross had made loveto her – and it was that, she had feltthe difference in him, in the way he touched her now, though he’d never beenanything less than attentive to her in their bed play before. This time he hadbeen different. Attentive, and tender, and hungry,and he had whispered words of love and devotion against her mouth and skin. Ithad been love-making, and what she had known before had been a pale shadow ofit. Love-making, because Ross lovedher. He loved her; he had said so. He had sat beside her on the bed and toldher that he loved her, and she’d shared the news she’d been afraid to sharebefore, and Ross had been so glad.
“Hmm? Why’s that?” Ross mumbled, his words a hum against herneck.
“I’m so happy,” Demelza said. Suddenly there was a lump in herthroat, and hot tears pricking at her eyes. “I’m so happy, Ross.”
He must have heard the sob choking her voice, for he lifted hishead and looked at her, and then he kissed the corner of her eye, and hercheek, and her mouth.
“I don’t want to stay in this moment forever,” he breathed. “Iwant to see what this becomes.” He rubbed his hand across her abdomen. Thecalluses of his hand tickled a little, and she hitched a breath. Ross knew ittickled her; he did it again, and then left his hand resting still above theslight swell of her belly. “Don’t you?” he asked. “I want to see it.”
“Yes,” Demelza nodded. “Yes, I do. But…” She couldn’t expressherself well enough, but Ross smiled, and curled around her again, and she knewthat he understood.
“Go to sleep, my love,” he said warmly. “We’ll have moremoments like these, I swear.” His hand was still on her belly, where theirchild was growing, and Demelza smiled into the darkness of the bedroom anddreamed of their future.
