Sarah's Child by Linda Howard Page A

had flooded through him at her casual acceptance of his proposal was so great that hed felt almost faint; then hed been seized by the primeval desire to finalize their bargain in the most basic way possible. He wanted to brand her as his; feel again the softness of her body beneath him. Hed planned his proposal very carefully, couching it in the most logical terms he could present, letting her know he wouldnt disrupt her carefully ordered world. The idea of marrying her had come to him during the night, and he really did feel that Diane would approve of his marrying Sarah. More than that, he liked the idea of her having his name and being in his bed every night. The fiercely possessive streak in him wanted to mark her off-limits to every other man, especially before that damned Max Conroy could work his potent charm on her. But until shed looked at him after hed asked her to marry him and very calmly said Why? he hadnt realized how desperately he needed her to say yes. Her affirmative answer, finally given, and in such an offhand manner that he was shaken by how little enthusiasm she had for the idea, had lifted a weight from him that he hadnt even known was there until it was gone and he felt his freedom from its restrictions. Lord, how he wanted her!
    He rubbed his beard-roughened chin against her temple and reluctantly shifted her away from him. We can wait, he said, wanting to embroil her in plans before she had a chance to have second thoughts. We have to plan everything, and make arrangements.
    We have to make breakfast, she added, taking her cue from him and keeping everything light and practical. Unless youve already eaten?
    No, I hadnt even thought about it. I didnt realize I was hungry until you mentioned it, but damned if Im not starving.
    She smiled a little, thinking that hed just revealed that hed been suffering from an attack of nerves, though she wasnt going to drive herself mad trying to decide whether hed been afraid shed turn him down or afraid shed accept.
    Let me comb my hair; then Ill make the biggest breakfast you ever saw.
    While youre combing your hair, Ill start on the biggest breakfast we ever saw, he amended. Do you want the works?
    She nodded, feeling happier than she ever had before, and her appetite seemed to have increased in response. Though normally a light eater, she felt hungry enough to put away a man-size breakfast. I like my eggs over medium, she informed him on her way out.
    Ill expect you back before then. It doesnt take that long to comb your hair!
    How do you know? she retorted smugly. Youve never seen me.
    His low chuckle followed her as she went to the bedroom. When the door was closed behind her, she sat down on the bed and clasped her hands on her knees, every muscle in her body quivering in delight. She couldnt believe it. After shed torn herself to pieces over him for years, hed walked in the door and asked her to marry him. His reasons were logical, but that didnt matter. To a starving woman, half a loaf was better than no bread at all. She thought of the mornings they would share, cooking breakfast together, lingering over a last cup of coffee, and her heart felt so full of happiness that she had trouble dragging oxygen into her chest A marriage opened up a whole new world of intimacy. Not just sexual intimacy, but the tiny things like sharing the bathroom mirror when they were in a rush to get ready for work, trading sections of the newspaper on Sunday mornings, having someone to rub the strain from her neck and shoulders after a hard day.
    Suddenly she didnt want to be away from him a moment longer than necessary. She splashed cold water over her face, combed her hair and pulled it back with a clasp on each side, and swiftly changed into jeans and an oversize white shirt. She rolled the sleeves up as she returned to the kitchen.
    The bacon was frying when she entered the room, and she sniffed in deep appreciation. Rome was rummaging in her cabinets, and he emerged with a box