Chapter 45

• Valerie slowly descended back to earth from the lofty sensual clouds Michael's mere presence seemed to elevate her to. Glancing down at the ravaged remains of her breakfast tray, a fresh blush stained her cheeks at the memory of how utterly wanton she had been in allowing her new husband to hand-feed her several of the plump, chocolate-dipped strawberries.
• And the way his stormy gaze had saturated with undisguised hunger when her lips purposefully lingered around his fingertips, tongue darting out to lave away the lingering streaks of ambrosial syrup...well, such brazenly provocative actions could only have inflamed Michael's already simmering desires further.
• "I trust my wife thoroughly enjoyed her repast?" he rumbled, the rough timbre resonating straight through to Valerie's very core as he slowly rose from the plush chaise and prowled closer to the bed's edge with leonine grace. "For I must confess, the relish you exhibited in such simple pleasures has whetted my own...appetites to rather ravenous degrees."