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  She made a small sobbing sound as he rolled her to her back, playing his hands over her throbbing nipples before taking one hard peak into his mouth, drawing on her as he used his thumb and finger on its mate. At the same time he stroked his hand down her body again, finding the place that longed for him the most, driving her almost beyond endurance.

  She returned the pleasure, wrapped her hand around his hard, hot shaft, clasping him tightly, stroking.

  He dragged in a ragged breath, raising his head so that his eyes could meet hers.

  “Don’t make me wait,” she pleaded.

  He covered her body with his, and she guided him to her.

  As he sank into her, she cried out with the joy of their joining.

  Emotions flooded through her as he looked down at her, his eyes bright with moisture.

  He began to move inside her, and she matched his rhythm, her breath coming hard and fast as they both climbed toward orgasm.

  She felt him holding back, felt him waiting for her to reach the peak of her pleasure, then slipped one hand between them to press over her clit, giving her the extra touch she needed.

  She called out as climax grabbed her and felt him follow her over the edge into a world that belonged only to them.

  In the aftermath, they clung together, both overcome with the knowledge of what they had almost lost.

  “Oh, Matthew.”

  “I love you. It’s wonderful to be able to say that.”

  She found his hand and squeezed it. “I need to ask you about something. After you told me about the general being dead and about Decorah, you disappeared.”

  He nodded.

  “Because you wanted me to leave?”

  “I couldn’t let you hang around, hoping for a relationship with a ghost.”

  “You thought that’s what you were?”

  “That was my best guess. But you knew better.”

  “Not then. Not until Frank Decorah told me you were alive, but you were in a coma.”

  “Not anymore. Thanks to you.” He rolled toward her, clasping her to himself, and she held him just as tightly.

  “I’m going to need some rehab,” he said. “Which will give me time to think about earning a living. It was different when I only had myself to worry about, but now that I’ll have a wife to consider.”

  “Wife! Is that a proposal?”

  “I should do a better job. Isabella Flores, will you marry me?”

  “Oh, Matthew. Of course.”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “With my father to give me away.”

  “He won’t mind your marrying me?”

  “He liked you and respected you. You’re the kind of man he wanted for a son-in-law.”

  He reached for the covers and pulled them up, then folded her into his arms.

  “You told me about wanting to live on a horse ranch.”

  “Um hum.”

  “We could do that. Maybe somewhere I could get a job at a nearby hospital.”

  “Like I said, I don’t want to make any big decisions yet. We can stay in Phoenix for a while. As long as I know I have you, everything else will fall into place.”

  Closing her eyes, she snuggled against him. She had dreamed of being with him like this, and now it was real.

  “We have to thank Frank Decorah,” she whispered. “He paid for you to be in Garrison Care.”

  “He would never abandon one of his agents.”

  “Gracias a Dios.” Raising her head she asked, “How did he hurt his leg?”

  “He lost it on a military mission.”

  “I didn’t know. Dios. And I made him walk out into the desert.”

  “He’s used to dealing with the leg.” He dragged in a breath and let it out. “He’s had a lot of sadness in his life. His agents are his family. His wife died, and he knew he couldn’t take care of his daughter so he put her up for adoption.”

  They were silent for long moments before she turned her head toward him. “Do you remember I told you about talking to my grandmother’s spirit?”

  He turned to her. “You said you wanted your father to give you away. I’d like to have Frank there too. As my best man.”

  “Yes. I’d like that. We owe him so much. He could have stopped me from taking you to the vortex, but he was willing to give me a chance to heal you.” She squeezed his hand. “And we should ask Gloria, too.”

  “Of course.”

  They were silent for long moments before she turned her head toward him. “While we’re talking about the important people in our lives, do you remember I told you about talking to my grandmother’s spirit?”

  “Yes.”

  “It was probably why I could accept you as a ghost. With my nana, it was after her funeral. She came to my room and said she wanted to say good-bye. And also to warn me that some bad times were ahead, but they would pass, and things would get better. I always wondered when that would happen. Now I know.”

  He hugged her to him. “I think we have her blessing.”

  “I think so too. And I know that the best times are ahead of us. Not just because she told me but because I have the man I always wanted.”

  “And I have the woman,” he whispered before he covered her mouth with his for a long, passionate kiss.

  THE END

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  PRAISE FOR REBECCA YORK

  Rebecca York delivers page-turning suspense.

  —Nora Roberts

  No one sends more chills down your spine than the very creative and imaginative Ms. York!

  —Melinda Helfer, Romantic Times

  Rebecca York will thrill you with romance, kill you with danger and chill you with the supernatural.

  —Patricia Rosemoor

  Rebecca York never fails to deliver. Her strong characterizations, imaginative plots and sensuous love scenes have made fans of thousands of romance, romantic suspense and thriller readers.

  —Chassie West

  Rebecca York's fast-paced suspense, innovative stories and sexy characters set the standard for paranormal romantic suspense.

  —Ann Voss Peterson

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  ABOUT REBECCA YORK

  A USA Today Best-Selling Author, Rebecca York is a 2011 recipient of the Romance Writers of America Centennial Award. Her career has focused on romantic suspense, often with paranormal elements.

  Her 16 Berkley books and novellas include her nine-book werewolf “Moon” series. KILLING MOON was a launch book for the Berkley Sensation imprint. She has written 50 books for Harlequin Intrigue, many in her popular 43 Light Street series. Her recent releases include DARK WARRIOR for Berkley and DARK MAGIC for Carina Press. Two Harlequin Intrigues, SUDDEN INSIGHT and SUDDEN ATTRACTION, will be published early in 2012.

  She has written for Harlequin, Berkley, Dell, Tor, Carina Press, and Pageant Books.

  Her many awards include two Rita finalist books. She has two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times: for Series Romantic Suspense and for Series Romantic Mystery. And her Peregrine Connection series won a Lifetime Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense Series.

  Many of her novels have been nominated for or won RT Reviewers Choice awards. In addition, she has won a Prism Award, several New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf awards and numerous other chapter awards.

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  Web site: http://www.RebeccaYork.com .

  Facebook: Ruth Glick

  Twitter: rebeccayork43

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  BOOKS BY REBECCA YORK

  http://rebeccayork.com/the-books/complete-book-list/

 

 

 
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