"I didn't hurt you?"

His anxiousness disturbed her until she realized the reason for his apprehension. No spells would cure her ills, she would suffer as a mortal would until her hurt healed naturally. He could do nothing to prevent her discomfort or to heal her. And that concerned him greatly.

His tender regard touched her heart. "I'm all right."

"Really?" he asked and his hand moved to gently touch between her legs.

She flinched and cried out from the unexpected soreness.

"I think not," he said in an angry tone.

"It's my own fault," she insisted, taking responsibility for her actions.

He turned her on her back to look directly at her. "The responsibility is mine as well."

She was not upset that he read her thoughts so clearly. Their joining had brought them closer together, much closer than she had expected or dared to hope. But now she would have to be much more careful.

She reached her hand out to touch his face. "I chose to join with you and you with me. A little soreness matters not after such a memorable night."

He took her hand and kissed her palm. "I don't wish to see you suffer."

She grinned. "You certainly didn't mind me suffering earlier this evening."

He grinned himself. "You inflicted suffering of your own on me."

"I did, didn't I?" She giggled foolishly yet with delight.

"That you did, dear heart. And I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the tormenting pleasure you caused me."

"And I enjoyed all you gave me."

"But I, unlike you," he said with a playful tap to her nose, "am not physically suffering."

"A small discomfort," she insisted.

His hand moved between her legs to once again prove his point, but this time her hand grabbed for his.

"I'm all right and by tomorrow I'll be fine."

"You will tell me if you're not?"

"I will complain to you immediately," she said, "so you may suffer along with me."

He kissed her then gently. "If you suffer, I suffer."

She was startled by his admission. "I don't wish you to suffer."

They stared in silence at each other as if both of them at that very moment understood the essence of their remarks and knew without a word being spoken that they loved each other.

Sarina gently cuddled up against him and just as tenderly Dagon wrapped her protectively in his arms, and they drifted off into a contented slumber.

Twenty.

The weather was cold and gray outside, but it mattered not to Sarina-she was bursting with sunshine. She felt radiant and wonderfully warm. She had quietly slipped out of Dagon's bed early this morning, leaving him to sleep soundly. She on the other hand was much too excited and feeling much too grand to spend another moment in bed. She had hurried to her room and taken a hasty shower, dressing in her usual uniform of black skirt and white blouse, and planned to join Margaret in the kitchen for early tea.

She chose to ignore the tenderness that had remained and continued to cause her some discomfort. It was a small price to pay for a loving evening and would heal with time and care. She had applied an herbal cream that helped ease the soreness and refused to allow the minor discomfort to spoil her day.

She entered the kitchen with a huge smile and a warm greeting. "A wonderful morning to you, Margaret."

Sarina's happy smile was contagious, and Margaret's face broke out in a large grin. "And a good morning to you, Sarina."

"It's a wonderful morning, Margaret," she said, eagerly hugging the woman before proceeding to the stove to pour a cup of tea from the hot kettle. "Simply wonderful."

Margaret had to ask. "A good night?"

Sarina giggled like a young girl revealing secrets. "A great night."

"I am pleased for you."

Sarina disregarded the tea and rushed over to Margaret, who welcomed her with open arms. They hugged and shared tears until Sarina finally returned to the kettle.

"I have no regrets. I am happy in my decision."

"Then it was a wise decision," Margaret said with a nod.

"The best one I've made in a long, long time."

"What is?"

Both women looked up to see Ali standing in the kitchen doorway dressed in white knit pants and a white soft cableknit sweater that fell past her hips. Her long blond hair was pinned up in a messy ma.s.s that as usual looked stunning on her. She yawned, her hand going to her mouth as she entered the kitchen.

"I barely got any sleep, though I did enjoy the night," she said with a smile. "And of course my husband sleeps while I ache for a cup of hot tea." She pointed to the kettle as she headed to the table. "Now tell me, what is this best one you made in a long, long time?"

Sarina laughed; she simply adored Ali. The woman was positively outrageous and unpredictable. She filled a teapot with hot water and added Earl Grey teabags, then took three mugs from the hanging rack and carried them to where Margaret sliced warm apple spiced bread at the table.

Sarina spoke while pouring the tea. "I made a wise decision last night."

Ali squealed with delight, jumped up from her seat, and rushed around the table to hug Sarina. "I'm so happy and pleased for you. It is what you and Dagon needed."

"I couldn't agree with you more," Sydney said from the doorway. She looked elegant as usual dressed in a soft gray knit dress, her slim waist accented with a silver belt and her long hair twisted artfully and pinned to the top of her head.

Sarina collected another mug, and Margaret cut extra slices of bread.

Sydney gave Sarina a gentle yet loving hug before sitting at the head of the table. "Tell us everything."

She quickly amended her remark to "Almost everything."

The women laughed and incessant chatter soon filled the air.

"Love makes intimacy all the more natural and so perfectly right," Sarina said. "It was as if we were meant to be."

Ali shared her own feelings. "I know what you mean. I never once doubted that I wanted to be intimate

with Sebastian."

"You were downright eager, dear," Sydney teased.

Ali agreed wholeheartedly. "Eager and impatient. I thought the man would never get around to

surrendering himself to me."

"Bernard was putty in my hands," Margaret said with a satisfied grin.

Sarina looked surprised.

"He's not as staunch and stubborn as he seems, my dear," Margaret said and laughed. "He's actually

quite romantic. Often after a busy day I'll return to our quarters to find he's run a steaming bath for me filled with glorious bubbles, and the bathroom itself is glowing with numerous scented candles. He'll ma.s.sage my back and . . . well, the rest I'll leave to your imaginations."

"Sebastian is romantic," Ali said, reaching for another slice of apple spice bread. "He prepares candlelight dinners for me and takes me to small, quiet restaurants."

"That's because he wants to keep you out of the kitchen, dear," Sydney said.

Ali sighed. "It's so wonderful not being able to cook."

The women laughed.

"The important point," Sydney said, "is that all three of you love your mates and would do for them as they would do for you. You share love, not demand it or expect it, but share it and that is important to remember."

Doubt nudged at Sarina, but she chose not to acknowledge it. She promised herself that the choice was hers and she would accept the consequences of her actions no matter the outcome. And while she felt Dagon's love as strongly as her love for him, he had yet to admit his feelings. That choice was his.

Margaret looked to Sarina. "Did Dagon say you were to continue your duties?"

Sarina shrugged. "We never discussed my duties. I merely a.s.sumed I would continue working here."

Sydney shook her head. "I don't think he will allow you to continue on in your current position."

Sarina grew worried. "But it's my job and he has made no mention of other arrangements, nor do I

know if I'll agree to them."

Ali clapped her hands. "Oh, this is simply wonderful. Dagon has finally met his match."

"His powers far surpa.s.s mine," Sarina reminded.

Ali laughed slowly. "No, no, dear, you have more power than you think. You just must use it wisely."

Sydney patted Ali's hand. "I don't think you should give Sarina advice on using powers wisely."

"I'm not talking about magical powers, I'm talking about womanly powers."

Sydney nodded. "Then by all means, dear, give her advice, and, Sarina, by all means, listen to Ali.

She's exceptionally talented at using her womanly wiles to her advantage."

Ali smiled, pleased by the compliment.

Sarina caught the time on the cow clock and hurried out of her seat, the quick movement causing her to

wince.

"Are you all right?" all three women asked with concern.

"I'm fine," she said, embarra.s.sed to admit anything more. "I promised Janey I would tend to her duties

in the small receiving parlor today so that she could meet with the young man she has been seeing."

"Dagon doesn't know you're gone from his bed, does he?" Ali asked.