Fate

Ethan paused at Petria's door and lifted her chin.

Petria expected the third sensual onslaught of the night. She had asked him to go slow but was unreasonably delighted when his lips sought hers in a searing kiss, plunging in deep, sweeping around her mouth and sucking on her tongue. The dizzying kiss ended far too soon. Reaching behind her Petria blindly sought for and found the handle and backed into her room of two minds about the possibility that Ethan would follow her.

Ethan's final words answered her unasked question. 'That WAS slow. Goodnight, my love. Sleep well.' Chuckling, Ethan turned and sauntered to his room, his physical frustration in complete contrast to his newly found emotional contentment.

For the second night of her life Petria slept a dreamless, nightmare free sleep.

He'd called her his love.