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that
she hadn't come. Her father had been content as soon as he found the
well-stocked library.
    At first Cady
wouldn't look at Rafe when he arrived. He had another man with him, Bruno
Trabold, whom he described as a special assistant to his father. "And he's
been invaluable to me in this election." Rafe had slapped the man on the
back and grinned at him companionably. He hadn't seemed to notice Bruno's
hot-eyed assessment of Cady in her pink bikini. She had felt very uncomfortable.
    Rafe
had taken her by the hand and pulled her up the stairs to his bedroom, calling
to Bruno to introduce himself to Professor Nesbitt in the library.
    "Before
your suspicious little soul rebels at being up here, let me tell you that I
have every intention of changing and showering in my bathroom while you remain
here." He wrapped her in his arms as soon as he closed the bedroom door.
"But I want to feel you close to me," he mumbled into her hair.
"I've missed you, angel."
    "Congratulations,"
Cady squeaked, feeling all her uncomfortable sensations at his tardiness
fading away, wanting him to continue to stroke her breast. "I like being
up here with you. I miss you, too."
    Rafe
lifted her onto his bed, then stretched out beside her. "It feels very
right, having you here like this," his voice rasped against her cheek,
before his mouth nibbled its way to hers. "Kiss me, Cady."
    Her
mouth flowered open under his, her hands straining her to him. Her body made
restless motions under his as his hands pushed at the scraps of cloth covering
her.
    All at once he
rolled over and sat upon the bed, taking deep gulps of air. "I have to
take a shower. Don't move."
    "Rafe."
Feeling languid, Cady lifted her arms.
    "No."
He strode toward the bathroom, only looking back when he stood in the doorway.
"Just wait there for me, Cady. I won't be ten minutes. I have something I
want to ask you and I won't be able to concentrate very well as it is."
His smile was a derisive twist of his mouth, but his eyes were hot as they
roved over her body.
    "That
had to be the fastest shower on record." Cady giggled at him as he strode
across the bedroom toward her, just a few minutes later, dressed casually in
light slacks and a knit shirt, toweling his hair.
    He tossed the
towel in a careless heap on the floor, then sat down beside her, his thigh
touching hers. He put a hand to her hair, threading his fingers through it.
"You have lovely hair. The sun shines in it." He nuzzled her cheek
with his nose. "I was afraid you might go downstairs again if I didn't
hurry, and I have something to say to you."
    Cady's
heart was thudding wildly. Her eyes were so close to Rafe's indigo gaze that
she could see the tiny gold streaks that rayed out in his irises. "What..
.what is it?" she choked.
    "Marry
me." His mouth closed over hers, his tongue intruding into her mouth to
tease and coax her tongue. "Marry me, angel. I want you." He leaned
over her as he pushed her back onto the bed. "You're too young, I know
that, but I can't wait for you. I want you now."
    Cady pulled him
down to her, her body feverish. She prayed she wasn't dreaming. She had thought
of their first conversation so many times, she felt she might be dreaming now.
He had been kidding before when he had sat on her bed and asked her to be his
wife. Was he kidding her now? "Do you mean it?" she asked.
    Rafe
pulled back from her, the bones of his face seeming to push through the skin,
his mouth a hard slash across it. "Oh, yes, I mean it. Am I too old for
you?"
    "Oh,
Rafe, you're perfect for me. I love you, Rafe." Cady's fingers dug into
his neck, urging him down to her.
    He
didn't relent for a moment but gave her a long look, his eyes like cobalt rays.
"Someday you may change your mind, Cady. You're so young to be subjected
to the pressures of being a politician's wife. I know damn well you should be
going to fraternity dances and beer blasts, but I can't let you go. I only hope
you don't hate me for this later and decide to leave