Something was pressing down on his chest, Shane realized, as he gradually came to.
It took him a second to realize what it was. Then he slowly opened his eyes and smiled.
In the early morning light, he could see that Kim's head was resting on his chest. She was turned on her side, her blond hair cascading over and obscuring her face. Kim's right arm stretched lazily across Shane's ribs.
This must be a dream, he thought, but then he looked around the room and saw the flower bouquets and melted candles. This was no dream.
He reached down and stroked Kim's hair. That elicited a soft murmur and Kim stirred, but then she settled her head again against his chest. He could feel the soft puff of each of her breaths against his bare skin and he smiled.
Sighing contentedly, Shane let his hand drop and rest on her exposed shoulder. He studied her golden hair, trying to sear into his memory how each tendril spread over his chest and arm. He wanted to seal the memory away just as he had tried to memorize the look on Kim's face as they had made love the night before.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, Kim stirred once more. This time, she lifted her head and beamed at him with a soft smile and gleaming eyes. "Good morning."
"Good morning." Shane smiled back.
"Did you sleep okay?" she asked. "I was worried a little. You're not supposed to be pushing yourself and you just collapsed right after-" Perhaps seeing the look on his face, she cut off abruptly.
Shane felt mortified. Had he been that selfish? He knew he had pushed his physical limits the night before. He remembered how his heart had felt like it might explode through his chest. With a frown, he muttered, "I'm sorry."
Kim rolled her eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I wasn't complaining."
"You don't have to coddle me, Kim," he said glumly. He hated disappointing her. "I guess that wasn't exactly a four-star performance."
She slid closer so her face was right next to his. "I'm grading on a curve." Before he could respond, she kissed him, a long, slow kiss that promised much more to follow.
Shane started to pull away. If he couldn't satisfy her. . . .
"Would you stop sulking?" Kim scolded. "Listen to me." Her voice softened. "Last night was wonderful and I can't imagine it being any better than it was."
She sounded sincere, Shane thought as he studied her. He still had some doubts. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Kim laughed and sounded exasperated. "This is what I get for falling in love with a perfectionist." She shifted her body so she was now on top of him. She kissed him his lips once more, moved to his jaw, and then to his neck, nibbling at a spot that made him groan with pleasure.
With each touch, his body began to respond. His heart was beginning to pound again and he silently begged her not to stop. Kim seemed to get his message, because she let her tongue trace a line along his neck as she started to move lower.
It was all he could do not to flip her over and take her, but she maintained control as her hands and mouth seemed to be everywhere at once. "God!" he gasped as she slipped one hand low under the covers and stroked his growing erection.
Kim looked up at him, her head just a few inches above his chest. "I think this is pretty perfect," she whispered. Shane could hardly disagree.
She lowered her head ahead again, but stopped suddenly. Shane could feel her entire body freeze.
"Kim?" he groaned, desperate for her to continue. When she did not respond, he looked up.
He could only see the top of her head, which was still a few inches above his chest. She was staring down at his chest - at the long scar that ran most of its length.
"Kim?" he repeated.
"I . . . ." She let go of him with her hand, sat up, and brushed some hair from her face. She looked at him, her eyes glistening. She swallowed. "I'm sorry. It's silly. . . . I just hadn't seen it up close."
He reached up and took her hand. "It's okay."
"No, it's not," Kim said in a low voice. A lone tear trailed down her cheek. "You could've died because I let Cal into our lives."
"Hey." Shane could not sit up with Kim straddling him, but he pulled her hand forward and kissed it. "Cal can't hurt us anymore. And I didn't die. I'm right here with you and I'm not going anywhere."
Kim blinked back the tears, nodded, and smiled. "I know. It just sometimes hits me how close-"
"Shush. No more talking about that." Shane kissed her hand again and then lowered it to the center of his sternum, so it settled on top of the scar. "See . . . it doesn't even hurt."
She nodded again and then tentatively ran her index finger along the scar. "I guess I just need to get used to it. . . ."
"You will," Shane assured her, trying to assuage the guilt he could still hear in her voice. He touched her cheek and tried to change the subject. "Do you have any idea how beautiful you look right now?"
He saw a bit of pink flare in her cheeks.
"Come here," he urged, pulling her closer to him so they could kiss again. As their lips met and then parted so their tongues could explore each other, he felt the tension leave Kim's body.
She murmured as the kiss ended. "I told Kayla I'd go shopping with her today."
"Tell her you're busy spending the day in bed making love with me," Shane suggested. Seeing Kim's raised eyebrow, he said, "Or if you want to be a little more oblique, tell her you're 'otherwise occupied.'"
"You're terrible," Kim replied.
"I am. Terribly in love with you." He ignored her groan at his pun and rolled her over, so he was now above her. "Now . . . where were we? Oh, right, spending the day in bed together, making each other go mad with pleasure."
Kim's giggle turned into a pleasured gasp as he kissed a spot on her neck that he knew was particularly sensitive. "Oh, you don't play fair," she scolded.
"All's fair in love and war, darling. You-" Shane broke off what he was about to say, interrupted by the sound of someone knocking on the door.
"Master Shane," came Simmons voice through the door.
Shane groaned. "Oh, for heaven's sake."
"Don't answer," Kim said. She ran her hands through his hair. "Just pretend we didn't hear him."
The knocking came more loudly and more insistent.
After neither of them responded, they heard another voice. "Donovan! I know you're in there."
"You've got to be bloody kidding me," Shane growled. What the hell was Steve Johnson doing outside their bedroom? But he knew how stubborn Steve could be, and doubted that ignoring the man would make him go away. He gave Kim an apologetic look. "Let me deal with this."
He reluctantly dragged himself away from her and found a robe. Pulling it on, he headed for the door, which he opened only a crack.
Steve was standing outside, a bemused smirk on his face. "Did I interrupt anything?"
Simmons quickly spoke up. "I asked Master Johnson to wait downstairs."
"I'm sure you did," Shane said evenly.
"Look, don't go blaming the butler," Steve replied. "We gotta talk, and it can't wait."
Shane knew he was not going to win. He gave Steve a curt nod. "Give me five minutes to get changed and I'll meet you in the study."
He closed the door, turned to Kim, and shrugged. She was scowling good-naturedly at the interruption. As he headed to the bathroom to get cleaned up, he stopped by the bed, knelt down and gave her another kiss.
"Don't you dare move an inch. I'll be back in a flash and then we can get back to those plans for the day."