Then, to Ellie’s utter amazement, he swept his arm behind her knees and lifted her into the air.

“Oh, Jake, put me down!” she protested. “I’m too heavy.”

But Jake ignored her pleas and carried her through the living room. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ellie’s fear turned panicky.

“No, you can’t carry me up the stairs. You’ll hurt yourself. Please, let me walk.”

Jake stopped, but didn’t put her down. Instead he grinned at her and said, “Ellie, honey, I carry men twice your size down ladders almost every day. I’m carrying you up to my room to ravish your body, and you can’t stop me.”

Heat flooded Ellie. Suddenly she didn’t want to stop him.

Jake’s eyes twinkled and his grin widened as he went on, “But, if it’ll make you feel any better, I can throw you over my shoulder and carry you the way I carry them.”

Ellie laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, making no more protests.

He carried her up the stairs as if she were no more of a burden than a basket of laundry. It amazed Ellie. No man had ever picked her up, much less carried her up a flight of stairs without getting winded. It seemed there was no end to the things about him that made her love him.

Not until they reached his bedroom and were next to his bed did Jake put Ellie down. Letting loose of her legs, he let her gently slide down his body.

All of the laughter from the stairs was gone, leaving a tense and telling silence.

“Oh, God, Ellie. You’re so beautiful.” Jake’s voice was ragged with emotion, “I want you so much. But I don’t want to do anything you don’t want. Tell me now and this stops now.”

That was the second time Jake had called her beautiful in just a few minutes. She was almost inclined to believe him. But it was also the second time in just as long that he’d offered to stop what they were doing. Was he really just trying to make sure she was sure? Or was he not sure himself, and wanted her to be the one to put on the brakes?

She shivered as he ran one finger down the side of her neck and traced a pattern down her arm. No, Jake was sure. Jake was always sure about sex. And this time, so was Ellie. Consequences be damned! She wanted to feel his body on her, in her. She wanted to get lost in him. She wanted to pretend they weren’t having sex, but making love. That all of the love she felt for him was shared. She wanted him to be hers and she his, even if it were just for one night.