Shay watched Kristen run through the grass and flowers like a child at play. She was beautiful; her soft cotton gown lifted high in her hands. The creamy white of her calves showing beneath her raised skirts forced a sudden heat to burn through his veins. The light blue of her day gown complimented her slender figure, flattering her golden hair as it blew free behind her in the warm breeze. She looked more like an Angel than she ever had.

His Angel, he thought secretly, come down from heaven to play among the splendor of her earthly gardens. He watched for a long time, until she, at last, stopped running and sat at the base of a large tree. Her eyes turned skyward, and Shay imagined if he listened close enough, he could hear her heavenly sisters singing to her.

A sorrowful thought entered his mind as he continued to watch her. How could any man deliberately make this woman cry? How could he purposely cause her pain, willingly wish to hurt her? She was as delicate as the butterflies fluttering around her golden head. He just couldn't understand how any man could mistreat her and yet according to Sean, one had.

With a great deal of reserve, Shay forced his feet forward, walking quietly toward Kristen. As he moved closer he noticed her eyes were closed, a gentle smile curved her lips as the breeze blew softly through her hair. She was more than a vision from heaven, she was mortally angelic.

Kristen could hear an unusual rustle through the grass and fought the urge to look up. A sudden stirring in her stomach brought a strange tingling to her limbs. The last time she'd felt like this was last night when Shay held her in his arms. His kisses were lethal, killing every ounce of resistance she owned. If only her cursed nightmares hadn't intruded, she may have known what it was he so desperately wanted to show her.

"Angel?" she heard whispered through the breezes. "Are you sleeping?"

She felt a soft flutter touch her cheek, and she reached up to brush it away, feeling the warmth of skin against her hand. Her stomach jerked, and the tingling found its escape, warming every inch of her delicate body. She knew instantly who it was she was touching yet refused to open her eyes. If there was the chance she had drifted asleep and this was a wonderful fantasy, she didn't want to spoil it with the visions of reality.

Shay watched as the color crept into her cheeks and smiled. Her hand touched his face as he bent down to kiss her, causing a sudden rush of heat to spread through every part of his soul. He held her hand prisoner, caressing and teasing the tender flesh of her palm with his tongue as he turned his lips to kiss it.

Kristen smiled softly, biting her lip between her pearly white teeth. He knew she was awake, had known since the first signs of color began traveling up her neck, yet her eyes refused to open. He was enjoying this new game and he tempted fate as he trailed kisses down her wrist and slowly up her arm. Perhaps she was still frightened of him, he thought. Eager to distract her fears, Shay leaned down and kissed her tender lips, tasting and teasing them with the tip of his tongue.

"Open your eyes, Angel," he whispered against her mouth. "Your Devil's come to steal you away."

Kristen's blush deepened, causing a soft chuckle to escape Shay's throat. Instantly he covered her mouth again, daring her to part her lips for his gentle invasion. She did as he beckoned and was rewarded with the swift action of his tongue darting into her mouth, begging her to run wild with him as she had in the meadow moments before.

Slowly, Kristen found the nerve to respond and began to play with him, as he burned to life a new set of desires.

"Oh, Kristen," she heard him whisper, as he gently laid her among the soft meadow grasses.

Her eyes remained closed envisioning him there, kissing and teasing her. His lips resumed their torturous tormenting of her sweet mouth until they were both panting for air. She could feel his weight pinning her to the ground, his hands protecting her back from the rough earth. She felt happy and secure in his arms, happier than she ever knew possible.

"Open your eyes so you'll know you're not dreaming," he beckoned and watched patiently for her lids to flutter open.

When the sparkling splendor of violet passion met his gaze, he groaned. He saw no fear, no resistance, nothing but desire; hot and boiling, burning deep inside her. How could he possibly refuse such an invitation?

He didn't. He kissed her again and again until she was softly moaning against his lips. His kisses turned intimate in the shade of the tree, trailing his lips across her cheek to her neck and up to her ear, where he began to whisper seductively to her.

Kristen moaned again and opened her eyes. The bright blue of the afternoon warmed the air around them and the soft fluffy clouds floating overhead, made her feel as though they were drifting right along beside them. She silently prayed this moment would never end.

Shay rose above her causing her to look into the dark pools of desire. He could see the emotion shining in her stunning velvet eyes, the signs of her innocent lust sprinkling her skin with a radiant blush. She wanted him as badly as he needed her, her innocent smile and soft panting breath assured him of her need.

She wanted to feel his touch, taste his kisses, and feel his body merging with hers. He could no longer deny this need, then he could deny her the moon if she asked for it. Slowly, he kissed her again, burning a deeper more urgent response from her and when she began to subconsciously move beneath him, he knew she was ready. He slipped his hand between them teasing the hard pebble of her nipple through the soft cotton of her gown, until she moaned against his mouth, arching her back toward him.

With careful movements, so he wouldn’t interrupt this moment of passion, Shay slowly unfastened the bodice holding her firm breasts captive. With a gasp of surprise and a moan of relief, Kristen allowed him to touch her, just as he had the night before. Only this time, there were no bad dreams, no evil visions lurking in the dark shadows. Only Shay and the blue of the day, the gentle touch he offered her, and the urgent pressure of his lips against her was all she felt, all she ever wanted to feel.

He allowed her a moment to become accustomed to his hand on her breast before his mouth traveled down with tortured slowness, descending toward the spot his hand and fingers had warmed. Once there, he showered her with kisses, his tongue heating yet another moan from her, echoing deep from inside her soul. Kristen's hands twisted in Shay's hair holding him to her breast, unwilling to allow this incredible feeling of passion to slip away.

This was sinful, she thought, she really should be fighting him, pushing him away instead of pulling him closer. But she could no sooner ask him to stop than she could ask the world to turn to marble. No man should be touching her like this, no man ever had, but Shay wasn't just any man. He was the man who had returned her brother to her, the same man who had invaded her dreams and fought the evil visions of Baron Andrews from her unconscious hallucinations.

Suddenly all thoughts ceased, the images of the past died as a burning need began to grow between her legs. The vivid memory of how it felt to have him touch her flooded over her and she hungered to feel it again. The need was so demanding she had no choice but to surrender to it.

Kristen felt the grass tickle her legs as Shay pulled her skirts up.

She didn't care.

The soft cloth of her gown moved higher until she felt it slipped across her arms.

She didn’t care.

The cool, rough ground pressed against her back and hips.

She didn’t care.

She could only think of the heat burning inside her, turning her fears to cinders.

His mouth was like salve to her soul as he covered her from neck to stomach with moist kisses. She was on fire. Her body aching to be touched, her heart pounding so fiercely within her chest she could barely breathe around it.

Shay’s mouth moved lower and she gasped; lower still and she moaned. The heat of his breath warmed the moisture beading between her legs and she found her bottom rising to meet it. It was like heaven; pure and precious and she didn’t want it to ever stop.

The tip of his tongue reached out and traced the triangle of curls and she bit her lip to prevent herself from giggling. He could feel the heat of his fingers as they caressed her inner thighs and she felt like she would combust. The heat was so overwhelming, so powerful she could barely control it. Just as she was about to demand he stop teasing her, she felt it. The searing heat that bathed her with the hot sands of desire. His tongue had found a part of her she hadn’t been aware existed, and she arched toward him, her fingers clawing at the ground as she growled savagely in the heat of her release.

Shay couldn’t put it off much longer. There would be no escape for either of them, but he had to feel her, to know the gentleness of her touch. He had dreamt of her like this so many times before, awaking to find himself in a need, even the cool water of the pond could not help him with. It was time for her to know him; to feel what she was doing to him.

"I need you," he whispered against her ear. "I need to feel the same explosion you just did."

He was begging her, but for what? How could he do that to her and not feel the same thing? But before she could think, she got her answer as her legs were pushed aside and the tip of his hard, throbbing penis pressed against her wet body.

This shouldn't be happening, she should stop him – shouldn't she? Her mind reeled, her heart pounded, and her palms began to sweat as she felt him push slowly against her. She had heard once that there was pain, but this wasn't in the least bit hurtful. Perhaps what was happening wasn't what she thought. Then reality hit, and she felt the tearing of her maiden-head, ripping beneath the strength and size of Shay's invasion of her body, and she cried out with the pain of it.

Shay stilled his movements, laying his head against her shoulder. He hadn't considered her to be a virgin. He knew she was innocent, naive, but to be this pure was so beyond anything he could have imagined. How could a woman as beautiful and as enticing as Kristen O’Malley have stayed a virgin for so long? Even in today’s staunch Victorian era, not many women made it to their wedding bed as pure and innocent as they claimed.

He felt her tears slide down the sides of her cheeks, touching his face with the coolness of reality. He was hurting her. He had never laid with a virgin before, had never known what it was like beyond what he was told. How could he have done this to her, made her cry again after promising himself he never would?

"Kristen," he whispered leaning up on his elbows, trying to soothe her discomfort with the sound of his voice and the relief of his weight from her slender frame.

His own desires were momentarily forgotten as he gazed into her watery stare. Kristen shook her head smiling. She knew he was at a loss for words, she could feel his hesitancy and his apprehension, she also felt the burning, stabbing pain began to ease. She no longer felt the hurtful throbbing, instead, she felt the heat slowly burning back to life. How was it possible that she still wanted him after that?

"’ Tis al’ roi," she told him gently, caressing his cheek with her finger. "It doesn't ‘urt anymore."

Shay doubted her words, but her touch aroused the need in him again and he tempted fate to test her words. He watched her closely, inspecting her features for any sign of discomfort, but instead what he saw was a white-hot desire, burning with rekindling need. Good God, she was beautiful. He would never let her forget the gift she had given him, even if it meant giving Hattie her wish and marrying the girl.

Kristen arched slightly upward, gasping with amazement by the deepening penetration her actions created. She loved the feel of him inside her. She loved the fire igniting between them, the urgent desire to know that explosive ending again. Her eyes closed, her fingers slid around his neck bringing Shay to lay back down against her. His kisses returned, his tongue teasing hers with a mimicking action of their bodies. His hand moved between them as he found the bud of her desire, savoring the feel of hot moisture covering her tender body.

His touch was lethal and caused that temporary loss of sanity to invade her soul again, and she cried out his name as she felt the searing heat overtake her once more. Shay squeezed his eyes tight. Never had a woman called to him, begged him for more while begging him to quit at the same time. This was what it felt like to love a woman, really love her, he thought. It was hot, passionate and violent, causing him to quickly join her with the hard, demanding the release of his own, rejoicing with her in their momentary corner of heaven.

As they lay panting, embraced in each other’s arms, they knew there was nothing and no one who would ever come between them. They belonged to each other, him to her, her to him. It was a silent promise they offered and accepted in the warmth of that summer day.

Shay walked silently beside Kristen, wondering what he should say. How do you tell a woman you didn't mean to steal her innocence? How did he thank her for trusting him enough to offer it to him in the first place? If only he knew the right things to say to make her feel at ease.

She hadn't said a word nor uttered a single syllable since he helped her dress. They walked the narrow path around the hillside for a while before going back to Hattie's. Neither of them willing to release the feelings they had shared, yet neither wanted to discuss them.

Kristen tried to concentrate on the serenity she had felt in this very meadow just a short time ago, but she couldn't find it in her. Her mind was consumed with Shay, with the memories of his lovemaking and with thoughts of whether it would ever happen again. She tried not to look at him and once she did, she wished she hadn't. He looked so sorrowful, so lost and forlorn. Had she done this to him, or was this the way he always felt after making love to a woman? Kristen shook herself mentally. She didn't want to think of him making love to another woman, making another feel the way she had felt, sharing what they had shared.

As she tried not to consider that other side of him, her mind filled with images of his making love to Caroline Baker. Did he make her want him as much as she did? The thought burned in her mind forcing her to halt her step beside him.

"Damn yer!" she cursed, visions of him and that...woman, floated around in front of her.

Shay stopped. It was time they discussed this. She hated him for what he'd done, just as he feared she might. He had wanted her so badly, he hadn't taken the time to ask if she knew what she was doing, or even considered how she would feel once she had lost her innocence.

"I'm sorry," he said reaching for her.

Kristen slapped his hand away, pushing him beyond the wall she was constructing around her heart.

"’ Ow dare yer make love ter another woman?" she snapped, turning and hurrying down the small slope, leading to Hattie's house.

Shay stood alone in the meadow looking dumbfounded. When had he made love to another woman? He'd barely finished with her and the memory of her sweet body beneath his still throbbed in his mind.

"Wait a minute," he shouted, running to catch up to her.

He pulled her by the arm, turning her to face him. She looked beyond furious, she looked ready for murder. What had he done to cause such an outburst?

"Let go av me arm," she demanded, struggling against his grip.

"When I'm ready and only after you tell me what the hell's going on. Who exactly did I make love to if it wasn't you?"

"Dat’s not funny, Mr. Sinclair."

"It wasn't supposed to be and if you call me Mr. Sinclair again, I'll...bite your tongue for you."

"Ah’ll call yer any bleedin’ tin’ Oi wish," she snapped, still struggling to free her arm. "Nigh let me go!"

"No!" he growled, pulling her back into his arms.

His mouth claimed hers in a split second and Kristen couldn't think fast enough to stop him, then she didn't want to. In a few breathless moments, she found herself clinging to him as though her very life depended on it, his tongue claiming her objections.

Shay felt her surrender, easing her gently down to the ground to lay beside him among the soft grasses once again. He couldn't release her, not now, not ever. He had to have her, to know her, in his arms, in his bed...in his life.

"Oi love yer," he heard her whisper causing a sudden chill ran down his spine.

"You don't even know me," he told her, pushing the feeling of fear and commitment aside as he sucked her ear lobe into his mouth.

"Oi know yer," she told him, tugging at the buttons on his shirt.

She was right, he told himself. She did know him. She knew him better than he knew himself. As his buttons gave way one by one, he could hear his name being softly called like a whisper on the wind. At first, he ignored it, but then it echoed louder, floating freely on the breeze of the warm afternoon wind. If his time on earth had come, he would stay hidden in the grasses until Kristen promised to join him in eternity.

Shay tugged at her gown until the buttons of her bodice gave way, eager to have her once more before the angels of heaven descended upon them and took her away. He pulled at each one, releasing the swell of breasts hiding beneath. The moment one fell into his hand, his mouth claimed it making Kristen moan her acceptance of his assault. She wanted him and to hell with Caroline Baker or any other woman he had shared his bed with. He was hers, for now at least, and she would take whatever he offered her.

As her skirts lifted over her legs, revealing the slit in her drawers to his eager exploration, she heard a small voice calling to them. Was it a dream? Was she hearing her own desires beckoning to his? It wasn't until she heard him swear and quickly stumble off her, she realized they weren't alone.

"Saints be praised!" she gasped as Sean called to them again, his voice sounding louder with each beat of her heart.

She struggled to pull herself together while Shay stood, buttoning his shirt. He looked down at her fumbling and felt the laughter well up within him.

"Don't yer dare laugh at me," she snapped, pushing her breasts back into the cotton of her gown.

"I'm sorry," he told her with a chuckle, kneeling beside her and pushing her hands away.

He quickly buttoned the bodice of her gown and helped her stand, straightening her skirts across her legs.

"Tanks," she growled with embarrassment.

Shay couldn't help it this time, his laughter sounded loud and strong and he hugged her reluctantly against him.

"Don't be angry, Angel," he told her happily. "If it weren't for your brother, you'd be very content right now."

"Dat’s not funny. Oi’m still cheesed aff witcha."

"Why? Because I took your virginity?"

He wasn't laughing now; his tone was serious and filled with regret causing Kristen to study his features before answering.

"Oi don't regret knowin' yer, Shay," she told him honestly, touching his cheek with her hand. "Ah’ll never regret wat ‘appened between us."

"Promise me; swear you mean it."

Shay's urgent demand was fierce and filled with emotion as he held her tightly. He didn’t want regret to invade what they had shared. He wanted her to remember how wonderful it was, how exciting and passionate it had been as they laid together, melding into one another as though they were created from the same mold.

"Oi swear it," she whispered barely speaking the words before his mouth descended on hers in a ravishing, earnest kiss.

"It's far from over Angel," he promised her as Sean’s call pulled them apart.

Shay’s hands cascaded across her slender back and firm hips. His mouth covered hers again tender and searching, his touch bringing her hands to tangle in the thick mass of his dark satin hair. He loved feeling her, he loved touching and kissing her, he loved...her.

Reality struck again and again until Shay found himself confused and frightened. How could he love her, when he had never loved anyone before?

Their lips parted just as Sean rounded the trunk of a large tree, coming into full view of his sister. For a moment he stood stunned, he looked confused, uncertain what to do, but when he saw his sister, her small delicate body wrapped in this man's arms, he lost control. He screamed as though he were in pain and lunged for Shay, his little fists beating the man's muscular back.

Shay turned around to face the boy as he and Kristen watched in amazement. Shay wasn't certain if he were playing a game or not until he realized Sean was trying to beat him out of anger. He grabbed the boy by the wrists and knelt in front of him. He shook him gently, trying to force control back into his small body, but with no avail. Sean broke free, tears streaming down his cheeks as he ran with all his might back down the hill toward Hattie's house. Kristen was right behind him, shouting and calling him by name, begging him to stop. As she neared the front of the house, she saw the little boy climb on top of the massive black creature awaiting its owner and pulled him into a run.

Kristen screamed, causing Shay to pick up his pace and ran at top speed toward her, skidding to a halt in the dirt as he rounded the corner. He grabbed Kristen from behind to stop her from running after her brother and shouted to Sean to come back, but the boy was too far ahead. He cursed himself for leaving him alone in the first place, knowing it was stupid in his present state of curiosity and excitement.

"Stay here," Shay ordered, releasing his hold on Kristen and running to Hattie's stable.

He quickly mounted her mare, leaving her bareback and without reigns. Far from being near Midnight's speed, yet steady and fast nevertheless, the young mare would be able to follow at a comparable pace. He rode out of the stable and halted next to Kristen, grabbing her by the arm and swinging her up behind him.

Sean was heading toward Shay's ranch, so hopefully, Midnight would run home thinking that was where he was supposed to go. Hopefully, little Sean wouldn't kill himself before they caught up to him and hopefully, hell would freeze over and the devil would ask for coal!