"Caine, what are you…"

He silenced her with another long kiss, then whispered, "It's called pillaging, Jade."

"It isn't."

"Harry would be proud," he drawled out. His mouth was now placing wet kisses on the smooth, sensitive skin below her chin. She couldn't quit trembling.

"You're mine, Jade. The sooner you understand that, the better it will be for you."

"And then what, Caine?" she asked.

He lifted his head to stare down into her eyes. He could see the fear there, and the vulnerability. "You learn to trust me," he whispered. "And then we live happily ever after."

"No one lives happily ever after."

"We will."

She shook her head. "Get off me, Caine. You're…"

"Solid, love," he interrupted. "Steadfast, too. I won't leave you."

The promise was given in a fervent whisper. She pretended not to understand. "Of course you won't leave me. I'm leaving you."

"I love you, Jade."

Her eyes filled with tears. "You'll get tired of me. I won't change, not for you, not for anyone."

"All right."

Her eyes widened. "All right?"

He nodded. "If you want to stay a thief, so be it. I won't get tired of you, no matter what you do. And

I'll never leave you."

"You won't be able to help it."

Caine kissed her brow, then said, "I can see it's going to take a little time for me to convince you. Will you give me at least two months?"

"Caine, I don't think…"

"You owe me, Jade."

"I what?" She sounded outraged. "Why would you believe I owe you anything?"

"Because you deceived me," he explained. "You caused me endless worry, too. And there I was,

minding my own affairs that night in the tavern when you…"

"I also saved your brother," she interrupted.

"Then there's the issue of my wounded pride, of course," he drawled out. "A man shouldn't be made to feel he's been manipulated."

"Caine, for heaven's sake."

"Promise me you'll stay with me for two more months or I'm going to make so much noise when I

pillage you, both Matthew and Jimbo will come running."

That odious threat got her full attention. The determined look in his eyes told her he meant what he threatened, too. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Promise me, Jade. Now."

His voice had risen and she clamped her hand over his mouth in retaliation. "Will you explain how you settled on two months instead of one, or three, or…"

He shrugged. She feigned irritation. "And during those two months you'll probably be dragging me to

your bed every single night, won't you?"

"I will," he answered with a grin. "Do you know, whenever I look at you, I get hard?" He shifted positions and pressed against her. "Can you feel how much I want you? You make me ache to be inside you."

His honesty made her blush. "You shouldn't say things like that," she whispered. "And I shouldn't listen."

"You like it," Caine told her. His mouth covered hers and his tongue slid inside to taste her again. Jade didn't protest. She wanted him too much to stop now. She moved against him, then froze when the bed made such a loud, squeaky noise.

"We can't…" The denial came out with a groan.

"We can," he said, his voice a husky caress.

He silenced her worries with another kiss while he stoked the fire in her. Jade forgot all about Matthew and Jimbo. Caine was making her burn and all she could concentrate on was finding release from the sweet agony.

His fingers drove her wild. She was wet, hot, ready, knew she was going to die from the pressure building inside her. Her nails dug into his shoulder blades. She would have shouted for him to come to her if his mouth hadn't covered hers. Caine kept the torment up until she took him in her hands and tried to bring him inside her. He threw the coverlet off the bed, then followed it down to the floor with Jade protected in his arms. He cushioned the fall, taking most of the force on his back. Jade was sprawled on top of him. She tried to roll to her side, but Caine held her tight. "Take me inside you now, love," he whispered as he pushed her thighs apart to straddle him.

She was trembling too much to help. Caine took over. He held her by the sides of her hips and slowly eased into her. He let out a low groan of raw pleasure. She whimpered at the same moment.

When he was deep within her, he twisted her hair around his hands and pulled her down for another hot kiss.

The mating rhythm took over. Caine's discipline deserted him. His thrusts became more powerful, more determined. "Take me to heaven again, Jade," he whispered when he was about to spill his hot seed

inside her. "I'll keep you safe."

Jade found her release seconds later. She arched against Caine, squeezed him tight, biting her lip to keep herself from crying out, and then collapsed on top of him.

Her face was buried in the crook of his neck. They were both covered with a sheen of perspiration.

Jade tasted his skin with the tip of her tongue while she waited for her heart to slow down. She was too exhausted, too content, to move. Caine held her close. She could feel his heart pounding against her own.

"What are you thinking, Jade?" he asked.

When she didn't answer him, he pulled on her hair. "I know you found fulfillment. Are you going to

deny it now?"

"No," she whispered shyly.

Caine moved to his feet in one fluid motion with Jade in his arms. When they were both back in bed

and under the covers, she tried to turn her back to him. He wouldn't allow her retreat, but forced her

to face him. "Well?" he demanded.

"Well, what?" she asked, staring into those dark eyes that made her feel fainthearted.

"I'm good, aren't I?"

The dimple was back in his cheek. She couldn't help but smile. "Good at what?" she asked, pretending innocence.

"Pillaging."

She slowly nodded. "Very good," she whispered.

"And did I impress you?" he asked.

"Perhaps just a little," she answered. She let out a gasp when the palm of his hand pressed against the junction of her thighs. "What are you doing?"