Raven's Prey

equivalent to another man’s profession of undying love and devotion. It was my fault that I didn’t realize it at the time. I suppose it’s because I was so upset and frightened. I [_had _]romanticized that night, Judd. But I had no right to assume you would do the same. What I should have seen was the evidence of how much our night together had meant to you, too. I should have understood that by the way you handled things the next morning. You were intent on taking care of me.”
    “You hated me the next morning when I didn’t react the way you wanted me to react,” he got out savagely. His dark eyes were glittering with the violence of the feelings he was holding in check. He lifted a hand as Honor came a step nearer. Then he appeared to realize it was shaking a little and he lowered it quickly. “Honor, you were so warm and sweet and giving that night. All I did was take.”
    She shook her head. “No, Judd. You gave, too, but I was too wrapped up in my own hurt and disappointment the next morning to acknowledge it. You kept saying I belonged to you.”
    He winced. “I didn’t phrase that very well, did I?”
    “It was properly phrased. For you.” Honor smiled again. “It just wasn’t quite the attitude I had been expecting. Now I know that you were reaching out to me in the only way you could. The only way you knew how to reach out to a woman. Have you ever told another woman she belonged to you?”
    “No. I never wanted another woman the way I want you,” he returned starkly.
    “You see? It was your instinctive way of extending another bond between us, but I was a little slow in seeing it. You were determined to protect me, to claim me and I should have realized how much that meant.”
    “When did you realize it?” This time Judd managed to get his hands to the level of Honor’s shoulders. His fingers still shook a little but he had them more or less under control as he slid his palms up under her hair to cup her face.
    “There was no blinding moment of understanding,” she admitted. “I suppose Nick’s total misconception of you did serve to put it all in perspective tonight, though. It amazed me that he actually thought you’d take his money to kill me.”
    “You knew I’d do no such thing?”
    “Of course I knew that.” She touched his hands with her own as she stood looking up at him. Her eyes were brimming with her love. “We’re very close, remember? And we’re growing closer each day. Someday, Judd Raven, you’re going to wake up and realize you’re in love with me.”
    “Oh, God, Honor!” He pulled her nearer and some of the emotion that had been swirling in his dark eyes began to seep out in the form of tears. When Honor touched them with wondering fingertips he groaned and wrapped her fiercely against him. “Sweetheart, I’m a little slow, but I’m not [_that _]slow. You don’t have to wait for me to come to some grand realization. I know damn good and well that I’m in love with you. Nothing else could explain the way I feel. [_Nothing! _]I ache, honey. I can’t even bear to think of losing you. I would never have been able to let you go when the four days you gave me ran out.”
    “Judd, darling, please don’t cry,” she breathed shakily.
    “Why not? I’ve tried a lot of other emotions out on you. You’ve made me laugh and you’ve made me lose my temper and you’ve made me hunger for you with a passion I’ve never known before. Why shouldn’t I try a few tears?”
    “Oh, Judd!”
    “I love you, Honor. I love you, I love you, I love you!” He buried his face in her hair, dampening her cheeks with his tears and repeated the words in wonder.
    “You couldn’t love me any more than I love you, darling Judd.” And then Honor’s tears were mingling with his own.
    They held each other for a long, long time and then Judd took Honor home to bed. There was silence between them during the drive but this time there was understanding underlying the silence.
    “This has been the longest night of my life,” Judd whispered as he gathered Honor close in the four-poster bed an hour later. I’ve never given a damn whether or not someone trusted me or believed in me before this evening. When I realized that was what I wanted from you 1 finally understood what you meant that morning in Mexico.”
    Honor reached up for him, her eyes soft with love. “No more talking, darling. Just love me.”
    “Maybe you’re right,” he murmured deeply. “Verbal