Deprived of his mother's arms, he fretted a bit.

"What's wrong with him?" Kevin asked, sounding unnaturally alarmed.

"Nothing, as far as I know." Tara rubbed Andrew's stomach and murmured soothingly to him. Almost instantly he quieted, closed his eyes, and slept again. Then she turned and hooked her arms around Kevin's trim waist. "C'mon, let's get this show on the road," she said, nibbling his neck the way she knew drove him crazy. "I can't guarantee how long Andrew will sleep."

Kevin scooped her up in his arms. "You don't have to ask twice."

In the master bedroom, Kevin wasted no time in removing Tara's clothes, kissing every part of her body as he bared it. She felt a moment of embarrassment as she wondered how he felt about her new, fuller figure. Kevin, sensing her self-doubt, pulled her to him and enveloped her in a full-body hug. "You look beautiful. Motherhood has softened your sharp corners."

"I had sharp corners?"

Kevin rubbed her back, letting one hand slip down to cup her bottom. "You know what I mean. You could gain or lose a hundred pounds and I'd still love your body."

That was the closest Kevin had ever come to saying "I love you" since she'd awakened in the hospital. He used to say it all the time. Now he seemed sort of reluctant to show his feelings. What had changed – besides her body – in the past year?

Chapter Four

Kevin's hand ventured between Tara's legs, and she forgot her worries as a surge of white-hot longing shot through her body. He'd always been able to do this – make her mindless with passion even with the most casual of touches.

"Mmm, my legs won't hold up much longer." She was amazed at how breathless her voice sounded.

"I'll hold you." His breath tickled her as he probed and caressed.

"I'm weak," she pleaded. "I'm debilitated. You're torturing me."