At that moment, she felt comforting arms go about her and she was held in a strong embrace.

"I have been waiting for you," Raige whispered against her cheek. "Time has no meaning when you are not with me. I need you, Jade. Say you will be mine." His passionate glance burned through her body. "To love a woman as I love you is like a fever in the blood. There is but one cure."

She tried not to think about the conversation she'd just had with Tyrone's mother, but it hung over her like a dark pall. She was in the arms of the man she loved, and nothing else should matter.

Raige gripped her shoulders and held her away from him, studying her intently. In his eyes a sharpness, an intelligence, told her that he was not a man to be easily duped. He knew that something was wrong.

"What has happened to upset you, Jade?"

"It's nothing. Anyway, I don't want to think about it."

"If you are troubled, I want to help you-do you not know that by now?"

She softly touched his face and he closed his eyes. "I don't want anything unpleasant to spoil our time together."

Raige smiled, pressing his lips against a golden curl. "You are becoming a bold little baggage. But I'm glad you came."

"I hoped you would be here," she said, touched by the love shining in his eyes. Madame Dunois was wrong about Raige. Jade knew in her heart that he meant to marry her.

"This morning you were going to tell me the first time you fell in love with me," she said, smiling up at him. "Will you tell me now?"

Amusement danced in his dark eyes. "It happened the year you were thirteen and I was nineteen. Your mother was having a lawn party, and you were playing with several other children, tossing a ball. Someone threw the ball over your head and you ran backward, determined to catch it-you tripped and fell into the fountain."

"I remember that day," she said with irony. "But I can see nothing to love in the half-drowned girl who had to face a crowd of scandalized onlookers."

He tilted her chin upward. "You were like a shimmering mermaid rising to the surface. I tried not to notice how your wet gown clung to your young curves, but discreetly concentrated on your eyes. You stood there haughtily, your hair streaming down your face, your satin slippers ruined and your expression daring anyone to laugh. With your head held high, and your eyes sparkling, you announced to everyone that you had caught the ball. Little did you know that you took my heart with you that day, and you have had it ever since."

How wonderful it was to be loved by the man she had loved for so long. "I can only remember being humiliated because you witnessed my shame."

As he encircled her narrow waist, his touch moved through her body like a sword of flames. His lips were soft as they settled on hers, and she could feel herself going downward with him, soon to lie on the soft grass, while his kisses intensified and her body shook with new, raw emotions.

"What I feel for you is love in its purest form, Jade." His voice deepened with emotion. "I want you in every way a man can want a woman." He laced his fingers through her hair and gazed into her green eyes. "I must not forget how innocent you are. If I wanted to, I could take that innocence-your eyes tell me that. But I honor you too much to take advantage of you." His voice deepened and he laid his cheek against hers. "I shall wait until our wedding night, making the pleasure all the sweeter."

Jade didn't want to wait, she wanted the joy his hard body promised her virginal one. She moved toward him, her lips parted for his kiss.

With a smothered oath, Raige grabbed her to him, his lips hard and plundering, his tongue stabbing into her mouth, making her quake with yearning.

He pulled away, shaking his head. "I will not do this, Jade. You do not know the consequences of your actions."

"Do you not want me?" she asked, touching his face.

He took her hand and kissed the palm. "At this moment, it takes all my willpower to keep from giving you what you ask. For me, it would be to fulfill my most coveted dream- for you it would be dishonor. If you knew anything about a man's needs, you would require no more proof of my love for you."

Suddenly Jade was frightened and she did not know why. ' 'I thank you for your nobility, but I… am afraid if… that tonight is… our last…"

With a muttered cry, Raige crushed her to him once more. His hands were rough as they moved over her curves, and his lips moved across her mouth, drawing a moan from her.

"I must not do this," he whispered in her ear. "Sweet, sweet, Jade, I do not know if I can stop now."

She took his hand and placed it at the laces on her riding habit. With a questioning glance, he unlaced the bodice and exposed her breasts. It seemed to take him an eternity to lower his head. When his mouth moved over her skin, she cried his name and shivered with the delight he brought her.

Raige pushed her skirt up, his hand inching toward the core of her body. She buried her face against his shoulder while his fingers worked their magic. He stroked, kissed, and caressed her until she was mindless.

When at last she thought she would die with longing, his sensuous movements became more intense and she had a new awareness of her own body. Raige knew where to touch her to fulfill her needs. She clung to him while he kissed her lips.

Suddenly he raised his head, his voice deep with passion, for while he had satisfied her, his desire was raging out of control. With superhuman strength, he withdrew his hand, pulled her skirt down, and then fastened her bodice.

Jade did not understand when he stood and walked to the stream, then bent to splash water on his face.

When he returned, he took her in his arms, cradling her head against him. ' 'I did not intend to awaken your passion, but you did sorely tempt me. You will never know what it cost me to stop when I did."

He saw her blush and lower her head, and he cupped her chin, making her meet his eyes. "Never feel shy with me, Jade. What happened between us was nothing to be ashamed of, because we belong to each other. There will be many other pleasures I will show you on the night you come to me as my bride."

She laid her head against his chest, trying to imagine how it would be when their bodies finally joined and they became one.

Jade pulled back to look at him. "I must go now-it's late."

"Remember your mother and father are in New Orleans."

“Oui, and everyone thinks I am with Charlene."

He smiled. "Are you telling me that no one will miss you?"

"No one. I was to stay the night with Charlene."

"Stay with me, Jade."

She came back into his arms, giving her silent consent. "Raige, when will you speak to my father about our marriage?"

"Soon. I find I am impatient to have all of you. I will not want a long engagement."

"Nor do I."

There on the sweet-smelling grass, no nightmares chased Jade's dreams that night, for she lay in Raige's loving, protective arms. When she fell asleep, it was with his warm kiss on her mouth. He pressed her to him and she nestled against his hard body.

Once during the night she awoke, fearing Raige would not be there, but he was.

"Have you not slept?" she asked sleepily.

"I have been watching you sleep," he said. "For some reason, I also fear what the future might bring. You are my heart and soul, and I will never give you up."

They came together in a burning kiss that left them both breathless.

The silver hours of dawn found Jade still curled up in Raige's arms.