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.
At was a cloudless day and a slight haze covered the land. Olivia had taken a walk to clear her head. The shadowy world that was on the edge of her mind was so absorbing that it was becoming difficult to concentrate, and at times the past and present seemed to merge into one.
She had to force herself to remember who she was, especially after the night she had spent cradled in Raige's arms.
Olivia knew that Jade was definitely growing stronger and would soon take over completely, until there was nothing left of Olivia Heartford.
Sadly, Olivia had come to love Raige with her whole being, and when she was not the embodiment of Jade, she still longed to see him.
She pondered her situation. She had never really had a life, not a happy one anyway. She had belonged to no one, and no one belonged to her. Oh, she'd had men friends, but none of them had left a lasting impression on her. There was little to go back to in Boston.
On the other hand, as Jade, she had a family and she was going to marry the man she loved-or would she? She thought of the tragic way Jade had died and realized that it would probably happen again. And then where would she be?
Olivia feared there was no way to change history-or so the experts said. Popular belief was that if one could travel back in time, and if so much as a tiny grain of sand was disturbed, it would have a domino effect on the future and bode disaster.
There had to be a way she could change the past without disturbing the future; otherwise, why was she here?
Olivia had come to believe that God had given Jade a second chance, and she was to make certain that Jade did not make the same mistakes again.
Lizette ran to the garden, with petticoats flying and her cheeks flushed with excitement. She threw her arms about Jade, hugging her tightly. "Something wonderful yet quite disturbing is happening!"
"What are you talking about?" Jade asked, planting a kiss on the young girl's cheek. "Tell me quickly, before you burst."
"It's just that I am going to miss you much more than I realized. I always knew this would happen, but not just yet."
"What are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere."
"Oui, you will be. I heard Papa and Mama talking to Raige, and they gave their consent for you to marry him."
Jade clasped her hands, her face flushed with joy. "So, he has asked them at last. I feared this day would never come."
"I listened outside the door," Lizette boasted. "Raige told Mama that he loved you-did you know about that?"
Jade laughed down into the precocious little face. "I did, you imp."
"All the men love you, Jade, but I'm glad you chose Raige. I like him better than most."
Jade clasped her sister's hand and they walked down the path. "So do I."
As the two girls entered the house, Gideon, the butler, approached them. "Your papa wanted me to send you to the library the minute you came in, Miss Jade." He beamed, apparently aware that Raige had offered for her hand.
Jade quickly patted her hair into place and winked at her sister before she walked purposefully to the study door and knocked softly. On entering the room, she saw that her father was deep in conversation with Raige, and her mother had a pleased expression on her face.
"Jade, my dear," her father said in a jovial voice, "we have something to discuss with you-come in, come in."
"Oui, Papa," she said demurely, trying not to look at Raige.
"Greet our guest, daughter, and then be seated beside your mother."
Shyly Jade raised her head to look at the man she loved, but she could not bring herself to look at his face, focusing instead on the whiteness of the cravat mat lay in neat layers beneath his strong chin.
"Good morning, Raige. It's always nice to see you."