A single bead of water rolled along the length of his spine and glided down the powerful lines of his body. Mariel moistened her lips and watched its seductive descent, overwhelmed with the temptation to...

She was smooth and beautiful under his rough, callused hands-an amorous balm to soothe the ugliness of war.

She needed this. For the comfort, for the love, for all the glorious things she did not deserve and yet could not stop herself from wanting.