Merrick propped his head in his hand and gazed upon the beauty sleeping next to him. Her gentle, deep breaths told him she slept soundly, although her long eyelashes fluttered on her cheeks as if she were involved in some grand adventure. He hoped he played as big a part in her dreams as she did in his.

Golden curls cascaded over her bare shoulder, and Merrick longed to stroke her soft skinnever tiring of the feel of it beneath his handbut he didn't dare wake her. She'd been ...