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with a white satin bow, balancing atop the smooth arc of her bare hip. The long ends of the ribbon draped over her hip and drew his eyes across the length of her body.
    Ryan took a step toward her, as if he had no control over his movements. He was drawn to her.
    â€œIt’s been such a long day,” she said, taking her time while twirling the length of the ribbon around her finger and then letting it fall back down again. “I thought you might be in the mood for something sweet.”
    â€œHow thoughtful,” he said, smiling as he entered the room.
    â€œI’ve heard that Swiss chocolate is the best in the world.”
    â€œIt is.” Once he reached the bed, he set his hands atop the comforter and looked at every sensual curve on his wife’s body. He reached his hand out and set it on her calf, keeping his eyes intent on hers as his touch slowly traveled up her leg, toward the gold box. “But there’s something I have to ask.”
    She let out her breath as he slowly untied the satin ribbon, let it fall softly across her waist, and opened the gift. He removed the gilded wrapper from within the chocolate box, picked one of the confections, and brought it to his mouth. He bit into it, tasting the dark chocolate melt against his tongue, before easing himself closer to her.
    â€œWhat is it?” she whispered.
    â€œExactly when did you manage to lose all of your clothes, Mrs. Chambers?”
    â€œThe better question is, why are yours still on?”
    His hand continued to caress her skin before he climbed onto the bed beside her, eased her back, and then kissed her down the length of her body. The sway of her back, the soft indent of her navel—each part of her body more irresistible than the next. He became lost in the sensual feel and taste of her, which lingered in his mouth with the sweetness of chocolate.
    He paused just long enough to pull his shirt over his head, and that’s when she stopped him. Shelby sat up and, with a firm but loving hand, eased him down onto the bed. It was her time to take control.

C HAPTER 8
    MOUNTAIN PEAKS
    S helby and Ryan’s honeymoon days were spent strolling through cobblestone streets and hiking cool mountain paths. Their evenings were spent alone in the intimacy of their chalet. On one of their last evenings together here, they sat at a round table tucked in the back corner of a candlelit restaurant. The entire dining room was made of wood, from the high-pitched ceiling with a crisscross of beamed rafters to the wood-planked walls and flooring. Everything in the room matched the hue of candlelight, except for the Swiss mountain chairs placed around each table. They were bleached white and had beautifully carved backs and seat cushions that were upholstered in varying patterns of red and gold.
    â€œIs it a sin to be this happy?” Shelby asked as she took her time swirling a skewered cube of crusty bread into a shallow ceramic pot filled with fondue and suspended over a low, blue flame.
    â€œNot at all,” Ryan answered, putting a hunk of bread into his mouth before the cheese could drip down his chin.
    â€œHow about gluttony?” she said, licking a dab of cheese off of her lower lip.
    â€œI suppose that’s right,” he said, playing along. “That is, if you think eating a dinner made entirely of cheese is glutto-nous.”
    â€œAdd in the wine?”
    â€œYou have a point,” he agreed, plunging another fondue fork of peasant bread into the irresistible blend of aged Gruyère and Sauvignon Blanc.
    â€œAnd making love?”
    He loved the mischief he saw in her eyes. “There’s certainly no sin in that,” he said, leaning over to kiss her lips.
    â€œI’m not ready to go home,” she said. “Why don’t we just stay here? Find a little farmhouse in the mountains. I could write and you would have your photography. We wouldn’t have to think about everything we have to