"May I tell you a secret?" she asked. He nudged farther. "Of course," he murmured. "When I first saw you . . . tonight, I mean . . ." "In all my glory?" he teased, lifting his brows into an arrogant arch. She shot him a rather enchanting scowl. "I didn't think this could possibly work." He moved forward. He was close, so close to embedding himself fully within her. "May I tell a secret?" he returned. "Of course." "Your secret"-- one more little thrust and he was resting against her maidenhead--" wasn't very much of a secret." Her brows drew together in question. He grinned. "It was written all over your face." She scowled again, and it made him want to explode in laughter. "But now," he said, keeping a scrupulously straight face, "I have a question for you." She gazed at him in response, clearly waiting for him to elucidate further. He leaned down, brushed his lips against her ear, and whispered, "What do you think now?" For a moment she didn't respond in any way, then he felt her start in surprise when she finally figured out what he was asking. "Are we done?" she asked in clear disbelief. This time he did burst out in laughter. "Far from it, my dear wife," he gasped, wiping his eyes with one hand as he tried to hold himself up with the other. "Far, far from it." His eyes growing serious, he added, "This is where it might hurt a little, Kate. But I promise you, the pain will never be repeated." She nodded, but he could feel her body tense up, which he knew would only make it worse. "Shhh," he crooned. "Relax." She nodded, her eyes shut. "I am relaxed." He was glad she couldn't see him smile. "You are most definitely relaxed." Her eyes flew open. "Yes, I am." "I can't believe this," Anthony said, as if there were someone else in the room to hear him. "She's arguing with me on our wedding night." "I'm--" He cut her off with a finger to her lips. "Are you ticklish?" "Am I ?" He nodded. "Ticklish." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why?" "That sounds like a yes to me," he said with a grin. "Not at-- Oooohhh!" She let out a squeal as one of his hands found a particularly sensitive spot under arm. "Anthony, stop!" she gasped, squirming desperately beneath him. "I can't bear it! I--" He plunged forward. "Oh," she breathed. "Oh, my." He groaned, barely able to believe just how good it felt to be buried completely within her. "Oh, my, indeed." "We're not done now, are we?" He shook his head slowly as his body began to move in an ancient rhythm. "Not even close," he murmured. -Kate & Anthony"