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Henry was shocked to find that he could feel the whole of Ellie's skeletal rib cage through her thin night gown. Like a little bird nestled in his hand, he could too hear the skittish beat of her delicate heart. But at the same time, her body was returning flesh to places where it belonged and he could feel himself hit with the realization that here in his hands was a true woman with all of her treasure. Her figure had escaped him as she had spent most of her time cocooned in blankets in bed. Her body was easily his dreams materialized in his warm moving hands. Henry couldn't stop touching her. He knew Ellie had some modeling experience, but he had never ventured to see her pictures. The thought of what could be under flash through his mind before he tried to remember that he was standing under a photograph of his mother--she would be horrified to see what her son was thinking.

As he straightened his thoughts to something more appropriate, her arms that had been docile suddenly sprang to life and wrapped like vines around his torso. Her voice was husky and her eyes half lidded as she whispered with the silkness of a woman returning to her lover, "Himanshu!"

"I'm not . . ." He looked down into her eyes to remind her, but her warm mouth latched onto his.

Henry's eyes rolled back into his head as his body reacted to the rush of hormones generated from the quick thrill generated from their closeness. Ellie began to lick his tongue before sucking it inside of her mouth. It was strangely perfect as she moved her hand down her chest. He was . . . turned on.

Was this was being in heaven was like?

To be relaxed

To be sure

To feel desired by a stronger person than he deserved . . .

 . . . was anything more closer to perfect than this?

He couldn't help pulling her taunt against him filling like an ancient Roman column able to withstand the storm brewing around them. He had become involved with many beautiful woman in his time. Henry could do anything with him and it gave him intense satisfaction that no woman could charm him into giving her everything. Taking a drive with Nadia recently had always been more alluring than anyone's passes at him. To this moment, when the mild aggression of a recovering racer had shaken away all the problems that plagued him and had awoken the sensuality he had kept hidden.

Was this how his father had acted when he had let his responsibility aside, to change him from a loving husband to an adulterer with little care for his dying wife at home?

The memory gave him an intense sense of disgust with himself so he quickly loosened his grip. He didn't want to open his eyes and see the truth of an unwanted wife in front of him. He was tempted to pick her up cave man style and throw her back into bed before locking the door, but he knew that would not end well. Henry instead cleared his voice and said firmly, "Ellie, I'm not who you think I am. Remember who I am."