Kneel for Mercy, No. 159

Marista Rockbourne was still praying when the door opened and as she turned her head she saw in the moonlight the Earl of Stanbrook coming in. Marista drew in her breath, and the Earl came close to look down at her, at her hair falling over her shoulders, her eyes dark and very large in the moonlight as she lifted her face to his.

"Thank you, Marista, for saving my life."

He put his arms around her as he spoke and pulled her against him. Gently, almost as if he was kissing a child, his lips found hers. The strength of the Earl's arms, his lips against hers, gave her a feeling that she had never known before. It was a rapture that she had not believed possible, an ecstasy that she knew she had sought in her prayers, and was Divine....