It's Only That Ye Looked So Beautiful,

This Was Nonsense, He Thought. The Need Of Her Was A Physical Thing, Like The Thirsty Of A Sailor Becalmed For Weeks On The Sea. He'd Felt The Need Before, Often, Often, In Their Years Apart. But Why Now? She Was Safe; He Knew Where She Was - Was It Only The Exhaustion Of The Past Weeks And Days, Or Perhaps The Weakness Of Creeping Age That Made His Bones Ache, As Though She Had In Fact Been Torn From His Body, As God Had Made Eve From Adam's Rib?

And When My Body Shall Cease, My Soul Will Still Be Yours, Claire? I Swear By My Hope Of Heaven, I Will Not Be Parted From You." The Wind Stirred The Leaves Of The Chestnut Trees Nearby, And The Scents Of Late Summer Rose Up Rich Around Us; Pine And Grass And Strawberries, Sun-warmed Stone And Cool Water, And The Sharp, Musky Smell Of His Body Next To Mine. "nothing Is Lost, Sassenach; Only Changed." "that's The First Law Of Thermodynamics," I Said, Wiping My Nose. "no," He Said. "that's Faith.

An Englishman Thinks A Hundred Miles Is A Long Way; And American Thinks A Hundred Years Is A Long Time

I Always Thought It Would Be A Simple Matter To Lie Wi' A Woman, He Said Softly. And Yet... I Want To Fall On My Face At Your Feet And Worship You"-he Dropped The Towel And Reached Out, Taking Me By The Shoulders-"and Still I Want To Force Ye To Your Knees Before Me, And Hold Ye There Wi' Me Hands Tangled In Your Hair, And Your Mouth At My Service...and I Want Both Things At The Same Time, Sassenach.

That's Not Precisely What I Had In Mind." Jamie, I Had Found Out By Accident A Few Days Previously, Had Never Mastered The Art Of Winking One Eye. Instead, He Blinked Solemnly, Like A Large Red Owl.