OVER four weeks later, Billie awakened in the glorious illuminating light that Provence was famous for and didn’t waste any time in checking the other side of the big bed, because she knew she would be alone. A lie-in for Alexei was staying in bed past dawn and it was now after ten. Stifling a drowsy yawn, she stretched with voluptuous pleasure, a smug smile tiltin
g her mouth when the movement made her aware of all the little aches and pains of a woman enjoying an active and adventurous love life.
In that department, Alexei was incomparable, she reflected with helpless satisfaction. It also seemed to her as though every time they made love she felt closer to him. Did he still think of their intimacy as just s*x? She didn’t know, hadn’t asked, and had no plans to enquire or pick holes in
