Frederic smiled softly. He'd been worried about moving too quickly with Karen, but in the last hour, he'd grown to realize her acceptance and want of him, and he was unimaginably relieved about it. "Yes, I know." He leaned in and kissed her for a long moment, then leaned back. "I'd rather hope so," he joked, "for why else would you curl up in my arms like this?" He nuzzled his face into her hair, chuckling, then kissed her head and muttered, "You are one of the best things that has ever come into my life, Karen," he said, much more serious now, "and I appreciate and adore you more than I can say."