needs on a tight leash. They were making progress. Sure, it was slow but they were working towards something special, something lasting. A grab for quick gratification would ruin that.
He felt another inhalation, a tiny shiver through her slender frame.
‘Luke?’
‘Mmm?’
Her footsteps slowed to a halt and she leaned back in his arms. Wide and dark eyes looked into his.
‘I-I want to stop being sensible.’
A hot streak of electricity jolted through him and his hand tightened on hers. He couldn’t have spoken to save himself.
‘Take me home, Luke. Please.’
‘Hold that thought.’ He steered her back to their table where the waiter met them with the dessert menu. ‘I’m sorry but we’re going to have to go. Would you mind organising the bill for me, please? I’ll pay at the front register.’
‘Of course, sir.’
Luke helped Terri with her lightweight shawl, his hands lingering on her shoulders before he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. He was almost afraid to stop touching her in case the loss of contact gave her time to reconsider.
Foolish. If she changed her mind, he would find a way for that to be okay.
He brought her hand up to his mouth, kissed the delicate knuckles then let her go so he could sign the bill.
In the car, he drove feeling the weight of her silence. Was she even now thinking she’d made a mistake? He’d hurried her out of the restaurant with indecent haste.
He glanced across at her when he stopped to give-way to traffic at a roundabout. She was watching him, a small smile playing around her lips. She looked unexpectedly serene while he felt like a bundle of nervous energy.
At the beach cottage, she unlocked the door. He followed her inside, waited while she gracefully slid her shawl from her shoulders and draped it over a hook on the hall-stand.
She turned to face him then stepped close, her hands reaching for his tie.
He laid his hands over hers, stilling the fingers loosening the knot.
‘Are you sure?’ His voice was husky. How strange, he’d been so worried she’d change her mind but now it was him giving her the opportunity to reconsider.
She sighed, her hands flattening on his ribs. ‘Yes. And no.’
‘No?’ He made an effort to disguise the need that was thick in his voice. Was it possible to die of self-control? ‘I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to, darling.’
‘I want to make love with you, Luke, but I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. I couldn’t bear it.’
‘You won’t. You couldn’t.’ He gathered her into his arms, feeling his own nerves subside as he searched for the words to reassure her. ‘This is us, Terri. Not a competition, not a race. We’ll take it slow, we might have some hiccups, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll get there in the end, darling. Together.’
‘Together. I-I’d like that.’ Her lips pressed softly to his jaw, sending a thrill dancing through his body. ‘Thank you.’
He turned his head, captured her mouth, felt the last tiny moment of hesitation evaporate as her lips opened for him and she kissed him back. She reached up to wind her arms around his neck, her body pressed to his, her breasts flattened on his chest, her belly aligned with his. They stood hip to hip and his heart nearly burst with huge, solid beats.
She pulled away and reached for his hand. ‘Come with me.’
He followed willingly and found himself standing in her bedroom. Moonlight shone through net curtains, spilling across the double bed.
‘I heard it’s your birthday.’
‘Yes,’ he murmured.
‘I-I wondered if you like the wrapping on your present.’ She took his hand and laid it on the line of toggles along her collarbone.
‘I love it.’ He swallowed. ‘Am I allowed to unwrap it now?’
‘Yes, please.’
His eyes on hers, he released the first fastener. Moved to the second.
Terri ran her hands up the smooth thin fabric of his shirt, feeling the heat of his body on her palms. She released the buttons, impatient now to feel his skin on hers.
This man made her feel so special, so cherished. At this moment she wanted him more than she’d have ever believed possible. She wanted it all. Something to remember, something to hold dear in the future. He treated her with such care and affection that she wanted to weep.
They seemed to fit as though made for each other. No fumbling, no clumsiness. She revelled in his touch, her skin coming alive beneath his clever hands. It was special, satisfying, overwhelming. Enriching. She felt exotic and wicked and daring and courageous. He gave her all of that and more.
Much later, Luke propped himself up on one elbow and looked down at her.
‘My head’s spinning,’ he said, as he leaned forward to kiss her lips.
She looped her arms around his back and smiled, not caring if her heart was in her eyes. ‘Mine, too.’
He spread her hair over the pillow, slowly, as though he was enjoying running his fingers through the strands. ‘I’ve been having fantasies about doing this.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh, yeah.’ He smiled broadly. ‘Remember that day at the nursery? Allie had to yell to get my attention.’
She laughed softly. ‘She did have to call you a couple of times. You looked so guilty when you finally answered.’
His smile slowly faded. ‘You know it’s too soon for me to spend all night here with you.’
‘I know.’
‘I’d like to.’
‘You’ve got a daughter who needs to be your first priority and that’s the way it should be.’
‘As long as you know I want to stay. Maybe, soon-’
‘Hush, let’s not try to make any time lines, Luke.’ She put her fingers to his lips to stop the words. It was too soon and she wanted to revel in this moment. Bask in what they’d created here, together in the cocoon of her room, her bed. She didn’t want to think about the outside world, the things she still needed to tell him. ‘Let’s enjoy what we have. Right now.’
He growled deep in his throat and gathered her close. ‘I don’t have to leave quite yet.’
‘Mmm. Good.’ She ran her hands up his back, loving the feel of his hard muscles tensing as he moved over her.
Later, she rolled on her side as he slipped out of bed. With her hand splayed over the sheet still warm from his body, she watched him dress.
‘I’m not going because I want to,’ he repeated as he shrugged into his shirt. ‘Promise me you’re not going to read anything into me leaving you like this, darling.’
‘I promise,’ she said obediently.
He fastened his trousers. ‘Why do I get the feeling you’re just saying that?’
She laughed at him. ‘Now who’s reading too much into things?’
‘As long as I’m the only one,’ he said with a sigh. ‘I’ll give you a ring tomorrow. We’ll do something, a barbecue.’
‘Okay.’
‘Okay.’ He stood juggling his keys in one hand, obviously still reluctant to go. ‘Well…goodnight.’
‘Goodnight, Luke.’
At the door, he turned. ‘Promise me-’
‘I do. Now, go home, darling.’ She laughed.
‘You called me darling.’ He came back to the bed and leaned over to press another lingering kiss to her mouth. ‘God, I wish I didn’t have to go.’
‘But you do. Now shoo.’
