“Did you talk to him about your feelings when you were in bed with him?”
Oh, shit! The moment the words were out, he wished he hadn’t said them.
She stared at him, her brow furrowed, and he was afraid she’d start to cry again.
But she sucked in a breath, steadying her emotions.
She bit her lip. “Del … I didn’t mean to sleep with him. Please believe me. I went into his room because I thought it was yours. Jaime set us up in connecting rooms so I could go in and wait for you, then tell you how I feel. But somehow things got switched and Liam wound up with the room.”
“That doesn’t explain why you had sex with him.”
Her eyes clouded. “I … fell asleep in the bed and when I woke up, he was kissing me and…”
“And he’s so irresistible to you, you couldn’t help yourself.”
Guilt clouded her eyes and she dropped her gaze to her hands.
Shit! That’s exactly the way it was. He would always be second to Liam. If Liam ever convinced Abi she could really trust him again … his heart stuttered … Del was sure she’d run back to him in a heartbeat.
Not that it would be easy for Liam to do that. When their marriage had fallen apart, it had devastated Abi. Liam’s withdrawal after losing the baby had wounded Abi too deeply. It would take something monumental to turn things around.
But whether that happened or not, Del knew he had to share a place in her heart alongside the man who had hurt her. Because she was never going to stop loving Liam.
And knowing he was second place made him feel like shit.
“I’m sorry, Del. If I could take it back, I would. And the next morning … breakfast … I was trying to push him to sign the papers.”
He nodded. He was sure she probably was. But he didn’t know if she’d spent the night with him or not. And he wasn’t going to ask. The wrong answer would be too painful to hear.
But he had to get a grip on himself. For the first time, Abi and he had a chance to build a real, loving relationship together and he wasn’t going to blow it.
“Look,” Del said, “I can’t really say anything. He’s still legally your husband, and you and I … we were just friends.”
“And I wanted us to be so much more. I didn’t know then if you wanted me, but I was going to do my best to seduce you. To convince you we should start a romantic relationship.”
He tipped up her chin and stared at her with solemn eyes. “I just wish you weren’t still so attracted to him.”
* * *
Abi’s chest constricted as guilt flooded through her. She couldn’t lie and tell him she wasn’t still attracted to Liam. It was more than attraction. The man seemed to have a spell over her. He could mesmerize her with his voice. If he commanded her, she would obey.
“Del, Liam and I are over. You know that. I’m with you now.” She stroked his cheek tenderly. “I want you.”
His jaw twitched, but he nodded.
“I love you. Please believe me.”
He sighed, then nodded. “I do.”
But he looked pensive.
“What is it then? What are you thinking about?”
“Damn, it’s just that I could kick myself. When Kurt suggested I switch rooms with Liam so I could be on the same floor as the rest of the wedding party, I didn’t think anything of it. I wish I had known that your well-meaning sister had arranged things to get us together. If only I had said no to Kurt’s suggestion.”
He gazed at her with an intensity that gripped her.
“Then you and I would have been together that night … and you’d be carrying my baby right now instead of Liam’s.”
Her heart swelled at that thought. Everything would be so much better if that’s what had happened.
“We can’t do anything about the past, or the fact that I’m pregnant. But we’re together now.”
He smiled, the golden specks in his olive-green eyes glittering like stardust.
“Yes, we are.”
He tightened his arm around her.
She stroked his cheek, then leaned in and dragged her teeth along the rough stubble on his chin. Then she glided her tongue over it. God, she loved the masculine feel of the whiskers against her lips.
His hand slid down her back, pulling her closer to his hard body.
“Mmm. Sweetheart, that’s an invitation I’m not going to ignore.”
He shifted his head and his lips found hers. His mouth moved on hers tenderly at first, then more passionately. His tongue slid into her mouth and he explored with confidence, swirling inside her depths. She stroked her tongue over his.
“Mmm, fuck, I want you so badly.” His voice was a deep rumble.
She ran her hand down his chest, then rested it over his heart, her palm flat, feeling his heartbeat. He loved her. And she loved him. She couldn’t wait to feel him inside her again.
“I want you, too,” she murmured.
She started to move onto his lap, needing to feel their bodies pressed tight together.
“Oh, no, you don’t. We’re going to do it properly this time.” He scooped her up into his arms and stood up.
She laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Really? I thought last time worked pretty well.”
“It’s going to be even better this time. Believe me.” He carried her toward the bedroom.
“Oh, I do.”
He set her on the bed. “Now you stay right there.”
She watched his fine, tight butt as he walked from the room. A moment later, she heard soft music playing. Then he returned with a couple of pillar candles and a lighter.
“I would have brought wine, too, but in your condition…”
“I don’t need wine. I only need you.”
He finished lighting the candles and turned to her. He dimmed the lights and smiled.
Anticipation built inside her as he stepped toward her, his smile growing.
She reached behind her and unfastened the zipper
