She looked up at him, pushing locks of black hair back off his forehead and wondering how much truth his words held.
“Juliana, which bedroom shall we move into? Yours or mine?”
Startled, she gazed up at him and saw he was earnest. “It’s too fast.”
“No, it’s not. I don’t want to have to find nooks and crannies where we can make love. I want a place of our own to be with you, and one bedroom is the only place that can be. We’re married, remember?”
“I remember,” she answered solemnly, “but I can’t go that fast.”
“Give it a try. I’ll see to it that you’re happy once you do. Your bedroom is the big one.”
“Cal, I don’t—”
His mouth silenced her as he kissed her hard. He shifted beside her, his fingers trailing over her, sliding down to cup her breast, his thumb flicking over her nipple. She moaned, her hips arching until she tore her mouth away.
“You’re a dirty fighter.”
“Absolutely. I want to win,” he whispered and bent his head again to kiss her. As she moaned and arched against him, he raised himself to look down at her. “Shall I move into your bedroom?”
“No,” she answered, shaking her head, afraid he was moving into her life too swiftly and completely and there would be no defense against the hurt she would experience later.
He bent over her again, taking her breast in his mouth, his tongue drawing circles where his fingers had been. The next time he asked her, he was between her thighs. He paused to look at her, his fingers flicking over her so lightly. “Babe, can I move into your room tonight?”
“No! You’ll not sweet-talk—” She gasped as he bent and caught her soft folds gently with his teeth. Then his tongue stroked her.
“Cal!”
“Tell me what you want,” he whispered.
“I want you inside me. Now!”
“And I want in your room, tonight.”
“Yes! Yes, I hate you for it.”
“No, you don’t. I’ll show you how little you hate me. Put your hips up here,” he said, brushing her with the tip of his hard shaft.
With a cry, she arched, doing what he wanted, knowing he was going to get everything he wanted.
Later, as she snuggled in his strong arms, she sighed with contentment and smiled. “You’re a low-down, dirty rotten scoundrel.”
“But I get my way,” he said with satisfaction. “And I promise, you’ll be glad I’m in your bed.”
“Unfortunately, you’re right.”
He tilted her face up to his. “Why unfortunately? I think it’s grand.”
She looked down, running her forefinger in circles on his chest, curling hair around her finger.
“Still think you’ll get hurt?” he asked.
“You were so certain you didn’t want to get married.”
“Well, a gorgeous blonde with three great kids came along and changed my mind.”
She looked into his dark eyes and wondered how much he really had changed. “They’re three rowdy boys and one has serious problems. Only time will tell, Cal.”
“Time and a few other things that ought to be indica- tions,” he said, rubbing against her.
Aware of his virile naked body pressed against hers, Ju- liana ran her hand down the length of him, over the curve of his slender hip, along his muscled thigh as far as she could reach. “I have to admit, it’s nice to think about having all this in my bed.”
“And in your body,” he said, nuzzling her. “It was fireworks, love.”
She tingled and looked up at him as he watched her. De- sire burned in his eyes and she felt his manhood change, pushing against her. “Cal?”
“I’ve waited for you for a lifetime,” he growled in a husky voice. “Come here, Juliana.” His arms tightened and he leaned over her to kiss her again.
Cal wondered if he would ever get enough of her. She was more than he had ever dreamed of in his wildest fantasies. He felt as if he wanted to devour her, to learn everything that turned her on and thrilled her. “Let’s go to the moon, baby,” he whispered in her ear, biting lightly and turning her over to move above her.
Later, he carried her upstairs to her big bedroom and they showered together.
Near dawn, as she emerged from the bathroom, she stood across the room and looked at him sprawled in her bed, a sheet thrown casually across his hips.
“I see disapproval,” he said with amusement, the corner of his mouth lifting.
“I think it would be nice if the boys didn’t discover our new status by finding you in my bed. I’d rather tell them.”
“Would you now? That should be interesting. What are you going to say?”
She stared at him in consternation. She had a towel wrapped around her and her hair loosely pinned on top of her head. His gaze drifted down slowly over her and be- came heated as he looked up.
“Don’t do that. I’m going to be so sore, as it is. My body isn’t accustomed to this.”
“I think you like for me to look at you and I’ll guarantee you I can’t stop. We’ll mend and besides, that’s the best kind of sore. And your body is going to get accustomed to nights like this. Come here.” He sat up, spreading his legs apart, the sheet still low across his groin.
She felt a thrill curl in her at his words and the look in his eyes. At the same time, she knew he was using his charm again to get what he wanted. She shook her head. “Now, you listen to me. Don’t start the sweet talk. I think I should tell the boys.”
“So, what will you say?”
“That we’ve decided…” Her voice trailed away and she rubbed her forehead. “Damn you. What will I tell them?”
“Come here, Juliana.”
She looked at him, feeling a clash of wills, but at the same time, her pulse jumped and her heart pounded and she couldn’t get her breath. Her gaze was locked with his
