It was certainly beginning to seem that way.
Finally, she could stand the silence no longer. “How are we to share a room together if you don’t want to be in the same bed with me?”
He looked up from his seat on one of the leather couches flanking the television. He hadn’t turned the TV on, just sort of sank wearily onto the leather with his sherry and a dark look.
“What makes you think that?”
She felt herself coloring. “Last night. You didn’t want to stay, though I asked you to.”
He nodded. “So you remember that.”
“Of course I remember.”
His eyes glittered. “Actually, I do want to share a bed with you. Very much.”
“But last night you wouldn’t stay. You said—”
“Last night we were not married.” He spat the last word as if it were hemlock on his tongue, shocking her.
Hurt speared into her. She decided not to show it, though. She folded her arms and leaned against the opposite sofa, affecting a casualness she didn’t feel. “Why did that matter? We’ve obviously spent the night together before.” She pressed her hand to her stomach. “I have proof.”
His gaze raked her from head to toe. “You look tired, Rebecca. Why don’t you get ready for bed?”
She slipped onto the cushion, facing him. She was tired, but not so tired she didn’t recognize what was happening. He was snappish because of the memories of Anya he’d had to endure today. His sister’s exuberance shopping for baby things had pushed him to the limit, yet he still hadn’t said no to the idea. He should have. Or maybe Rebecca should have.
“I’m sorry you had to go into all those baby stores, but your sister was so excited about it. I know it must have been hard for you to look at baby things.”
The black look on his face didn’t change as he tossed back the sherry. She knew he wasn’t going to open up to her. Not about this. Not about anything.
“I have a better idea,” he said, rising. “Why don’t we get ready for bed together?”
Before she knew what he planned, he pushed her back on the couch, unbuttoning her dress as he did so, his lips following the gaping trail of buttons down between her breasts.
Sensation rocketed through her, so much sweeter now that she was pregnant. She tried to concentrate, to focus on him. She knew what he was doing. Avoiding his feelings about today, only this time he couldn’t order her out of his sight. This time he had to shut her up with his mouth and body.
Rebecca gasped as he shoved her bra down, his mouth closing over her aching nipple. Was it wrong to be happy about his methodology?
Her body grew taut with coiled pleasure, her nipples tightening into hard points, her pussy throbbing with the need to be stroked. Eagerly, despite the ocean of chaotic emotions between them, she went for his shirt, slipping the buttons from their holes clumsily.
Alejandro lifted his mouth from her breasts and thrust his tongue between her lips to tangle with hers. He tasted like sherry, sweet and silky, and she shoved the crisp white shirt from his shoulders, her control slipping away with every caress, every breath.
“Alejandro, I missed you…”
“I need you, Rebecca,” he groaned seconds later.
Butterflies swarmed in her stomach as she kissed him again, fusing her mouth to his almost desperately.
He’d never said that to her before. Not like that. Want, yes. Need, never.
He removed her dress while she shoved his trousers off. Underwear disappeared, and then there was nothing left between them but skin, damp and hot. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he rocked his hips against her. He stopped short of entering her body and she whimpered.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
She could feel his heart throbbing, feel her own pounding in rhythm with it. He dropped his forehead to hers, his breathing ragged.
Rebecca stroked his cheek. “I’m not made of glass, Alejandro. You aren’t going to hurt me—or the baby. If anything feels uncomfortable, I’ll tell you.”
“You are certain?”
She forced him to look at her. “Of course I’m certain. I’m pregnant, not stupid. If it hurts—and I can’t imagine it will considering how much I want you right now—I’ll tell you so.”
His cock nudged her entrance and then he slid forward, very slowly, until they were joined. It hurt, but not in the way he’d imagined. It hurt because it felt so right, and because she loved him. Words she knew better than to say.
“Dios, Rebecca. You feel good. I’ve missed this.”
“I’ve missed it too.” Her throat was tight with emotion. When she’d been in New York, she’d thought it was over. That she would never hear from him again until the moment she found out she was pregnant and knew she’d have to tell him. Even then, she hadn’t known how he would react. She had pictured many things. Being married to Alejandro, lying beneath him while they joined their bodies again, had been the least likely outcome in her mind.
“It was always good between us, querida.”
“It was. It still is.”
“Sí.”
He pulled back and then thrust deep as her body rose to meet his again and again. It was sometime later when he carried her to the bed where he proceeded to repeat every delicious thing he’d already done to her. When Rebecca fell asleep later, she was boneless with the aftereffects of so much erotic stimulation.
And hopeful for the future for the first time in a very long time…
28
Alejandro threw his pen down and swore violently.
Something was wrong with him. He didn’t feel right. He’d been on the edge of something for days now. Since he’d married Rebecca, in fact. All he wanted to do was return home and lose himself in Rebecca’s body. He should be over this compulsion by now, but it showed no signs of evaporating. Worse, he was growing soft.
Last night, after he’d stripped her naked and made
