In fact, she suspended thinking at all, clinging only to the promise that they could work out the details and make their marriage a real one.
She stripped quickly out of her clothes and moved into the waiting circle of his arms, into the heat emanating from his body. She lost herself to the gentle movement of the bed and the swell of anticipation in her heart as his hands caressed and stroked until every inch of her was on fire, burning with need.
She welcomed him into her, lifting her hips to meet him, opening her mouth to his tongue, then gasping with the sweet, sweet shock of coming apart in his embrace.
Worries and fears didn’t vanish in that moment of surrender, but, for a time, they hardly seemed to matter at all. All that mattered was being close to Jordan, fulfilling the hunger that had been building inside her since she’d first discovered the chemistry that was possible between a man and a woman.
The rest would still be there in the morning. She could tackle the problems then with a clearer head and a lighter heart. Or so she told herself as she drifted off to sleep, still resting her head against Jordan’s chest, reassured by the steady rhythm of his heart and the unmistakable strength in the arms that held her tight.
Jordan thought the first night in their Houston home had gone rather well, all things considered. He had no doubt at all that the basic disagreement between them still existed, but when they were in each other’s arms, little else seemed to matter.
That was what kept him from rolling out of bed at first light and heading to the office as he routinely would have done. He was reluctant to leave this haven they seemed to have found away from their differences.
Propped on an elbow beside her, he watched as Kelly slowly came awake. A soft smile came and went as she blinked, saw him, then closed her eyes again. A pleased, sensual expression remained on her face. He realized it was the first time he’d ever watched her wake up in the morning. She did it slowly, easing into the day in a way he found thoroughly fascinating.
“What time is it?” she murmured eventually, eyes still tightly shut.
“Six-thirty.”
“I should be up.”
“Why?”
“There’s work...” she began, then let the sentence trail off.
“Nope,” he reminded her. “You’re on vacation.”
She sat up, bringing the sheet with her and tucking it around her breasts. Jordan reached over and tugged it down. “Don’t be shy with me,” he said. “Please.”
Though color climbed into her cheeks, she left the sheet where it had fallen, exposing her breasts to the chill air. The nipples puckered and hardened even as he watched. He swallowed hard against the tide of raw desire rolling through him. He couldn’t resist, though, touching a finger to each sensitive peak. He was thrilled by the shudder that instantly swept through her.
“You are amazing,” he whispered hoarsely. “Your body is so responsive.”
“Jordan, don’t you have to go to work?”
He couldn’t tell from the ragged note in her voice if she was anxious for him to go or stay. “Sooner or later,” he murmured.
“Wasn’t that the reason we came to Houston?” she asked.
He was too fascinated with the way the morning sun was casting highlights and shadows on her smooth skin to pay much attention to the note of determination in her voice. “Hmm?”
“I asked if the reason we are in Houston is so that you can go to your office,” she said.
This time it would have been impossible to miss the edge of exasperation in her voice. “Actually, we are in Houston because you made an issue of that damned compromise.”
As soon as he’d snapped out the retort, he realized his mistake. Up went the sheet...and the wall between them. He sighed heavily and climbed out of the suddenly cold bed. This time he didn’t intend to stick around to repair the damage.
“If you want me later, I’ll be at the office,” he said stiffly. He took his clothes into the bathroom. “As you made clear, that is the only reason you agreed to come here.” With that, he slammed the door.
It appeared they were destined to have a far more volatile marriage than he’d ever anticipated, at least if he kept opening his mouth. Every time he did, he managed to put his foot squarely in it.
Kelly refused to linger in that huge waterbed all by herself, not with Jordan slamming things around in the bathroom and cursing a blue streak. She seemed to be testing his patience, which was just fine with her. Hers had snapped a long time ago.
Downstairs, she snatched up the phone and dialed his office. As she’d anticipated, Ginger was already at her desk.
“Hey, Kelly,” the secretary said at once. “How’s it going?”
Kelly wasn’t about to give her the earful that question deserved. “Fine.”
“If you’re looking for Jordan, he’s not in yet. In fact, I thought he was still over at your place trying to talk you into marrying him.”
“He won that battle,” Kelly said dryly. “We’re into the full-scale war now.”
“Uh-oh,” Ginger murmured. “What can I do?”
“Are you free for lunch?”
“Why, sure. I’m getting sick of eating those little cartons of yogurt at my desk. You want to meet me here at noon?”
“I think we’d better meet at the restaurant.” She named one close to Jordan’s office. It was the same one he had traditionally taken her to when they’d met to catch up on each other’s lives in what now seemed a far simpler time in their relationship. “Is that okay?”
“Sure thing. See you there at noon.”
“Meanwhile, prepare yourself. My husband
