Page 25 of Forever, Finally

Without warning, she raised herself on tiptoe and pressed her mouth against his. The gentle contact caught him unaware and he couldn’t help responding.

He tilted his head and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He brushed his lips against hers, learning every millimeter of her. He pressed more firmly, then swept his tongue against her lower lip.

She made a noise low in her throat and parted for him. Telling himself he was playing with fire didn’t make a difference. Nor did the voice in his head warning him to be sensible. This was Lily and he’d loved her too long to resist now.

He slipped his tongue inside her mouth and tasted her sweetness. She was hot and tempting and when he kissed her deeply, she squirmed to get closer.

He explored her mouth, circling around her tongue, stroking her back, dropping his hands to the curve of her hips.

She answered by placing her hands on his shoulder and digging her fingers into his muscles. Heat flared between them. He was already hard with a need that ached and pulsed. He wanted her naked, wet and willing. He wanted her as hungry and desperate as he was. He wanted…

He pulled back far enough to press kisses along her jaw. Her head dropped back as he neared her throat. He nibbled the sensitive skin there, took her earlobe in his mouth and sucked. She gasped and moaned.

Unable to resist the temptation, he drew his hand from her hip to her waist then to her breasts. As he cupped the full curve, he stroked his thumb across her nipple. It was hard and she jumped slightly at the contact.

“Yes,” she breathed, clinging to him.

He stroked the nipple again and again. Each time she groaned. He turned slightly to drop his mouth to hers and as he moved, he pushed against her belly.

A sharp kick stunned him.

The baby.

Jake let his hand fall to his side as he did his damnedest to gather up his self-control. He was past hard—he was rigid and aching with need, but he couldn’t do this. Not now. Lily was his to protect, not to abuse. What had he been thinking?

“I’m sorry,” he said as he stepped back. “I shouldn’t have done that. You didn’t marry me to get attacked the first second we were alone.”

“Attacked?” she repeated, sounding dazed and confused. “I don’t…”

He tried not to wince as her voice trailed off. She didn’t what? Want this? Expect him to jump her like that?

He struggled to steady his breathing. If she looked at him, she would know what he wanted.

“Jake, we’re married,” she said. “If you want us to be intimate, I don’t mind.”

He turned away. Sure. Great. Words every guy longed to hear. That the woman he’d just married didn’t mind if they made love. There was an endorsement.

She cleared her throat. “That came out wrong. Of course I want us to be together.”

He tried to smile. “I can tell.”

She grabbed his arm. “No. I mean it. I think you’re very sexy and appealing. I’d like us to be, um, well, lovers.”

He shook his head. “Don’t sweat it, Lily. You’re pregnant and fooling around probably isn’t a good idea. We’ll talk about this later. After the baby’s born.”

“But that’s three months away. Plus after I give birth I can’t, well, you know, for six weeks.”

“I’ll wait.”

He didn’t have a choice. Besides, he’d already been living in hell. What was another few months of it?

* * *

Lily spent her wedding night alone and upset. The feelings of contentment and happiness she’d experienced earlier in the day had faded to little more than memories. There might be a beautiful diamond ring on her finger, but she was still alone in Jake’s guest room and confused about her future.

Worse, she couldn’t blame anyone but herself for what had happened. Had she really said she didn’t mind if they made love? Didn’t mind, as if it was some giant imposition, but hey she was magnanimous enough to clench her teeth and have at it.

“That’s not what I meant,” she whispered into the darkness as she lay curled up in the bed.

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