Page 35 of The House on Blueberry Lane

He couldn’t believe she was actually saying that. Hell, he hoped not when his prime reason for being here was for her to fall in love again. With him. He knew regaining her love wouldn’t be easy, but with her current mindset, it would be a lot harder than he’d expected. Somehow, he had to convince her that love and marriage were still a part of her future—and his.

“And another thing, Jaye, there’s one stipulation to this arrangement.”

Her words had intruded his thoughts. “What is that?”

“I don’t want to go public with our affair.”

She actually wanted them to sneak around? “Why not?”

“Mainly because you’ll be leaving in a few months to return to Phoenix. I am a teacher in this community and prefer not to become the subject of small-town gossip over having an affair with the banker who ultimately dumps her to return to the girl back home.”

He frowned. “I’m not involved with anyone back in Phoenix.”

“That’s what the rumor mill is saying whether it’s true or not. After you leave, I want to retain my level of respectability.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. “Is that what you truly want, Velvet? For us to sneak around?”

“Honestly, I don’t see it as sneaking around, Jaye. I just see it as not broadcasting our business. Especially when we both know how things will end.”

Jaye stood and crossed the room to her. “I hope you know what you’re asking of me, Velvet. Just so you know, you aren’t the only one who’s been celibate for the past two years. I haven’t shared a bed with anyone since you.” He saw the shocked look on her face.

She tilted her head back to look up at him with disbelief in her eyes.

“It’s the truth,” he said.

“Why?” she asked.

“I only wanted you.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, as if trying to make sense of what he’d admitted. Finally, she said, “Then we agree your want of me is merely a sexual thing. In that case, I really don’t understand what’s the big deal of us having an affair. You act as if you’ll be doing something you’re not used to doing, anyway. You’ll be going back to how you operated before agreeing to an exclusive relationship with me.”

That reminder didn’t sit well with him. “And what about you, Velvet? Have you forgotten why I agreed to exclusivity with you? I wanted you in a bad way and you were not the type of woman to engage in casual affairs. Are you sure you can now?”

She broke eye contact with him and stared down at the floor for a moment before returning her gaze to his. In a quick instance, he saw the pain in her eyes. Pain she was trying to shield. Pain he knew he was responsible for. “Yes, I’m sure,” she answered. “Like I said, I fell in love once and don’t intend on ever doing it again. Besides, sex-only affairs are something you always enjoyed, so maybe it’s time for me to give them a try.”

Jaye felt he needed to get her to understand. “I just don’t think you realize what you’re asking of me,” he said, holding her gaze with an intensity he wanted her to feel.

“Yes, I do. I know more than you’d ever realize. And since I know you don’t love me and that I could never love you again, I feel comfortable with what I’m proposing. A sex-only affair. Maybe I need to demonstrate just how comfortable I am with it.”

Then, standing on tiptoes, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

VELVET WAS CONVINCED the moment her lips touched Jaye’s—everything within her suddenly came to life. And when he slid his tongue between her parted lips and began tangling with hers, every cell was bombarded with sensations she hadn’t felt in two years.

It amazed her how easily and effortlessly he could make her moan. With Jaye, it had always been about pleasure of the most intense kind. Pleasure that was so deep and hot it could overwhelm her senses and push her body into a need that was all-consuming.

When he changed the angle of his mouth and pulled her closer to fit against him, she felt his hard erection, which was a telltale sign of how aroused he was. She was just as aroused.

Together, their tongues began mating in the sensuous way that was so familiar. This is what she had gone without for two years and four months and...fourteen days. Her lips and tongue knew his and were fully aware of the pleasure Jaye could deliver.

Like he was doing now.

When he suddenly broke off the kiss, dropped his hands from her waist and took a step back, she tried to keep the disappointment out of her expression. “What’s wrong?” she asked, after pulling in a much-needed breath.

“Nothing’s wrong, Velvet. I just want you to be sure about this, because if I agree to your offer, there’s no turning back.”

No turning back? Did he think she hadn’t accepted that the sole purpose of their affair would be for her to share his bed and for him to share hers while she got her fill of him? “Like I told you, Jaye. I’m not the same person. From now on, it’s about satisfying a physical need for me just like it’s always been for you. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to remain in Catalina Cove. You’ll be leaving in a few months, anyway.”

He didn’t say anything for the longest moment. He just looked at her in the way he always had when trying to figure out something about her. Honestly, what was there to figure out?

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